64 Neb. 547 | Neb. | 1902
In 1897 George Peters was the defendant in bastardy proceedings pending in the district court of Oass county, wherein he was charged with being the father of the. illegitimate child of one Minnie Killian. On a plea of guilty, it was adjudged that he stand charged with the support of the child in the sum of $1,300, to be paid in instalments covering a period of twelve years. The bond was fixed at $2,500. From such judgment he prosecuted error to this court, where the judgment was affirmed, November 20, 1901. Peters v. Killian, 63 Nebr., 57. A mandate issued, and judgment was rendered thereon in the district court on the 7th day of January, 1902. A capias issued, directing the sheriff to arrest the said Peters and confine him in jail until he should comply with the judgment for the maintenance of the child. Under this writ, Peters was arrested by John D. McBride, sheriff of said county, on the 25th day of February, 1902. On the "3d day of March, thereafter, he entered into a bond in favor of the commissioners of Cass county in the sum of $2,000, conditioned to hold said county harmless, which was approved by the clerk of the district court, and paid the costs of the proceedings. On the following day he demanded his release,
The question that meets us at the threshold is whether the complainant in bastardy proceedings' has authority to release a judgment rendered therein. In Peters v. Killian, 63 Nebr., 57, it was held that a settlement between the parents of an illegitimate child, in order to be operative as a stay or termination of bastardy proceedings, must be of such nature, and made and attested in such manner, as the act prescribed. Our statute regulating proceedings of this character is borrowed from the state of Ohio. The supreme court of that state, in Perkins v. Mobley, 4 Ohio St., 669, in which the statute in question was before the court for construction, says: “At one point in the proceeding a settlement may be made. If, when the accused is brought before the justice, he pays or secures to be paid to the complainant, such sum of money or property as she may agree to receive in full satisfaction, and shall further give bond, that the child shall not become a township charge upon any township in this state, the justice is authorized to discharge him from custody on his paying the costs. But to prevent all imposition, the agreement must be made or acknowledged by both parties, in the presence of the justice, who is required to make a memorandum thereof upon his docket. No power whatever is given to the complainant to impair the public security in this settlement. It can not be made until the accused has given security that the public shall not be burdened with the support of the child. If such security is not giAen, he
It is therefore recommended that the judgment of the district court be affirmed.
By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is
Affirmed.
See note at head of Digest of Cases Overruled, page —. —Reporter.