Court Opinion

ID: 6720108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 22:52:54.013108+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:33.539419
License: Public Domain

LEVINE, J.
Epitomized Opinion
Sieg was indicted under 1308 GC. for neglect t< provide for a legitimate child. On trial Agne. Balcom, the mother of the child, was permitted, a: against objection, to testify that she was a marriei woman, and that she had not lived with or see: her husband for over four years. She testified tha Sieg had cohabited with her and was the father o the child. Her story to the affect that she had no seen her husband for a period of four years wa not corroborated by other witnesses. As the ac cused was convicted, error was prosecuted. versing the judgment of the lower court, thcflSHj of Appeals held:
1. Before a child begotten in wedlock can b adjudged a bastard, the. proof must be clear, cei tain-and conclusive, either that the husband had n power of procreation, or the circumstances wer such as to render it impossible that he could b the father of the child,
2. The wife is a competent witness to testify t| the non-access of her recreant husband in a crimina case against a putative father of her illegitimat| child, for failure to provide said child with necessar and proper food.
3. The testimony of the mother alone, in view c| the life she was leading and her adulterous act: was insufficient to clearly rebut the presumption c| the legitimacy of the child.
4. As the affidavit charged that the accused hal failed to support his legitimate child and the ev| dence disclosed that the child was illegitim, fatal variance existed, and it was incompete' prove that the child was illegitimate under such a| indictment.