Allen v. State

Cassandra Harrell, an unmarried woman and resident in Fayette county, made a complaint before a justice of the peace in that county, that she had been there delivered, a short time previously, of an illegitimate child; that the child was living; and that Hiram Allen was its father. The justice, on this complaint, issued a warrant in the name of the state against Allen as the reputed father, requiring his appearance before the justice to answer to the complaint. The constable returned, that the defendant could not be found in Fayette county. The justice then, in the absence of the accused,…