State v. Alford

Boyden, J.

In this case his Plonor charged the jury that if they believed the evidence, the battery was excessive and the defendant was guilty.

The evidence was, that the defendant lived with the mother of the boy, and although they were not married, they acted and lived as man and wife, and the mother com- *323 emitted the custody of the boy to the defendant; and that for some misconduct, the defendant whipped the boy, wRo made considerable outcry, and four days afterwards there was a mark on his back the width of a broomstraw, two inches long, where the skin had been broken and there was ■some discoloration. The charge of his Honor was not in ■accordance with the law as laid down by this Court in the case of the State v. Pendergrass, 2 Dev.

& Bat. 365 .

In that case, the defendant was a teacher of a school of ■small children, that upon one occasion, after mild treatment towards a little girl six or seven years old, had failed, the defendant whipped her with a switch, so as to cause marks upon her body,- which disappeared in a few days. Two marks were also proved to have existed, one on the arm, ■and another on the neck, which were apparently made with a larger instrument; but which also disappeared in a. few ■days.

In that case, his Honor,'the late Judge Gaston, as humane ■a Judge as ever presided in a Court, discussed the question at much length, and laid down the rule governing such cases. His Honor says, “ the line which separates moderate correction from immoderate punishment can only be ascertained by reference to general principles. Any punishment therefore which may seriously endanger life, limb or health, ■or shall disfigure the child, or cause any other permanent injury, may be pronounced in itself immoderate, as not ■only being unnecessary for, but inconsistent with, the purpose for which correction is authorized.

But any correction, however severe, which produces temporary pain only, and no permanent injury, cannot be so pronounced, since it may have been necessary for the reformation of the child, and does not injuriously affect its future welfare. “We hold therefore,” says his Honor, “that it may be laid down as a general rule that teachers exceed the limits of their authority when they cause lasting mis *324 chief; but act within the limits of it, when they inflict temporary pain.”

The same rule must govern this case. There is [no evidence of malice, but the case states that the correction was for some misconduct of the boy. It is not pretended that any permanent injury was inflicted, or that an improper instrument was used in correcting the boy, and it is highly probable that the slight mark was caused by the resistance of the boy, as the case states that the boy made considerable outcry.

We therefore think his Honor should have instructed the jury, that as it appeared that the chastisement was for the misconduct of the boy, and as the defendant acted in loco parentis, and the injury did not, nor was it in its nature, calculatedfto produce lasting injury to the boy, it did not exceed the limits of .the power granted to the defendant, and he was entitled to a verdict of not guilty.

There wasjerror. This will be certified to the end that the defendant may be discharged.

Pkr Curiam.

Judgment reversed.