Case ID: ny-crim_17/html/0263-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Parker, P. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Supreme Court—Appellate Division, Third Department.
    March, 1903.
    THE PEOPLE v. MATE MILLER.
    (81 App. Div. 255.)
    1. Trial—Jury—Challenge for Bias—Code Grim. Proc., Sec. 376.
    Where a juror has from reading newspapers and from discussions which he had heard formed an opinion of the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, which it would take strong evidence to remove, he should be excluded under challenge for bias unless he is able to state under oath not only that he could render an impartial verdict according to the evidence, hut also that such opinion or impression would not influence his verdict.
    2. Same—Code Crim. Proc., Secs. 148, 149—Information as to Disorderly House—Penal Code, Sec. 322.
    An information charged, in general phrase, that defendant, in the city of Elmira, had violated section 322 of the Penal Code, in that she did unlawfully keep and maintain a disorderly and common bawdy house and house of prostitution. It then stated the grounds of deponent’s knowledge to be that he with another on May 27, 1901, about 10.45, entered the “place” of defendant; that the door was opened by the proprietor herself; that two girls came to the room where they sat and asked them to go upstairs with them to their rooms for the purpose of unlawful sexual intercourse, and that the girls acted in a lewd manner. Held, that the information was insufficient to confer jurisdiction upon the magistrate, as the character of “ the place ” was not stated, nor that defendant knew that the girls were present in the room acting as stated in the information, and made no objection, nor was it alleged that the girls had any rooms or that they were members of defendant’s family or inmates of her house or that she had any control over them.
    Appeal by the defendant, Hate Hiller, from an order of the County Court of Chemung county, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Chemung on the 9 th day of January, 1902, affirming a. judgment of the Recorder’s Court of the city of Elmira, in favor of the plaintiff, bearing date the 8th day of August, 1901, convicting the defendant of keeping a, disorderly house, and also from said judgment of conviction.
    H. D. Wilcox, for the appellant.
    Franklin F. Aldridge, for the respondent.
   Parker, P. J.:

It is impossible to' read the record in this case and not reach the conclusion that the defendant has been convicted by a jury that was not selected in accordance with the rules of law.

Hr. Crowell, who sat as a juror, had, from reading, the city newspapers and from discussions which he had heard, formed an opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, which it would take strong evidence to1 remove.

This fact, prima facie, disqualified him from sitting as a juror, and he should have been excluded under the defendant’s challenge for bias, unless he was able, under the provisions of section 376 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to state under oath that he believed that such opinion or impression would not influence his verdict, and that he could render an impartial verdict according to the evidence. If he should so testify, and the trial court should be satisfied from such testimony that he did not entertain such a present opinion as would influence his verdict, then the existence of his opinion, so formed, would not he sufficient to1 disqualify him. (See People v. McQuade, 110 N. Y. 300.)

The trial court inquired of Crowell as to whether he believed that he could, notwithstanding his opinion, render an impartial verdict on the evidence, and he answered that he thought he could; but no inquiry was made, and he: said nothing, as to whether he believed such opinion would influence his verdict. In People v. Wilmarth (156 N. Y. 566, 569), it was expressly held that although the juror makes the statement which Crow-ell made as above stated, yet if he neglects to state his belief as to whether his verdict would be influenced by his opinion, his disqualification as a juror is not removed, and that it is error to allow him to sit. And in that case the fact 'that such a disqualified juror sat was held sufficient ground for the reversal of a judgment of conviction. The same thing is again held in People v. Flaherty (162 N. Y. 532, 535).

In addition toi the above, Doxey, Keefe and Allington were summoned as jurors, and upon being examined as to 'their qualifications, it appeared that each had formed an opinion that it would take evidence to remove: The same attempt was made to remove their prima facie disqualification as was made in the case of Crowell, and the same omission to inquire as to his belief whether such opinion, would or would not influence his verdict occurs. Each of these jurors were thereupon challenged by,the defendant for bias, and the challenge was. overruled. The defendant thereupon challenged each of them peremptorily. Most of the jurors who sat in the case were chosen after 'the defendant’s peremptory challenges had been thus exhausted, and hence the overruling of such challenges was also error.

Within the authorities above cited the foregoing errors are sufficient, to. require a reversal of this judgment.

There is another error claimed by the defendant which is more serious in its results. Upon being arraigned for trial, the defendant moved to be discharged on the ground that the information was not sufficient within the provisions of sections 148 and 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The information is sworn to by one Chipp, and charges in general phrase that the defendant, in the city of Elmira, has violated section 322 of the Penal Code, in that she did unlawfully keep, and maintain a. disorderly and common bawdy-house and house of prostitution. So far the information designates the crime complained of, but does not state any facts tending to establish the commission of that crime. It then proceeds to state the grounds of deponent’s knowledge “ of said violation,” as follows: That he, in company with another, on Hay 27, 1901, about 10:45— whether day or night does not appear^entered “ the place ” of said defendant. What kind of a “ place ” it was is not stated. Whether it was a. beer saloon, or a grocery store or a hotel does not appear. He then proceeds to. state that the door was opened by the proprietor herself, and it would seem that they entered the “ place ’’ and were seated in some room thereof. It is. then further stated that “ two girls came to. the room where we sat and asked us to. go. upstairs "with them to their rooms for the purpose of unlawful sexual intercourse; The girls acted in a lewd manner.” And this ends 'the statement of facts contained in that information. Do .such facts tend to establish the commission of the crime above charged against the defendant ? If they were connected with another fact, viz., that the defendant knew the girls were present in the room, acting and making the request above stated, and made no. objection thereto, I would be inclined to hold that the information was sufficient. But in the absence of any charge or suggestion that the defendant knew anything about their conduct, or was in any way responsible for it, there was no fact apparent indicating that, the “place” which the defendant was then keeping was in any manner in violation of section 322 of the Penal Code.

It must be noticed that there is no charge that the girls, in fact, had any rooms upstairs, or that they were members of her family or inmates of her house. At most, they claimed to have rooms upstairs. Hor is it stated that the defendant had any occupancy or control of the second story of that “ place,” or that the girls came in from any other part of her house, or that she (defendant) was in the room while they were there, or whether it was minutes or hours before they came in. Thus, there is nothing to connect the girls with the defendant or the defendant’s place. To illustrate, suppose the place had been a restaurant or saloon on the ground floor, rented and occupied by the defendant for that purpose; suppose the complainant had been ushered in by the defendant, had ordered some refreshments and sat down at a table, and the defendant had gone out to prepare them; that the two girls had come in from the street and sat down by complainant and made the proposition sworn to by him; suppose they had no> rooms upstairs, or suppose they had rooms there; rented from another party and over which the defendant had no control, from such facts no suspicion would arise that the defendant was keeping her place ” in violation of section 322 of the Penal Code; and yet every such fact would be in entire harmony with those stated in the information.

It seems clear that, conceding every fact stated in the information to' be true; yet alone by themselves they do not tend to establish that any crime had been committed by the defendant. Every fact therein stated is consistent with her entire innocence of the charge, and, therefore; the magistrate was without authority to cause her arrest.

It is to be regretted that this conclusion must be reached, for it results'in the defendant’s discharge. The specific objection was taken when the defendant was arraigned, and instead of being then put upon trial she should then have been discharged. The magistrate had not then acquired any jurisdiction to try her, and he never can acquire it upon such an information. Hence, not only must the conviction be reversed, but the defendant must be discharged.

The conviction, and order of the County Court must he reversed and the defendant discharged.

All concurred, except Smith, J., who voted for reversal and a new trial.

Judgment of conviction of Recorder’s Court and order of County Court confirming same reversed and the appellant discharged.