SUPREME COURT OF THE CANAL ZONE.

In re PETITION OF JULIAN ANDRADE to intervene in the
ESTATE OF GEORGE ANDRADE, deceased.
No. 137. Argued May 27, 1914. Decided June 20, 1914.
ADOPTION.
The question of adoption of minor children is statutory, and such statutes
must be strictly adhered to. An entry of such facts made by a parochial priest in his books is not in accordance with statutes and will therefore have
no effect.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit; Hon. William H. Jackson, Judge.
The facts appear in the opinion.
Valentine E. Bruno, for petitioner, appellant. Hinckley and Ganson, for administrator, appellee.
GUDGER, C.J. This action is in the nature of an intervention by the petitioner in the estate of George Andrade, deceased, alleging that he, the petitioner, is the adopted son of the deceased and asking to be recognized as an heir and that an order be made to allow him his proper distributive share.
He bases this claim on the fact that in the year 1902 when George Andrade married his mother an entry was made in the parochial books by the priest who performed the marriage ceremony, that it was made manifest that he, George Andrade, recognized petitioner as his son and that from then until the death of the said Andrade, some two years ago, he lived continuously in the family, took the name of Andrade and was treated in every respect as a member of the family. The evidence shows that petitioner was not the carnal son of George Andrade.
The Circuit Court, after hearing all the facts, rendered a verdict disallowing the petition, from which an appeal was taken to this court.
The question of adoption of minor children and making them heirs is governed by statutes. The special articles of the Civil Code referring to this matter are as follows.:
ARTICLE 279: For the adoption it is necessary in every case that the permission of the judge or prefect of the domicile of the adopted be first secured. If the person adopted should be under age, or a person reputed a minor, the judge shall, in addition to the measure prescribed in the foregoing acticle

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