Case ID: la-ann_41/html/0402-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Bermudez, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 10,344.
    The State of Louisiana vs. H. B. Porter.
    A prisoner who, after sentence, escapes from custody, during the pending of his appeal, forfeits all rights to ho heard and cannot ho represented hy counsel on appeal*
    APPEAL from the Twenty-seventh District Court, Parish of Richland. Willicms, J.
    
      Walter II. Bogers, Attorney General, for the State, Appellee.
    
      David Todd for Defendant and Appellant.
   On Motion to Dismiss.

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Bermudez, C. J.

When this case was called for trial, the Attorney General moved for the dismissal of the appeal, on the ground that the defendant had broken jail and was at large, supporting his motion by conclusive evidence of the fact.

Counsel claiming to represent the defendant, under authority since the escape, has moved counter, for a continuance, giving the court the assurance that his client would surrender in time for trial when the case shall again come up.

The court has no mercy to extend to one who has voluntarily placed himself beyond the law and, however much it may lend a willing ear to the request and assurances of counsel, it would fail in its duty to compromise with jail breaking and convicted felons.

It is now settled that a prisoner under conviction and sentence, who escalios from custody during- the pendency of his appeal, cannot by counsel prosecute his appeal and forfeits all rights to be heard on the same. State vs. Wright, 32 Ann. 1017; State vs. Edwards, 36 Ann. 863; State vs. Mansfield, 38 Ann. 563.

It is, therefore, ordered that the appeal heroin bo dismissed w’th costs.