McGrath's Estate

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Linn,

Pursuant to section 2a of the Act of June 7, 1917, P. L. 429, 20 P. S., section 11, appellant, as widow of Edward J. McGrath, applied for the $5,000 allowance to the widow of a decedent dying intestate and without issue. Next of kin denied the marriage. Evidence was taken, and, after argument, the petition was refused on the ground of insufficient evidence of marriage.

While there was no marriage by religious or civil ceremony, petitioner testified that she and the intestate, with intent to become married, had read together the marriage service from a ritual of the…