Court Opinion

ID: 9867932
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-26 17:16:01.200872+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:52.841818
License: Public Domain

GRAY, J., dissents upon the grounds
First, that the motion was to dismiss the indictment, and we have but recently held that the court had no authority to give such a direction (People v. Schooley, 149 N. Y. 99, 43 N. E. 536); and, second, because, if we concede that this motion to dismiss the indictment might be *395liberally regarded as the equivalent of a motion to direct an acquittal, nevertheless the case presented a question of fact upon the evidence, and, however unsatisfactory that evidence may be, it cannot be said as matter of law that proof was lacking of the elements necessary to constitute the crime charged. I thing that it is only legal error to refuse to direct an acquittal in a case of defective proof, and, as was said in People v. Bennett, 49 N. Y. 137, “it is not the province of the court to take the case from the consideration of the jury, although it may be of the opinion that it is not sufficient to convict.” Our duty in such a case as this is altogether other than when the judgment appealed from is one of death.
All concur with O’BRIEN, J.. for reversal, except GRAY, J., who reads memorandum of dissent.
Judgment reversed.