A Righteous Decision

Judge of Probate Newkiik last week rendertid a deoision vvbiob receives tbe unanimons approval of everyoue, althongb it did not teohnioally fullow the state law governing sach oases. James Richards, whn was mnrdered in Superior, Jan. 30, 19?, left a small estáte. He bad no relativas in tbis country and tbe ouly relatives be did have were an Ilegitímate daugbter and a sister in Kugland. Although Richards and tbe motber of bis daugbter aad never been inarried, yet tbey bad been lovers for saven years when the ohild was bom. Then they lived witb ais parents for a year uotil Richards had a quarrel with his fatber aud oanie to this country. He freqnently urged bis sweetheart to come to biin bere but she feared the voyage and was opposed by her parents. AU tbis was learned from a letter vrritten by the woman. Richards had repeatedly aoknowledged bis daugbter in tbe presence of witnesses and had said tnat his property sbould go to her. Judge Newkirk's deoision was that since the paities bad in intended rnarriage, bad lived together, and since tbe father had aoknowledged his daugbter, the relation was a "common law marriage, " and the obild legitímate.