45 So. 2d 576 | Miss. | 1950
The sole question presented by this appeal is the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction for contempt of court. A special venire had been drawn and summoned for the trial of a murder charge against one Earl Strange. The evidence which the circuit judge
In 12 Am. Jur., p. 402, Contempt,- Sec.. 20,-it is said: "The general rule is that a.person who attempts to bribe-or influence the ■ decision of a juror is guilty of contempt of court, regardless of whether the act which constitutes the contempt is committed in or out of the presence of the court, or whether the juror is' actually sworn on a particular case or is only a member of the panel from which a trial jury is to be selected. To be in contempt of court, it is not necessary that a person accomplish his purpose. It is sufficient that he make a wilful attempt, -of- whatever .nature, -to influence improperly jurors, in the'-'impartial discharge of their duties.” - - ,
Substantially the same rule is announced in 17 C: J. S. Contempt, Sec. 22b, p. 28-29, and in Sullens v. State, 191 Miss. 856, 4 So. (2d) 356, 360, this court cited a long line of Mississippi decisions and said "Constructive contempt has been defined as ‘any act calculated to impede, embarrass, - obstruct, defeat, of corrupt the administration ■ of - courts of- justice, when the act is done beyond the presence of', the court.1 ” One of the authorities, cited in the Sullens case is Brewer v. State, 176
Finding that the conviction is abundantly supported by the authorities, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Affirmed.