Ellis

Appellant, Jimmy Anthony Bryant, father of the child, intervened in an adoption proceeding brought by respondents and asked that the proceeding be dismissed. The Department of Social Welfare and the adoptive parents filed an answer to the complaint in intervention and after the trial the court decided that appellant had not legitimized the child and the consent of appellant was there *239 fore not necessary to the adoption. The appellant appeals from this judgment.

The evidence at the trial indicates that in October 1961 appellant, who was then 17, discovered that Sue, who was then 14, was pregnant with his child. They decided to go to Las Vegas and get married, but stopped in Indio where they spent the night. The next morning they called their parents and disclosed the situation to them. Both then returned to their respective homes. Appellant made an effort to discuss the situation with Sue but his attempts were rebuffed by her parents. Appellant then faked a suicide attempt in an effort to persuade Sue and her parents to go through with the marriage. He was placed in the hands of the juvenile authorities as a result of this escapade. He was placed on probation for approximately…