Fanning v. Commonwealth

120 Mass. 388 | Mass. | 1876

Ames, J.

The provision contained in the Gen. Sts. c. 76, § 26, that, before sentencing a boy to the reform school, “ the court shall cause notice of the pendency of the case to be given to the mayor of the city, or one of the selectmen of the town, where the boy resided at the time of his arrest,” must be understood as having reference to a subsequent provision in the same statute rendering such city or town responsible to the extent of fifty cents a week for such boy’s support. Such city or town has no other special or pecuniary interest in the case, and does not stand in any such relation to the boy as to be concerned in his defence. There can be no question of the jurisdiction of the court over the offence with which he was charged. In Fitzgerald v. Commonwealth, 5 Allen, 509, which is cited by the ulaintiff in error, it was held that the judge of probate — having no common law jurisdiction—had no power to examine the case and pronounce judgment thereon, in a complaint against a boy for his commitment to the reform school, without first summoning in the father of the boy, if living; a very different case from that now under consideration, and arising under a different statute.

The omission to give the notice could not affect the party on trial in any way whatever. The statute contains no negative words, importing that the sentence shall be rendered void bj such omission. The manifest purpose of the provision is to impose upon the town or city a liability to which it would not otherwise be subject, having reference to the indemnity of the county against certain expenses that are to be incurred after the sentence. We think that this may be considered as a matter of direction only. Rex v. St. Gregory, 2 A. & E. 99. Lowell v. Hadley, 8 Met. 180. Neither the nature of the act to be performed, nor the language used by the Legislature, necessarily shows that it was intended as a limitation of the power of the court, or a condition precedent to its exercise. People v. Allen, 6 Wend. 486. Pond v. Negus, 3 Mass. 230. Williams v. School District, 21 Pick. 75. The omission of the notice, although/ it may relieve the town from a pecuniary liability, cannot affect the validity of the sentence. Judgment affirmed.