Weatherwax v. State

[428] The opinion of the court was delivered by Valentine, J.: This was an action on a forfeited recognizance. This is the second time that the case has been brought to this court. [The State v. Weatherwax, 12 Kas. 463.) When the case was first brought to this court the only question involved therein was, whether a minor who was a defendant in a,criminal action could bind himself personally by a recognizance entered into by himself and sureties for his personal appearance at the next term of the district court to answer to a charge in such criminal action, of committing a criminal offense.' We then answered said question in the affirmative. There are now two new questions raised in the case. First: If said minor had, at the time he executed said recognizance, a guardian, who had previously been appointed by the probate court to manage the property of said minor, and if said guardian did not give his consent to said minor’s executing .said recognizance, would the want of such consent render said recognizance invalid as to said minor ? Second: And if, after said recognizance had been forfeited, and after said minor had been rearrested, tried, convicted and sentenced in said criminal action, the governor had then granted a full pardon to said minor for the offense of which he was convicted, would such pardon release said minor from all liability on said forfeited recognizance? We must answer both of these questions in the negative. We cannot see that the fact that Weatherwax had a guardian at the time that he entered into said recognizance, and that said guardian did not give his consent thereto, can make any material difference in this particular case. It does not appear that the guardian was ready or willing to furnish his ward with that personal liberty necessary for his growth and development, nor does it appear that the guardian could have done so even if he had so desired. Nor can we see how a pardon could reach a matter wholly independent of the criminal offense charged, or of the punishment therefor. Even if the defendant had been [429] acquitted on the criminal charge, still this action on the forfeited recognizance might be maintained. The judgment of the court below must be affirmed. All the Justices concurring.