Case Name: Robinson v. State, ex rel. Powers
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1891-05-26
Citations: 128 Ind. 397
Docket Number: No. 15,073
Parties: Robinson v. State, ex rel. Powers.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 128
Pages: 397–399

Head Matter:
No. 15,073.
Robinson v. State, ex rel. Powers.
Bastardy. — Still-bom Child. — Institution of Suit Before Birth. — .Rendition of Judgment After Death. — Where a prosecution for bastardy is commenced before the birth of the child, the law recognizes the existence of the child sufficiently to authorize the prosecution, and its subsequent death, whether in útero or after birth, will not abate the action. Section 997, R. S. 1881. The court is authorized in such a case to give judgment for such sum as shall be deemed just, and the judgment may he rendered after the death of the child. Canfield v. State, ex rel., 56 Ind. 168, distinguished.
From the Knox Circuit Court.
J. S. Pritchett and H. Burns, for appellant.

Opinion:
McBride, J.
This was a bastardy proceeding, commenced October 3d, 1888, the relatrix alleging that she was pregnant with a bastard child, and that appellant was its father. The appellant appeared before the justice and admitted that the relátrix was pregnant, and,that he was, as alleged, father of the child. In the circuit court, however, he filed an answer of general denial, and there was a trial by jury, resulting in a finding against him. Judgment was not rendered against him until June, 1889. The child was born dead April 17th, 1889.
Judgment was rendered against him for $100. Appellant insists that this was erroneous, and that the court had no power, in such case, to render judgment for anything but the costs of the prosecution. His contention is that, the judgment in such cases being rendered only to secure the maintenance and education of the child, and the child being stillborn, nothing could be due for its maintenance or its education. He further insists that a still-born infant is not a child within the meaning of the statute; that, being still-born, it never had an existence separate and apart from its mother. In this he claims that he is supported by the case of Canfield v. State, ex rel., 56 Ind. 168. That case does not support ap pellant's contention. That was a prosecution in which the relatrix alleged she had been delivered of a bastard child. The evidence showed that the child was still-born, that its lungs were never inflated, and that the prosecution was commenced after the birth of the child. The court held that the proof did not sustain the averment of the complaint that the relatrix " had been delivered of a bastard child "; that, never having breathed, it had never lived; that until a child is wholly born, and has obtained a separate existence, it is but a foetus in útero, and not a human being within the meaning of' the law authorizing proceedings for the maintenance of bastard children after their birth. It is evident, we think, that if the prosecution in that case had been commenced before the birth of the child the court would have reached a different conclusion. Canfield v. State, ex rel., supra, was decided at the May term, 1877, of this court. The case of Evans v. State, ex rel., 58 Ind. 587, was decided at the November term, 1877, by the same court, there having been in the meantime no change in the personnel of the court. In that case the facts were substantially as in the case at bar.
The prosecution was commenced before the birth of the child. After verdict, but before judgment', the child was born dead. The court adjudged that the defendant should -pay the relatrix $ 100. The judgment was affirmed. The statute authorizes the institution of proceedings of this character before the birth of the child, and they may be prosecuted to final judgment before the child is born. The existence of the child is thus recognized by the law at that time, although it is but a foetus in útero.
Section 997, R. S. 1881, provides that "The death of a bastard child shall not be cause of abatement or bar to any prosecution for bastardy; but the court trying the same shall, on conviction, give judgment for such sum as shall be deemed just."
It will be observed that this section, while authorizing the court in such case to render judgment for such sum as in its discretion may be deemed just, says nothing about the maintenance or education of the child.
Filed May 26, 1891.
There is no conflict between the two cases.
Where the relatrix delays commencing the prosecution until after the birth, of the child, she must then allege and prove the birth of a child which had an existence separate and apart from her.
When the prosecution is commenced before the birth, the law recognizes the existence of the child sufficiently to authorize the prosecution, and its subsequent death, whether in utero or after birth, brings the case within the provisions of section 997, supra.
The court was thereupon authorized to give judgment for a reasonable sum, and we can not say it abused its discretion in this case. . ,
Judgment affirmed.