Case Name: State vs. Joseph Collins
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1879-12-13
Citations: 12 R.I. 478
Docket Number: 
Parties: State vs. Joseph Collins.
Judges: 
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 482–483

Head Matter:
State vs. Joseph Collins.
The permission giveu by Public Laws R. I. cap. 508, § 31, of June 25, 1875, to officers of the law to bring complaints for violation of said chapter 508, without giving recognizance for costs, accrues only to such officers as are mentioned in the other sections of said chapter.
Hence, the so-called “Deputy Chief of Police of the City of Providence” cannot complain without recognizing.
Exceptions to the Court of Common Pleas.
December 13, 1879.

Opinion:
Pee Cueiam.
The court is of opinion that the only officers who are entitled to make complaint for the violation of chapter 508 of the Public Laws, Act of June 25,1875, under § 31 thereof, without giving recognizance for costs, are the officers designated in other sections of the chapter. The complaint in this case purports to have been made by " John T. Brown, Deputy Chief of Police of the City of Providence." No such officer is mentioned in the chapter, and, in fact, no such officer is known to the law of the State. A recognizance should have been required. No recognizance was given. The defendant moved the dismissal of the complaint on that account, first in the Justice Court and subsequently on appeal in the Court of Common Pleas. The motion was denied. We think it should have been granted, there being no question but that it was seasonably made. State v. McCarty, 4 R. I. 82. The recognizance is required to secure the defendant's costs as well as the State's, and it is only through the recognizance that the defendant can recover costs at all. Gen. Stat. R. I. cap. 186, § 4,11, 8. The exceptions are sustained and the complaint dismissed.
Samuel JP. Colt, Assistant Attorney General, for plaintiff.
Greorge J. West, for defendant.
Exceptions sustained.