Court Opinion

ID: 9642702
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 18:07:00.545368+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:51.320614
License: Public Domain

RUDKIN, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
The form of sentence in this ca.se is:
“It is therefore ordered and adjudged that the said A. E. Wagner and Art Matthiesen each be imprisoned for the period of three (3) months, and that each pay a fine in the sum of five hundred ($500) dollars, or, in default of the payment thereof, defendant so in default be further imprisoned for the period of five (5) months.”
I concur in the foregoing opinion solely because of the construction there placed on the sentence before us. To avoid any future misunderstanding, however, I desire to say that the construction thus given is not the natural one, if, indeed, it is a permissible one. It seems to me the opinion construes the sentence according to its legal effect, and not according to its terms. The plain import of the language used is that, in ease of default in the payment of the fine, the defendant so in default be further imprisoned for the period of 5 months, regardless of section 1042 of the Revised Statutes, and regardless of any other consideration. And in this connection we are not without the most cogent proof as to the views of the court below. Thus, in the matter of the application of Alfred Anzani for a writ of ha-beas corpus, No. 18335, in the District Court, the form of the sentence was identical with the sentence in this ease, both as to the amount of the fine and the terms of imprisonment. After having served out the full term of imprisonment imposed by the court and 30 days additional, the petitioner there applied to a United States commissioner for his discharge under section 1042 of the Revised Statutes. The discharge was refused upon the sole ground that by the terms of the sentence the petitioner was to be imprisoned for the further period of 5 months, in ease of default in the payment of the fine, and was therefore not entitled to a discharge under section 1042, supra. Application was thereupon made to the learned judge of the court below for a writ of habeas corpus, but the writ was denied, the court saying:
“The judgment in each of these cases is a term of imprisonment, and a fine with the alternative, if fine is not paid that he shall be further imprisoned.”
As thus construed, the latter part of the sentence is clearly void for uncertainty.
“In the absence of a statute authorizing it, a sentence directing the alternative punishment of fine or imprisonment is void for uncertainty.” 16 C. J. 1304.
To the same effect, see Ex parte Martini, 23 Fla. 343, 2 So. 689; State v. Sturgis, 110 Mc. 96, 85 A. 474, 43 L. R. A. (N. S.) 443; Brownbridge v. People, 38 Mich. 751; Donnoly v. People, 38 Mich. 756; People v. Carroll, 44 Mich. 371, 6 N. W. 871; Turner v. Smith, 90 Mich. 309, 51 N. W. 282; Miller v. City of Camden, 63 N. J. Law, 500, 43 A. 1069; Roop v. State, 59 N. J. Law, 487, 34 A. 885; State v. Perkins, 82 N. C. 682; In re Deaton, 105 N. C. 59, 11 S. E. 244.
If the construction given the sentence by the court below is the correct one, the sentence is void; and, if two or more constructions are equally admissible, it is likewise void. Where a fine is imposed, the court may or may not imprison until the fine is paid; but, if it does imprison, the form of the sentence should be that the defendant be imprisoned until the fine is paid or until he be otherwise discharged by due course of law.
I presume the United States commissioner will accept the construction placed upon the sentence by this court as against the construction heretofore placed on similar sentences by himself and by the court below, and that he will discharge the plaintiffs in error at the proper time on a proper showing. But, if he fails to do so, no harm can result, because they will be entitled to an immediate discharge on habeas corpus.
I am authorized to say that Judge MORROW concurs in this opinion.