The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-01-10
CHAPTER I


ADOPTION AMENDMENTS TO ACT RELATING TO.
Az ACT to Amend Chapter ,S s.; Of the 9 oe s%nS%n Laws OF w'om'DE' being N
BE 1t enacted By Tie oom,ca and House Of Representatives Of
he Territory Of Wyoming:
SECTION L. That chapter two of the compiled laws OF
Wyoming, be amended by adding to section nine of said
chapter the following: In any case of parents abandon
ing their children without providing for their support
and education, the county commissioners shall have the
same authority to act as in case of the parents death.
Prooded, That if the residence of the parents is known,
the coanty commissioners shall notify them to take away
or provide for their children, and if the parents do not
claim such children within three months after such notice
is given, the county commissioners shall have authority
to provide for the %children's adoption as in case OF
the parents death, or to bind them out to suitable per-
sons under a written agreement for a certain number of
years, a copy of such agreement to be approved, and hIed
with the probate judge of the county.
SEC. 2. Parents and relatives may reclaim their chill
drcn after such action has been taken, by appearing before
the Judge of probate of the county and giving him salts
factory evidence of their ability, or bond for the support
of such children in the future, and by paying into the
county treasury the amount of expenses incurred by the
county in caring for them, and by paying to the parties
having adopted or taken them in charge, a reasonable
compensation for their support while i'll charge OF such
parties; Prorided, That such reclamation shall be made
with the consent of the parties having adopted or taken
them in charge, and not otherwise.
SEC. 3. Any person having the natural or lawful
charge of any minor child under the age of sixteen years,
who shall wilfully abandon such child, such child
so that such child becomes a charge upon the county,
wherein such abandonment took place, shall be deemed
guilty of a ~misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, be fined in
any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprisoned
in the county Jail for a period of time sufficient to pay
such fine, at the rate of one dollar per day, should such
fine not be paid.
SEC. 4. If any person in any county in this Territory,
having the natural or legal charge of any such child,
shall abandon such child, SO that such child shall become
a charge upon the county wherein such abandonment
took place, the person so abandoning such child shall be
liable to a civil action by attachment without undertaking,
by the board of county commissioners, for all expenses
that may be, or have been incurred by such county in
consequence of such abandonment. The affidavit for
attachment and petition in the district court, or summons,
if the action is in a court of a justice of the peace, shall
allege that the person so abandoning such minor child
was a person able to support it, and if the proof shall
show that the ability of such person was equal to that of
any other person in the community with means no greater
than of the person so abandoning such child, the allega-
ton of ability to support such child shall be deemed
proved; Prouded, That the defendant in such action may
give in evidence sickness or other cause tending to lessen
his or her ability to support such child.
SEC. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from
and after its passage.
Approved December ID, 1879.