Smith v. Becker

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Smith, J.:

The following question is presented in this case : When a person is imprisoned under a sentence for life, does his property, by that fact, descend to his heirs in all respects as if he were naturally dead? Those sections of the statute necessary to be considered read:

“A sentence of confinement and hard labor for a term less than life suspends all civil rights of the person so sentenced during the term thereof, and forfeits all public offices and trusts,, authority and poweí; and a person sentenced to such confinement for life shall thereafter…