Philadelphia County Orphans' Court, 1930

Hornstine's Estate

Hornstine's Estate
Philadelphia County Orphans' Court · Decided October 28, 1930 · Henderson
14 Pa. D. & C. 234; 1930 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 318

Counsel

Joseph Gross, for exceptions; Blumberg & Sork, contra.

Hornstine's Estate

Opinion of the Court

Henderson, J.,

The decedent had been convicted of fornication and bastardy, and under the Act of March 31, 1860, § 37, P. L. 382, was sentenced, inter alia, to pay $7 per week for the maintenance of the child until it reached the age of sixteen years. The decedent signed a bond to assure these payments; binding his heirs and executors to the performance thereof. The inclusion of the latter clause was beyond the terms of the penal statute. Notwithstanding that fact, can the claimant recover?

*237The obligation is to pay the sentence of $7 per week — the bond did not enlarge the sentence. The sentence ceased with the death of the defendant— this decedent: Com. v. Moran, 23 Dist. R. 418; 58 Pa. Superior Ct. 362; 251 Pa. 477.

The sentence to pay $7 per week having expired by the death of the decedent, the obligation of the bond is determined.

The exceptions are dismissed and the adjudication is confirmed absolutely.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.