Case ID: wis_12/html/0534-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dixon, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

June Term, 1860.
    Peglow vs. The State.
    This Court cannot take notice of proceedings had upon the trial of a criminal action, although the minutes of them, as taken by the clerk or judge, are returned by the clerk as a part of the record. They must be embraced in a bill of exceptions in order to become a part of the record or be entitled to notice.
    A statement in the record in these words, “Prisoner in court, and sentenced by the court as follows: That the said P-P-be sentenced to state’s prison ” &c., purports to be merely a recital or memorandum by the clerk, and cannot be regarded as the record of a judgment of a court.
    If a sentence of imprisonment in the state prison omits to direct that the convict be punished by confinement at hard labor, it is erroneous.
    In such a case this court remits the record to the court below, with a direction that it proceed to give judgment upon the conviction according to law,
    ERROR to tbe Cbcuit Ooiut tor Manitowoc County. Indictment against Peglow and one Eranz, for murder. Plea, not guilty. They bad separate trials, and tbe former was found guilty of murder. Tliere was no bill of exceptions signed or filed. Tbe record entry as to tbe judgment or sentence pronounced, appears in tbe opinion of tbe court.
    
      IS. Fox Cook, for plaintiff in error.
    
      J. H. Howe, Attorney General, for tbe state.
    October 15.
   By the Court,

Dixon, C. J.

Tbe facts disclosed by tbe record in tbis case, bring it directly witbin tbe principles recognized and established by tbis court in tbe case of Benedict vs. The State, decided at tbe present term. No bill of exceptions was made, signed, or filed, and consequently we can take no notice of any of the proceedings which'were had after the arraignment and plea, and before verdict, . the minutes of them taken ,by the clerk or the presiding j ndge have been returned as a part of the record. There exists no valid objection either to the form or substance of the indictment, plea and verdict, and the sufficiency of the judgment or sentence which was supposed to have been pronounced, alone remains for our consideration. This is open to the same criticism as that in Benedict’s case. In form it more nearly resembles that in which judgments are usually awarded, than the one which was given in his case, but nevertheless it is in this respect defective. It does not purport to be the act and adjudication of the court, but the memorandum or recital of the clerk of what had taken place. It should appear to be the order and judgment of the court itself, and not the sketch or narrative of the clerk. After the title of the action and the day of the month, it is as follows: “Prisoner in court, and sentenced by the court as follows, to-wit: that the said Ferdinand Pegbw be sentenced to state’s prison, at "Waupun, for the term of his natural life, and that ten days of each year be passed in solitary imprisonment.” Here the court does not consider, order and adjudge, that the defendant, the said Ferdinand Pegbw, be punished by confinement, at hard labor in the state prison, for the term of his natural life, and that he be solitarily imprisoned for the period of ten days in each and every year of his said confinement, but the clerk merely says that the prisoner was “ sentenced” so and so. “ It is the saying of the clerk, and not the consideration of the court.” See Wheeler vs. Scott, 3 Wis., 362.

The supposed .sentence is likewise fatally deficient in not directing the convict to be confined at hard labor. This essential .part of every sentence, where the punishment of imprisonment in the state prison is awarded, is altogether omitted. See section 5, chap. 150, Revised Statutes, 1849, same as section 5, chap. 181, Revised Statutes, 1858.

The judgment which the law authorizes and requires, has never been pronounced, and the case stands as if no attempt to do so had ever been made.

The circuit court is, therefore, directed to proceed to give case’ acc01’c^ance with requirements of ttie law. Let the record báBfehmitted to the court below, with directions to that effect.

The plaintiff in error, being illegally confined in the state prison, should be delivered into the custody of the sheriff of the proper county, who will retain him until the proper sentence be awarded.