Case Name: State against J. P.
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1802-06
Citations: 1 Tyl. 283
Docket Number: 
Parties: State against J. P.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tyler
Volume: 1
Pages: 283–285

Head Matter:
State against J. P.
indictment for e^cmmotio^
THIS was an indictment for perjury contra Jormam statuti, presented to the Court January 3d, 1801.
William C. Harrington moved that the Indictment might be quashed because the crime is alleged to have been committed the 24th day of April, 1797, more than three years from the time the indictment was exhibited in Court.
He relied upon the act for the limitation of suits on penal statutes, criminal prosecutions, and actions at law, .passed November 6th, 1797. The 3d section enacts, “ that all actions, suits, bills, complaints, in-formations or indictments, which at any time hereafter shall be brought, had, commenced or prosecuted for any crime or misdemeanor, (theft, robbery, burglary, forgery, arson, and murder, excepted,) shall be brought, had, commenced or prosecuted within three years next after the offence was committed; and not after the expiration of the said three years.”
The Attorney for the State read the 13 th section of the same act: “ Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted and expressly declared, that this act shall not be construed to extend to or affect any right or rights, action or actions, remedies, fines, forfeitures, privileges or advantages, accruing under .any former act or acts, clause or clauses of acts, fall ing within the construction of this act, in any manner whatever
An4 the act passed November the 10th, 1797, entitled, fc an act repealing certain acts therein mentioned;” which act repeals the act for the prevention and punishment of frauds and perjuries, passed March the 8th, 1787, and by section 3d provides, “ that the aforesaid repealed acts or laws shall be in full force. as to all matters and things done or transacted during their existence, to which they relate, to all intents and pui'poses as though this act had not been made; and •all such matters may be prosecuted, commenced, done and completed, at any time hereafter, pursuant to the same laws.”
Mr. Attorney contended, that though the indictment had been presented to the Court since the passing of the statute of November 6th, 1797, cited by the respondent’s counsel, and since the passing of the present statute against perjury, yet the crime alleged in the indictment is set forth to have been perpetrated before the existence of those acts. The indictment being contra foxmam statuti must be considered to lie on th.e statute of the 8th of March, 1787, and is therefore sustained by the saving clause of the repealing act, passed November the 10th, 1797, to which reference is virtually had in the limitation act passed November the 6th, 1797.

Opinion:
Sed per Curiam.
It is immaterial under which of the acts against perjury the indictment may be supposed to have been found. The act of limitation, passed November 6th, 1797, takes effect in all cases-from the exhibition of the indictment in Court. The clerk is directed by the 5th section of the same act to make a minute in writing on the indictment, under jiis official signature, of the true day, month and year when the same was exhibited; and if the crime of perjury is alleged in the indictment to have been committed more than three years before the date of such exhibition of the indictment, the prosecution is limited.
Levi House, Attorney for the State.
' W. C. Harrington, for defendant.
Indictment quashed.