Rheel v. . Hicks

It is made the duty of the county superintendent of the poor, when any woman shall be pregnant of a child likely to be born a bastard, and to become chargeable to the county, to apply to a justice of the peace to make inquiry into the facts and circumstances of the case. (1 R.S., 642, § 5.) The justice is required, by examination of such woman on oath, and upon such other testimony as may be offered, to ascertain the father of such child, and thereupon to issue his warrant to apprehend such reputed father, and have him brought before him for the purpose of having an adjudication respecting…