Cote v. Longley

In this filiation proceeding defendant has been found to be the father of complainant’s illegitimate child.

A proceeding of this character is quasi criminal in its nature, and while the parentage of the child is not required to be established beyond a reasonable doubt, an order of filiation should never be granted unless the court has examined the evidence with great care, and has become entirely satisfied that the defendant is the guilty party. (Commissioner of Public Welfare [McNamee] v. Ryan, 238 App. Div. 607; Burke v. Burpo, 75 Hun, 568; Drummond v. Dolan, 155 App. Div. 449; People ex…