Mather v. Clark

2 Aik. 209 | Vt. | 1827

Lead Opinion

Hutchinson, J.

delivered the following opinion of the Court.

This was a trial on a charge of bastardy, in which the jury returned a verdict, that the defendant was chargeable. The cause comes up on exceptions taken at the trial, and upon those exceptions three questions are raised.

The first is, whether the court correctly admitted proof of the defendant’s confessions against his interest, he being a minor ? This decision is considered correct. The law presents no exception in favour of minors in this respect. This question was presented to this Court in this county a year ago, in the cause of Wilcox vs. Sheldon. The verdict in that case, must have resulted chiefly from such testimony, yet it was permitted to stand. Such testimony should be weighed by the jury in reference to the age and understanding of the minor, and his capacity to judge of his rights. And so they are usually directed by courts, but the testimony is admissible, like the confessions of adults.

The second question is, was it proper to admit the plaintiff, the mother of the bastard child, to testify to these confessions ? There appears no valid objection to this. The statute has made her a witness, without any distinction about the facts to which she may testify.

The third question is attended with more difficulty and importance, and, as far as is now recollected, it is entirely a new question. The decision at the jury trial should be as it was, unless time were taken fpr consideration, till all doubts were removed ; for a decision the other way, resulting in an exoneretur upon the recognizance, should only be made with assurance of its correctness.

It appears, that the father of the defendant was recognized before the justice, for the appearance of the defendant at the county court, and for whatever else was contained in the recognizance, it being in the form prescribed in the statute, which see, page 366. The condition required by law, is, “that he personally appear before the county court, &c. and abide and perform such order or orders as said court shall make in the premises.” This is similar to the form of a recognizance in case of an appeal in criminal prosecutions. (See Stat.p. 58 and 125.) This is not the form required in appeals in civil suits, but more resembles the bail for appearance in civil suits. These prosecutions for bastardy are regulated by the statute, and are in form like criminal prosecutions, but for every purpose, are in substance, civil suits, to compel the putative father to support the child. It is observable, that the requisitions of the statute are, that unless the defendant procures such a recognizance, he is to be committed to prison, to await his trial; but may be thence liberated by a judge of the county court, taking a similar recognizance. Further, one order, to be made by the county court, is, that the defendant shall enter into a recognizance, with sufficient surety, that the orders for the payment of the sums awarded shall be performed; and, when this recognizance is entered into, the one taken before the justice is to be null and void. The real question then is, whether this recognizance, taken before the justice, shall be deemed as a security for appearance at the county court, and can be discharged by his appearance, or whether the recognizors are also holden, that he shall give the new recognizance ordered by the county court?

We know, that if he does not appear, the consequences to this extent will follow. But, if he does appear in discharge of his recognizance, will that absolve his first bail ?

No authorities are produced, nor do I find any, that afford much light upon the subject. In England and New-York, no bail is required or entered, till a decision of the magistrates; then, on an appeal to the sessions, a recognizance is taken. But, by our statute, the defendant can have no hearing, and make no defence, till he comes to the county court. This ceremony of complaint, warrant and recognizance are merely to get him before the county court, where he may make his defence. If the statute necessarily required the construction, that the defendant must be in prison for weeks and months, as the case might happen, before he has any opportunity to make his defence, unless he will procure bail, not only for his appearance, but for his performing the orders of the county court, I should consider it wholly unconstitutional. Treating it as a bond for appearance, all parts of the statute harmonize together. If the defendant does not appear in discharge of his bail, they are holden, on the breach of their recognizance, for whatever payments might be charged upon the defendant, in case he did appear. If he does appear, and is delivered up in discharge of his bail, he is holden in custody till he pays what is ordered, or until he enters into such a recognizance as shall.be ordered by the court. Such is the view entertained by the Court. The bail had a right to deliver the principal into court and be no longer holden as his bail, and the principal had a right to surrender himself in discharge of his bail, that he might become a competent witness for the defendant.

Hiland Hall, S. H. Blackmer and D. Robinson, jr. for the complainant. Henry Kellogg and Daniel Church, for the defendant.

As this v/as refused at the trial, and the defendant was thereby deprived of the testimony of the person who was bail,

A new trial is granted, and the cause transmitted to the county court for such new trial.

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Concurrence Opinion

Skinner, Ch. J.

who presided at the trial in the county court, observed, that he was much perplexed with this question on the trial, and was anxious to find what had been the practice in other governments. This desire he was then unable to gratify. He concluded his remarks, by concurring in the opinion here expressed.