Case Name: State v. Yancy
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1814-04
Citations: 1 Car. L. Rep.  519
Docket Number: 
Parties: State v. Yancy.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 519–520

Head Matter:
State v. Yancy.
Indictment for an assault and battery, to which the defendant pleaded “ auterfoit convict,” on which the Jury found specially, that the defendant for the assault wherewith he is charged, had been brought into the County Court of Wake, and, on his submission, fined for a contempt, the assault having been committed in view of the Court.
The question is, whether the plea, under the facts found, forms a bar to this indictment.
The case was argued by Burton, Attorney-General, for the State; and Browne for the defendant. For the State was cited 9 Johns. 417; for the defendant, 4 Bl. 121. Cro. Eliz 405. 1 Bl. Rep. 640.

Opinion:
Taylor, C. J.
The punishment for the contempt is not a bar to this prosecution. The first was in the exercise of a power incident to all Courts of Record, and essential to the administration of the laws. The punishment, in such cases? must be immediate, or it would be ineffectual, as it is designed to suppress an outrage, which impedes the business of the Court. The indictment for the assault, leads to the correction of the party for the disturbance of the public peace. Although but one injury is done to the individual assaulted, yet the same act constitutes two public offences ; which, according to the circumstances, might require different degrees of punishment. The Court may punish, in a summary way, its officers abusing its process, by oppressing the parties, or Committing extortion, fraud or malpractice ; yet none of these offences are merged in the contempt. If parties concerned in a cause are libelled, this amounts to a contempt of the Court, and may be punished in a summary way; but may not the offender also be indicted ? The same consequence would seem to follow in cases of rescue, where the party might be punished both for the contempt and the misdemeanor. One offence violates the law which protects Courts of Justice, and stamps an efficient character on their proceedings; the other is levelled against the general law, which maintains the public order and tranquillity.