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41 Ga. 220

Pascal v. Jones

Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided June 15, 1870

Supreme Court of Georgia · decided 1870-06-15

Negroes. Illegitimates. Habeas Corpus. Before Judge Clarlf. Dougherty County. Chambers, February, 1870. Said Dinah and Hector are negroes. They had been slaves, lived together as man and wife and had issue, a boy, now ten or eleven years old. After the birth of this boy they separated, and though belonging to the same master and living at the same place, they did not maintain the relationship of husband and wife at the date of emancipation 'from slavery.

Decided 1870-06-15

¶1By the Court—

McCAY, J.,

¶2delivering the opinion.

¶3Under the facts of this case, as they appear in the record, it is very clear that the child whose custody is in dispute is, under the Acts of 1865, and the Act of 1866, the legitimate child of Hector Jones.

¶4He was born in what was considered at the time among slaves, wedlock, and he has been distinctly acknowledged and claimed by his father, Hector, since emancipation: Acts of 1865 and 1866, pamp., 239-240; Act of 1866, pamp., 157. We agree therefore with Judge Clark, that under the proof, he is the legitimate child of Hector Jones.

¶5There is nothing in the facts to indicáte any special reason why Hector should not have the custody of the child. Both the parents stand unimpeached as to their industry and morality, the boy is ten or eleven years old, the mother has another husband, and we do not feel disposed to interfere with Judge Clark’s disposition of him. We affirm his judgment.

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