Case Name: The State v. Thomas Keith
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1830-05
Citations: 1 Bail. 495
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State v. Thomas Keith.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 495–496

Head Matter:
The State v. Thomas Keith.
Columbia,
May, 1830.
On a conviction undei the bastardy act, the defendant, if he fail to give the security required, must be bound to service, for the shortest period, not exceeding four years, for which £80, can be obtained. If that sum cannot be obtained, he must be bound out for that period for the highest price oifered. He cannot be detained in custody, and his services put up for sale, from time to time, until that sum is obtained.
Tried before Mr. Justice O’Neall, at Fairfield, Spring Term, 1830.
The defendant was convicted under the bastardy act of 1795, 2 Faust, 74, of being the father of a bastard child; and the Solicitor moved, as part of his sentence, “ that the sheriff should retain the defendant in his custody, and offer his services for sale, from time to time, until he should get £60, for the same.”
The presiding Judge refused the motion, and it was now re-! newed, in the Court of Appeals, on appeal from his decision.

Opinion:
Evans, J.
sitting for Nott, J. delivered the opinion of the Court.
This question, it is understood, has been of frequent occurrence, and contradictory decisions have been made by the Circuit Judges. The act provides, that, if the defendant shall fail to give security for the maintenance of the child, agreeably to the provisions of the act, " the Court shall bind him out to service for any time, not exceeding four years, and the proceeds of his labour shall be applied by the Court to the purposes afore-, said," to wit, the maintenance of the child. 2 Faust, 75.
This is, in some degree, íd the nature of a penally; but the principal object of the act is, to provide for the maintenance of the child, until it is twelve years of age. if therefore the sum mentioned in the act, viz. £60, can be raised by letting out; the defendant's services for a period less than four years, then the object of the act will have been obtained; but if not, his services must be let out for the whole term mentioned in the act. But it is contended that the services of the defendant cannot be let out for a less sum than £60, and that be must be retained in custody until a purchaser can be found at that price, or until he shall give the security required by the act. The words of the act are, " the proceeds of his labor." This must mean, such sum as his labor shall produce, or sell for, be it £60, or less. A contrary construction might amount to perpetual imprisonment. The motion is therefore refused.
Judges Evans and O'Neall, alternately, occupied the seat of Judge Not\. whose indisposition prevented his attendance, throughout the present term. vide p. 373, ante.