Opinion
May Term, 1819.
From Pitt.
A man charged as putative father of a bastard child, is at liberty to shew that the mother of the child is of mixed blood, and within the fourth degree, and therefore excluded by the act of Assembly from swearing against him.
The County Court cannot charge a man with the maintenance of a bastard, where it appears to them, that the magistrates who took the examination of the woman, have proceeded against law in the judgment they have formed.
Whenever a special power is given to a Justice of the Peace, by statute, to convict an offender in a summary way, without a trial by Jury, he must strictly pursue that power.
When a trial by Jury is dispensed with, the Justice must nevertheless observe the course of the common law in trials; he must give notice to the party of the charge raised against him, and give him an opportunity of making defence. The evidence against him must be such as the common law approves of, unless the statute specially directs otherwise.
The facts of this case are set forth in the opinion of the Court delivered by
The Defendant was charged as putative father of a bastard child, and bound for his appearance at the County Court: where he moved for leave to plead that the woman who had charged him upon oath with being the father of the child, was of mixed blood, within the fourth degree, and that she ought not to swear against him.
The motion was overruled, and the defendant appealed to the Superior Court, and the motion has been sent here for our opinion.
The only purpose for which the party was bound ever to the County Court under the act of 1741, was, that he might be charged with the maintenance of the child, as that Court might direct. But as this mode of proceeding was liable to abuse, and an innocent man might be made liable conclusively (122) by the oath of the woman, the act of 1814 entitled the party to have an issue made up, to try whether he be the father of the child; upon which issue, the examination of the woman, returned to Court, shall be prima facie evidence only, against the accused. If it be true, that this Defendant has been adjudged the father upon incompetent testimony, and he avail himself of the first opportunity he has, of making the objection known to the Court, it is right that he should be heard. If an issue were made up, and the fact alleged by him proved, the examination could not be read in evidence against him; and to such issue he is entitled by the act. To object to the testimony, is in effect, to apply for an issue; and is in substance, to deny that he has been properly adjudged to be the father; and to ask for a re-examination on that fact. But independently of the act of 1814, it is apprehended that the County Court cannot rightfully charge a person with the maintenance, if it appear to them that the magistrates have proceeded against law, in the judgment they have formed. Wherever a special power is given to a Justice of the Peace by a statute, to convict an offender in a summary manner, without a trial by jury, he must strictly pursue that power; otherwise the common law will break in upon him and level all his proceedings. When a trial by jury is dispensed with, he must nevertheless observe the course of the common law in trials, raise a charge, give notice to the party and an opportunity to make his defence. The evidence against him must be such as the common law approves of, unless the statute specially directs otherwise. It is the opinion of the Court, that this case be remanded to the County Court, that an issue be made up under the act of 1814, and the Defendant be at liberty to allege and prove the incompetency of the witness.
Cited: S. v. Wilson, 32 N.C. 134. (123)