Case Name: The State, Plaintiff in Error v. Cox
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1877-10
Citations: 67 Mo. 46
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State, Plaintiff in Error v. Cox.
Judges: All concur.
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 67
Pages: 46–47

Head Matter:
The State, Plaintiff in Error v. Cox.
A Writ of Error does not lie on behalf of the State in a criminal case, (following 'State v. Copeland, 65 Mo. 497).
Error to Cole Circuit Court. — Hon. Georse W. Miller, Judge.
J. M. Edwards for the State cited State v. Newkirk, 49 Mo. 472 ; State v\ Peck, 51 Mo. 112; Wag. Stat., p. ■ 1112, s 2,
Henry Flanagan for defendant in error. ■
. 1. A writ of error is not allowed to the State in a criminal case; its remedy is by appeal. 2 Wag. Stat., p. 1112, § 1; p. 1114, §§ 13, 14.
2. No writ of error lies where an appeal is allowed, unless the former remedy be also given by express terms. Without the aid of the statute, thé State cannot review the judgment of an inferior court. People v. Casborns, 13 Johns. 351;. People v. Tarbox, 30 How. Pr. 318; People v. Dill, 1 Scam. (111.) 257; State v. Reynolds, 2 Hay. (Tenn.) 110; Commonwealth, v. .Harrison, 2 Virg. Cases 202 ; People v. Corning, 2 Comst. (N. Y.) 9; The San Pedro, 2 Wheat. 132; McCollum v: Eager, 2 How. U. S. 61; Surgett.v. La.pice, 8 How. 48 ; Verden v. Coleman, 22 How. Í92; Parish ■ v. Ellis,. 16 Pet. 451; McDaniel v. Plumbe, 3- Iowa (Greene) 331; McPoland v. Fitzpatrick, 1 Greene (Iowa) 543 ; Bradford v. Marvin, 2 Fla. 101; Harris v. Cole, 2 Fla. 400; Gibson v. Rogers, 2 Ark. 334 ; Russell v. Pierce, 7 Porter (Ala.) 276; Miller v. ■Goffe, 9 Porter (Ala.) '265.; Ex •parte Sand-ford, 5 Ala. 562 ; Springer v. Springer, 43 Pa. St. R.' 518; Wike v. Líghtner, 1 Rawle (Pa.) 289; Baker v. Williamson, 2 Pa. St. R. 116; Lord v. Pierce, 33 Maine 350; Peebles v. Rand, 43 N. H. 337; Flanders v. White Mountain Bank, 43 N. H. 383; Medcalf v. Serett, 1 N. H. 338; Monk v. Guild, 3 Met. 372; Savage v. Gulliver, 4 Mass. 171; Jarvis v. Blanchard, 6 Mass. 4; Champion v. Brooks, 9 Mass. 228; Parmenter v, Par'mentbr, 3 Head (Tenn.) 22-5; Belaplaine v. The City of Madison, 7 Wis. 407.

Opinion:
Sherwood, C. J.
— The defendant indicted for bigamy successfully demurred' to the indictment. The State sued out a writ of error. The motion filed by defendant's counsel, questions the right of the State to bring up a criminal case in this wTay ; and this is the only point that need be considered. In the case, of The State v. Copeland, 65 Mo. 497, we held from a mere examination of the statute, and the changes made therein since the decision delivered in The State v. Spear, 6 Mo. 644, that a writ of error would lie in .a criminal case in behalf of the defendant alone. And we think that an examination of the statute in question, especially when considered in connection with the history of its changes, whereby it has been brought into its present shape, is absolutely conclusive against the right of the State to sue out a writ of error. But another reason would seem equally cogent in support of the position we assumed, and lies in the fact that the State possesses no such right under the statute,, unless expressly conferred. (State v. Reynolds, 2 Hayw. 110; The People v. Corning, 2 Comst. 9;. Commonwealth v. Cummings, 3 Cush. 212 ; State v. Johnson, 2 Iowa 549; Commonwealth v. Harrison, 2 Virg. Cas. 202.) That the statute in relation to criminal practice, neither in express terms, nor yet indirectly, authorized the State, to sue out a writ of error, is patent to even casual •observation.
For the reason herein expressed, as well as those announced on a former occasion, we grant the motion and •quash' the writ.
All concur.
Motion Granted.