Case ID: mo_48/html/0481-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Currier, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State of Missouri, Plaintiff in Error, v. James Cartee et al., Defendants in Error.
    1. Criminal law — Misdemeanors — Disturbing pub lie worship, indictable.— The offense of disturbing a religious congregation (Wagn. Stat. 604, (S 30) being punishable by fine and imprisonment (vide same section), is an indictable one. The case is distinguishable from that of selling liqupr on Sunday, which is punishable by fine only, and under Wagn. Stat. 516, g 29, amenable only to a civil action. (State v. Huffscbmidt, 47 Mo. 73.)
    2. Disturbing public worship— Circuit Court has jurisdiction. — Of the offense of disturbing a religious congregation (Wagn. Stat. 604, $ 30) the Circuit Court has jurisdiction. (Wagn. Stat. 616, § 32; State v. Warnke, ante, p. 461.)
    
      Error to St. Francois Circuit Court.
    
    
      B. B. Cahoon, Circuit Attorney, with A. J. Baker, Attorney-General, for plaintiffs in error.
    
      Clardy & Robinson, for defendant in error.
   Currier, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

In November, 1870, the defendants were indicted in St. Francois county for the offense of disturbing a religious congregation. (Wagn. Stat. 504, § BO.) A demurrer to tlie indictment was sustained, and the case is brought here' by appeal. The objections to the indictment are that the court in which the indictment was found, as the defendants insist, had no jurisdiction of the offense, and that the offense charged, as the defendants urge, was not indictable.

No brief in behalf of the defendants is filed, but the objections above mentioned are presumed tobe founded upon the decision of this court in The :State-v.' Huffschmidt, 47 Mo. 73, where it was held that an indictment would not lie for the offense of selling liquor on Sunday in violation of the statute (Wagn. Stat. 504, " § 35). The case át bar, however, is broadly distinguishable from that. Here'the indictment is founded upon a different section of 'the statute (Wagn. Stat. 504, § 30) and is' for a'different offense, and upon an óffensé subject to a different measure of punishment. In the case now before us the offense charged is punishable by either fine or imprisonment, and is therefore not punishable by fine “ only,” as in the Huffschmidt case, The present indictment charges an offense which is punishable by “ fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and * * * by confinement in the county .jaib not exceeding three months” where the offender is unable to pay the fine imposed.

In the Huffschmidt case'the indictment charged an.offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $50, and no imprisonment was allowable. The court there -held,'in accordance with the statute (Wagn. Stat. 516,' §' 29),' that the.offense being “ punishable by fine only,” the remedy was by civil action, as-provided in the section last referred to.

The court had jurisdiction of the "subject-matter of the indictment. (Wagn. Stat. 516, § 32; and see State v. Warnke, ante, p. 451.)

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

The other judges concur.