Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-04-27

ANACT to provide for The support Of illegitmate
children.
SECTION l. Be ii enacted By the Council
and House If Representatives. Of the Terri
0t Wisconsin: That on complaint made
70 any Justice OF the Peace in this Terrific
ry, by any woman resident therein, who
shall be hereafter delivered Of bastard
child, or being pregnant with child, which,
if born alive, may be a bastard, accusing
any personof being the father Of such child,
the Justice shall take such complaint IN wri-
ting under oath Of such woman, and there
upon issue his warrant, directed 10 the Sher-
III, or any Constable Of this county, COM
handing him forthwith 10 bring such accu-
scd person before the Justice, to answer TO
such complaint, and on return Of such war
rant the Justice in presence Of the accused
person, if he shall have beer arrested, and if
not, then in his absence shall proceed TO OK
anime the complaint under oath respect
ing the cause Of the complaint, and such ac-
cused person sh II be allowed to ask the said
complainant when under oath amy question
he may deem necessary for his own Ist-
tication, and sucn questions and answers
with every part of the proceedings shall be
reduced to writing by said Justice.
SEC. 2. If upon the examination Of such
accused person he shall pay or secure to
be paid, to the woman complaining, such
sum or sums Of money or other property,a
she may agree TO receive in fall satisfac-
ton, and shall furhcr enter into bonds with
sufficient surctics to the County Commss-
toner's Of the said county in which such
woman shall reside, and their Successors in
Office, or assigns, conditioned to secure such
county, free from all charges towards TIE
majntainancc Of such child, in such case
the Justice shall discharge such person on
his paying the cost Of prosecution.
SEC. 3. That when any woman has
bastard chld and commences a suit, and
fails to prosecute TO final judgment, the
County Commissioners Of the proper coun,
~, or any person interested in the support
of any such bastard child. when sufficient
security is not offered and given to save the
county from expense, may take up and
prosecute the suit begun by the mother Of
the child.
SEC. 4. That in any case any person
-
the provisions olthc first section o. this act,
the Justice - whom such complaint was
made shall bind such person in rccegni-
zlncc to the next district court, with sufIi-
Gent security in sum not less than one
hundred dollars, nor more than five hum
derd dollars TO answer such accusation and
TO abide the sentence Of the court thereon;
and on neglect or refusal to find such
security, the Justice shall cause him 10 he
committed TO the Jail Of the county there to
be held to answer to such complaint al the
next term OF the proper district court
SEC. >. That ii ut the trial of such court.
the woman be not delivered, or be unal lie
to attend, the court shall order The renewal
Of the bonds Of recognjzancc, that the ac.
cGscd person shall be forthcoming at the
court after the birth Of the child, at which
the mother of the child shall be able to at.
tend, and the continuance of said bond shall
be entered by order Of said court, unless
The security shall object thereto, and shall
have the same effect as a recognzance
taken in court for that purpose.
SEC. G. That when such accused person
shall plead " not guilty" to such a charge
before the court TO which he is recognized
the court shall order the issue Of the cause
TO be tried by jury, and a: the trial OF
such issue, the examination before the JUS
lice shall be given in evidence, and The
mother Of the bastard child shall be admit.
ted as q competent witness, and her credi-
biIty be left TO the Jury; provided always,
tha; no woman shall he admitted rs wit
ness who has been convicted OF any crime
mhich womb By law disnualif,. her from,