Case Name: Scott et ux. - Petition in Error
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1788-01
Citations: 1 Kirby 362
Docket Number: 
Parties: Scott et ux. — Petition in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 362–362

Head Matter:
Scott et ux. — Petition in Error.
In a criminal prosecution, wliere the evidence is not sufficient to hold the accused person to a trial before a court of competent jurisdiction, he is not liable to pay cost.
Upon complaint of a grand juror, Scott and bis wife were brought before a. justice of the peace, for perjury.— Upon inquiry into the ground of complaint, the justice did not find sufficient evidence of the fact to bold them to trial before a court of competent jurisdiction, but dismissed them, and sentenced them to the payment of cost; for which he issued execution against each.
To this decision of the justice, three exceptions were taken: —
1. That they having been found innocent of the crime, no cost could by law be taxed against them.
2. That the justice taxed ten shillings for written affidavits, improved in the examination of the cause before him; whereas, it being a criminal prosecution, they were inadmissible by law, and -ought not, by any rule, to have been taxed. '
3. That execution ought not, by law, to have issued against the wife separate from her husband, in a matter of a mere pecuniary nature.
On the ground of the first exception, the judgment was reversed.

Opinion:
By the whole Court.
The justice not having authority to try and determine the cause, had no authority to give judgment for the payment of cost; and in case, where the evidence is not sufficient to subject the person accused to trial, the law doth not subject him to the payment of cost.