Court Opinion

ID: 5264399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 18:53:12.091789+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:28:07.315607
License: Public Domain

Blackmar, P. J.:
The court has inherent power to order the return to the owner of books, papers or other articles illegally seized or detained by a magistrate or other public officer charged with the administration of the criminal law. (People v. Kinney, 185 N. Y. Supp. 645; United States v. Mills, 185 Fed. Rep. 318; United States v. Kraus, 270 id. 578; Weeks v. United States, 232 U. S. 383, 398; Newberry v. Carpenter, 107 Mich. 567.) As, in this case, the petition is filed against a justice of the Supreme Court, although acting as magistrate, we do not doubt that the Appellate Division is the proper court to entertain the proceeding. (Matter of Barkley, 42 App. Div. 597, 609; Campbell v. Friedlander, 51 id. 191.) Although the Legislature has no power to curtail the constitutional power of this court, yet the power exercised in this case is recognized in sections 66 and 132 of the Civil Practice Act.
The Hon. Selah B. Strong, a justice of the Supreme Court, was holding, pursuant to assignment thereto by the Appellate Division, a Trial Term in the county of Nassau, at' which a grand jury was in attendance. On the 29th of December, 1921, subpoenas were served on the petitioners, Both and Weston, commanding them to appear on that day before the justice, sitting as a magistrate, as witnesses in a criminal proceeding prosecuted by the People against John Doe. The subpoena served upon Both required him to produce certain books, papers, writings, checks, vouchers, time sheets, proposals and day books, dealing with or affecting contracts, work, labor or services on public contracts or public works between the 1st day of January, 1917, and December 15, 1921. The subpoenas were served by two State troopers. The books and papers were loaded into an automobile and the petitioners carried them to the court house, the troopers going in *425another vehicle. The justice, sitting as magistrate, having warned the petitioners of their right to refuse to answer any questions that would tend to incriminate them, presented to them written waivers of immunity, which they signed, and they were examined under oath.
The justice, in the affidavit read in opposition to the motion, deposes that on December 23, 1921, an information was laid before him, as committing magistrate, charging John Doe, Richard ■Roe and others with violating section 1872 of the Penal Law. That section makes it a felony to knowingly, with intent to defraud, present for audit, allowance or payment to any officer or board of the State or any political division thereof, authorized to audit, allow or pay bills, any false or fraudulent claim or bill. The justice further deposes that the petitioners voluntarily testified before him and identified the books and accounts “ until it became apparent that the petitioners herein had presented a false claim to the County of Nassau and collected the face amount thereof.” Up to this time the district attorney took no part in the inquisition except that he drew and handed to the magistrate written forms of waiver of immunity.
It appears that the justice, having continued the December term, on or about January 23, 1922, requested the district attorney to convene the grand jury, which had not been discharged, and a Mr. Vandewater, who had been assisting in the investigation in some capacity undisclosed, turned over to the district ■ attorney certain books of the petitioners, which he used in the presentation to the grand jury of the case entitled People v. John Doe, but which, according to the affidavit of the district attorney, “ in fact was a charge against Both & Weston of presenting a fraudulent claim for audit to the County of Nassau.”
It is not necessary to go into detail in the proceeding further. It is enough to say that the grand jury failed to indict; that the magistrate, acting as a Supreme Court justice, called the grand jury before him, and told them that there were facts brought out before him as a magistrate which in his judgment were sufficient to warrant indictment, and that, on February first, the justice entered an order that the matter be resubmitted to the grand jury for further consideration and action. So far as we are informed by papers before us, the matter rests in this condition.
We think the subpoenas were issued without jurisdiction and that the private books of the petitioners were seized without warrant of law and in violation of section 8 of article 2 of the Civil Rights Law.
The magistrate deposed that there was an information laid before him charging John Doe, Richard Roe and others with a crime. *426Although we have three times suggested that the information should be exhibited to us, we have not seen it. Without a sufficient information the magistrate had no jurisdiction. An information is not sufficient unless it charges a designated person with a specified crime. (Code Crim. Proc. § 145; People ex rel. Livingston v. Wyatt, 186 N. Y. 383.) If the name or identity of the person charged is known, an information concealing his identity under the name of John Doe or Richard Roe, is insufficient to confer jurisdiction. Whether a person is haled before a magistrate by a subpoena or warrant, whether his property is seized under a subpcena duces tecum or a search warrant, is unimportant. If he is really the one charged, he is entitled to the protection of the forms of law. He must be informed of the charge against him, of his right to counsel (Code Crim. Proc. § 188), and be given time to send for counsel (Id. § 189). The examination must be completed in one session unless adjourned for good cause, and then only for two days at a time, unless by consent or on motion of the defendant (Id. § 191). The magistrate must at the conclusion of the examination either discharge the accused or hold him for the grand jury (Id. §§ 207, 208).
The only conclusion that can be drawn from all the facts, especially from those deposed to by the magistrate, is that the information was aimed at the petitioners under the names of John Doe and Richard Roe. If so, the whole proceeding is void.
The justice of the Supreme Court, holding a term at which a grand jury was present, held an inquisition, which he calls a John Doe proceeding, to secure evidence to send to the grand jury. No such power of inquisition is given to a magistrate. To the grand jury, and to it alone, is given the power of investigation without a definite charge. The secrecy of the grand jury prevents injury to reputations from roving investigations, and no indictment may be found except on evidence which, unexplained or uncontradicted, is sufficient to warrant a conviction by a trial jury. (Code Crim. Proc. § 258.)
Our order required the return of those books and papers not before the grand jury. If, however, the respondent wishes to appeal to the Court of Appeals, he has our permission.
We, however, deny the motion for a stay of proceedings pending the appeal. This application is addressed to our discretion. Three times during the progress of the hearings before this court, first, when the order to show cause was returnable; second, upon the hearing on the adjourned date, and third, upon the motion made for a stay, the court suggested the propriety of the respondent’s furnishing a copy of the information; but this has not been done. Our opinion is that without compliance with this suggestion of the *427court, we should not exercise our discretion in staying the proceedings under the order.
The motion, for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals should be granted; motion for a stay denied.
Kelly, Jaxcox, Manning and Young, JJ., concur.
Motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals granted. Motion for stay denied.