Massey v. State

Appellant was charged, tried and convicted of having aided and abetted a certain Mrs. Vernnie Bilyeu to conceal the death of her bastard male child. The charge against appellant was based on §§ 2991 and 2937 of Pope’s Digest, as follows:

“Section 2991: If any woman shall endeavor privately, either by herself or the procurement of others, to conceal the death of any issue of her body, male or female, that it may not come to light, although it cannot be proved that it was murdered, every such mother shall suffer the same punishment as for manslaughter.”

‘ ‘ Section 2937: All persons being…