Complaint By Mother

Complaint may be made by an unmarried woman who shall be pregnant or delivered of a child, before a justice of the peace or in the Municipal Court in the City of Chicago, accusing a person of being the father of a bastard child.

R. S.. ch. 17.

Sec. 1.

Sec. 4.

Trial

The Municipal Court shall try the issue whether or not the person charged as aforesaid is the real father of the child. (See R. S. ch. 37, Sec. 265, Sixth Class (d)).

Sec. 6.

Witnesses

The parties to the proceeding may be witnesses.

Sec. 7.

Judgment For Defendant

If the defendant is found not guilty the woman making the complaint shall pay the costs, and judgment shall be entered therefor, and execution may issue thereupon.

Sec. 8.

Judgment Against Defendant

If the defendant is found guilty he may be ordered to pay a sum of money not exceeding $100 for the first year after the birth of such child, and a sum not exceeding $50 yearly for nine years thereafter, for the support and maintenance of the child. Bond may be ordered for the security of the payment of said judgment.

Sec. 9.

Commitment

In case of failure to give security the defendant may be committed to jail, from which he cannot be discharged for insolvency or inability to give bond within six months after commitment.

Sec. 10.

Money, How Used

The money received must be appropriated to the support of the child as directed by the court.

Sec. 13.

Custody Of Child

The reputed father of the child has no right to the custody of the child where the mother wishes to retain control of it, until the child is ten years of age.

Sec. 14.

Child Dying

If at any time it be suggested to the court that the child has died, or was never born alive, any bond given shall thenceforth be void.

Sec. 15.

Marriage Of Parents - Legitimated

If the mother and reputed father of the bastard child intermarry after the birth of said child, it shall be deemed and held a legitimate child.

Limitation

Prosecution under this act must be started within two years from the birth of the bastard child, except that while the person accused shall be absent from the state, time shall not be computed.

Sec. 16.

Mother May Release

With the written consent of the County Court the mother of a bastard child can release the reputed father upon the payment of any sum to her. She can release the reputed father without the consent of court upon the payment of not less than $400.

Sec. 17.

Concealing Death Of Bastard - Punishment

Any woman who endeavors in any way to conceal the death of a child which, if born alive, would be a bastard, whether it shall have been murdered or not, shall be confined in the county jail not exceeding one year. Act does not prevent such mother from being punished for murder of such child.

R. S., ch. 38, sec. 44.

Descent - Illegitimates

An illegitimate child shall be heir of its mother and of any person from whom its mother might inherit, if living; the lawful issue an illegitimate person shall take by descent any estate which the parent would have taken, if living.

(For further information see the statutes).

R. S., ch. 39.

Sec. 2.

Child Legitimated

An illegitimate child whose parents have intermarried and whose father has acknowledged it as his child shall be considered legitimate.

Sec. 3.