Woodkirk v. Williams

The statute, providing for the support of illegitimate children, is not very express in all its provisions (1). The practice under it, however, need not for this reason remain doubtful and unsettled, when correct rules of proceeding may be established consistently with the evident meaning and spirit of the law. An accusation is first made on behalf of the state, before a justice of the peace, by the woman having cause of complaint; or, upon her neglect, by the overseers of the poor. The magistrate reduces the accusation to writing, and issues a warrant, in the name of the state, for the…