Case Name: United States v. Fleet Smith
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1836-03
Citations: 4 Cranch 727
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Fleet Smith.
Judges: (Morsell, J., absent,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 4
Pages: 727–727

Head Matter:
United States v. Fleet Smith.
If the indictment does not describe an indictable offence, the magistrate, who takes the hail in the case, has a discretion as to the amount of the bail, and no corrupt motive can be imputed to him on account of the smallness of the amount in -which the bail is taken.
The act not being illegal, the Court -will not permit evidence to he given of a corrupt motive.
Indictment for taking insufficient bail upon a bench-warrant against Miller for “ keeping a certain gaming-table called a faro-bank.”
Mr. Brent and Mr. Bradley, for the defendant,
prayed the Court to instruct the jury that the prosecution cannot be sustained, as this Court has quashed the original indictment against Miller, on the ground that it did not describe an indictable offence.
The bench-warrant which issued upon the presentment was “ to answer to a certain misdemeanor, as it is presented,” without further description of the offence ; and upon reference to the presentment, it does not appear that any offence is charged.
Mr. Dunlop, for the United States, control,
contended that the magistrate had no right to judge of the validity of the indictment, nor whether it was an indictable offence.
Mr. Bradley and Mr. Brent, in reply,
cited Starkie on Criminal Evidence, 168, and 2 Chitty, c. 8, pp. 144, 158.

Opinion:
The Court
(Morsell, J., absent,)
instructed the jury, that as the indictment did not describe an indictable offence, and the justice had discretion as to the amount, no corrupt motive can be imputed to him from the smallness of the bail taken. It was not an illegal act, and therefore the motive is immaterial.
And Cranch, C. J., added, that if any corrupt act was done to obstruct the due course of justice, it might be the ground of a separate count, or indictment; but upon this count the act of taking the bail in $20 only, not being illegal, the Court will not admit evidence of a corrupt motive.