State ex rel. Russell v. Williams
State ex rel. Russell v. Williams
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Dora J. Russell instituted proceedings against George T. Williams to charge him with maintenance of her illegitimate child. A judgment was. rendered against him, and he appeals.
An objection is made because the complainant was allowed to testify that she thought the defendant was the father of her child. The child was born January 18, 1912. She testified that during the months of March, April and May, 1911, she had sexual intercourse with no one else. Her opinion as to the paternity of the child in view of this testimony was not important, but it was not prejudicial.
A prior complaint had been made and left with a lawyer, charging one Elliott with the paternity. The complainant explained this by saying that, having been misinformed as to the stage of her pregnancy, she at the time supposed Elliott to be responsible for her condition, but that in fact she had not had intercourse with him since February 12. The lawyer who had represented her in her contemplated proceedings against Elliott was permitted to testify that Williams came to him and asked if he represented Dora Russell; that he answered that he had done so, but the relationship had ceased; that Williams said he would be willing to pay some amount rather than be sued; that the witness replied that he would write to the complainant, and believed a settlement could be made. The objection is urged that a part of this testimony comes within the rule that an offer of compromise is not to be ac
There was evidence that the defendant accompanied the complainant to a physician, and in various ways showed interest in her condition. The court gave an instruction that the jury might take into account his conduct with regard to her, and every other fact and circumstance tending to throw light on the issue. The defendant requested an instruction, which was refused, to the effect that evidence of his having- assisted the complainant would not justify the assumption that he was the father of the child, but could only be considered as a circumstance in the case. The instruction ■asked might have been given without error, but it can not be held to have been essential to a fair consideration of the case. The court’s instruction did not give an
Complaint is' made of the amount of the judgment.. The defendant was required to pay $600 down, and $1750 additional in semiannual installments of $50' each. He was worth something over $11,000. We do not think this court can say the amount was excessive..
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State of Kansas, ex rel. Dora J. Russell v. George T. Williams
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. 1. Illegitimate Child — Maintenance—Mistake in Title of Cause —Not Fatal to Recovery. Although the statute requires proceedings to charge the father of an illegitimate child with its maintenance to be prosecuted in the name of the state on the relation of the mother, the fact that the plaintiff is described in the papers simply as the state of Kansas, without reference-to the relator, is not a good ground for an objection to the-judgment. 2. Same — Statements by Defendant — Competent Evidence. In such a proceeding it is not error to admit evidence that the defendant stated to a lawyer who had at one time represented the complainant, but no longer did so, that he would rather pay something than be sued. 3. Same — Instruction Refused — Not Material Error. In such a proceeding, the court having instructed that the jury might, take into account the conduct of the defendant with regard to the complainant, and every other fact and circumstance-tending to throw light on the issue, it was not material error to refuse to instruct that evidence of his having assisted her would not justify the assumption that he was the father of her child.