Court Opinion

ID: 6520203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:30:22.484139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:07.685618
License: Public Domain

TYSON, J.
This appeal is from a judgment of conviction by the judge of the county court of Sumter county for carrying a pistol concealed in April, 1899, up*158on an indictment preferred by a grand jury of tbe circuit court at the spring term 1903, and properly transferred to the county court. — Local Acts, 1898-99.
It appears that the offense was committed in April, 1899, four years before the finding of the indictment.
The record discloses, it is true, that a prosecution was commenced in December, 1899, for this same offense by affidavit made before a justice of the peace upon which warrants were issued returnable to the county court. This prosecution was pending when the indictment upon which this trial was had was preferred, but was abandoned by the prosecuting attorney.
It is clear from this statement, no connection between the two prosecutions being properly shown so as to prevent the running of the statute of limitation, that this prosecution was barred. — Code, § 5071.
It is true section 5074 provides that “a prosecution may be commenced within the meaning of this chapter, by the issuing of a warrant or by binding over the offender.” But this statute contemplates that there must be some connection between the prosecution before the justice of the peace and this one before the former can operate to suspend, the running of the statute. “The indictment in other words, must be the continuance in legal effect of what was commenced or originated before the justice. One legal proceeding can in no sense be said to be the commencement of another, when the two are so far separated and distinct to be entirely without continuity or connection.” — Martin v. State, 79 Ala. 268. See also Giles v. State, 88 Ala. 230.
The defendant was entitled to an acquittal on his plea of the statute of limitation. The judgment appealed from is reversed and one will be entered discharging the defendant from further custody.
Reversed and rendered.