31 N.Y.S. 373 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1894
Lead Opinion
This case comes before us upon a writ of certiorari to review a proceeding to punish the relators for contempt, in having published a false and grossly inaccurate report of the proceedings of the court of sessions of Albany county. The proceeding is one founded upon section 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The contempt charged is a criminal contempt. The practice of courts for the punishment of criminal contempt does not seem to be regulated by statute, any further than as prescribed by section 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which reads as follows:
“Such a contempt, committed in the immediate view and presence of the court, may be punished summarily; when not so committed, the party charged must be notified of the accusation, and: have a reasonable time to make his defence.”
The provisions of title 3 of. chapter 17, sections 2206 to 2292, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure, refer, I think, to the practice in cases of civil contempt, and do not apply to the cases enumerated in section 8, unless some of the acts set forth as contempts in section 8 are also included among those enumerated in section
It is elementary law that every court is the judge as to whether a contempt has been committed against it. Ex parte Chamberlain, 4 Cow. 49; Conover v. Wood, 5 Abb. Pr. 84; Mitchell’s Case, 12 Abb. Pr. 252. The contempt in this case was of the most outrageous character, and the only question open for discussion by this court is as to whether there was sufficient before the court to justify the court in finding that the relators were the persons guilty of the contempt that had been committed against it. This leads us to a review of the proceedings had in the court.
After the parties accused of contempt have been notified of the charge against them, and brought into court, and a reasonable time given'them to make their defense, the trial, if it may be so called, is necessarily of a somewhat summary character; and, while all necessary safeguards to protect the innocent should be preserved, yet the same technical precision of pleading and evidence that is
The affidavit of the district attorney, referred to in the order to show cause, set forth the publication of several articles in a newspaper published in the city and county of Albany, reflecting upon the presiding judge of the court of sessions of Albany county, and which articles, it was alleged in said affidavit, were grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings in said court. The articles in question appear to be set forth in full in said affidavit. In his affidavit, the district attorney alleged, upon information and belief, that the defendants (the relators here) were the editors, proprietors, and managers of the newspaper named in his affidavit, and the writers and publishers of said articles. The order to show cause was issued on the 25th day of April, 1894. The relators appeared in court, in person and by counsel, on the 4th day of May, following. As before stated, the hearing in proceedings of this character is necessarily somewhat summary, and, in determining whether sufficient appeared before the court to justify it in coming to the conclusion that the defendants were the persons responsible for the writing and publication of the articles in question, we must bear in mind that the court was acting as court and jury both, and was judge both of the law and the facts; and we must try and place ourselves in the position of the court at that time, in order to judge how the proceeding, demeanor, and conduct of the defendants appeared to the court, and how far the same would justly- and properly influence the judgment and opinion of the court in arriving at the conclusion that the persons then before it were in truth and fact the parties responsible for the newspaper articles in question. On coming into court in response to the order to show cause, the counsel for the defendants “moved to dismiss the proceedings on the ground that nothing was stated in the affidavit which gives the court any jurisdiction of the proceedings; that the only statute which gave jurisdiction to any court to punish for criminal contempt was section 8 of the Code of Civil- Procedure, and that the affidavit did not show the commission of any act coming within the provisions of that section, or any subdivision thereof; also, that the affidavit did not state or point out wherein the article alleged to be published by the defendants was false, or grossly inaccurate; that the affidavit, like an indictment or a complaint in a civil action, should point out wherein the report is false, and wherein it is grossly inaccurate; and that, until defendants áre apprised of what is charged against them in that respect, they ought not to be put upon their defense in a proceeding of this kind.”
The second objection, that the affidavit did not show the commission of any act coming within the provisions of section 8, or any subdivision thereof, is equally untenable. As before stated, the affidavit sets forth in full certain articles in relation to the proceedings of the court, alleged to have been published in a newspaper printed in the city of Albany, and which articles the affidavit states to be grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings of said court,—an amply sufficient allegation to bring it within the section of the Code claimed to have been violated.
The next objection is that the affidavit did not state or point out wherein the articles alleged to have been published were false or grossly inaccurate. It is sufficient answer to that to say that the affidavit characterizes all the articles as grossly false and inaccurate. Hi addition, the court, did, of itself, then and there announce to the defendants and their counsel thte particular things stated in the articles for which it proposed to hold them to answer, and that portion was pointed out to them in the following words:
“That portion of it in which they charge this court with assigning Henry Peckham to defend a repeater, or a person charged with repeating, and also-Mr. Andrews, stating that they were both counsel for the Citizens’ committee, or some committee,—Honest Elections committee, or something of that sort. That portion X shall require them to reply to.”
As we have seen, it was not necessary that the order to show cause should be founded upon any affidavit. The court could make an order of its own motion, and bring the defendants into court, and notify them of the charge against them. Here an affidavit was made, setting forth several newspaper articles; they are brought into court; and then and there the court orally notifies them what particular portion of those articles it proposed to hold them to answer for. The court gave them what might, perhaps, be termed a bill of particulars.
It will be observed that, up to this point, no question is raised as to the affidavit being insufficient, as a matter of evidence, to charge the defendants with the authorship or publication of the articles in question, or that they were connected therewith by legal evidence. The only objections that are raised are as to the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the proceedings, and as to whether the facts set forth in the affidavit constitute a criminal contempt, and that the affidavit does not specify what portions of the articles published are grossly false and inaccurate. There is not a hint or suggestion that the defendants were not guilty of the publication of the articles in
“The above-named defendants, each of them, hereby deny, each for himself, that he has been guilty of the publication of any false or grossly inaccurate report of any of the proceedings of said court.”
Under all rules of pleading or of evidence, it seems to me that ’ this must be regarded as an admission of everything charged against them, except that which is specifically denied, and so it must have appeared to the court It is a negative pregnant,—a negative big with affirmative meaning. The affidavit alleged the publication of several articles in a newspaper; that such articles were grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings of the court; and that the defendants were “the editors, proprietors, and managers of said paper, and the writers and publishers of said articles.” Merely denying that they had been guilty of publishing any false or grossly inaccurate proceedings of the court was, in effect, an admission of the publication of such articles in the newspaper named, and that they were the editors, proprietors, and managers of the newspaper, and the writers and publishers of the articles set forth in the affidavit they were answering. The court had specified the particular portions of the articles they were to be held accountable for, and, in simply using the language of the Code which defines the offense, in making their denial, their answer was evasive. In the case of Yates v. Lansing, 9 Johns. 395-414, it was held that, where there is a refusal to answer to a charge against one for contempt, it is an admission by the defendant that the complaint is well founded. Upon the same principle, I think it must be held that when he does answer he must be held to admit those things which he does not deny. If we treat the proceeding as a motion being heard on affidavits, it seems to me the result is the same. Considering it as a motion, it may be, if the defendants had come into court, and challenged the sufficiency of the allegations made against them, that as matter of law the allegations in the moving papers and the statement of the court were not legally sufficient to hold them responsible as writers and publishers of the articles in question, and had thus raised the question of the sufficiency of the allegation upon information and belief to hold them, that the court might have held, and properly so, that there was not sufficient to hold them
Q. 1. “Who compose the editorial staff of the Albany Morning Express, and what,are the duties of each member of the editorial staff, respectivelyV” Q. 2. “Who compose the editorial staff of the Albany Evening Journal, and what are the duties of each member of the staff, respectively?” Q. 3. “Is not John Hastings managing editor of the Albany Morning Express?” Q. 4. “Does not George N. Southwick sometimes write editorials for the Albany Morning Express?” Q. 5. “Do you know from statements made by the writer, or in any other way, who wrote the editoral in the Albany Homing Express of the issue of April 21, 1894, and on the fourth page of said issue, entitled, ‘The Disgrace of Ciute’ ?” Q. 6. “Did George N. Southwick write that editorial?” Q. 7. “Did John Hastings write that editorial?” Q. 8. “If you answer the two preceding interrogatories in the negative, or say that you do not know, please state whether any one besides yourself wrote that*380 editorial, and, if so, who?” Q. 9. “Do you know from statements made by the writer, or in any other way, who wrote the news article in the Albany Morning Express of the issue of April 21, 1894, and on the eighth page of said issue, entitled, ‘His Action Needs Explanation’?” Q. 10. “If you answer the preceding interrogatory in the negative, or say that you do not know, please state whether any one besides yourself wrote that article, and, if so, who ?”
To these interrogatories the defendant Barnes made the following response:
“The above-named defendant, William Barnes, Jr., in response to the interrogatories filed herein, hereby denies that he has been guilty of the publication of any report of its proceedings which was believed or intended by this defendant to be false or grossly inaccurate, and disclaims any intention on his part to be guilty of such contempt, or of any such false or inaccurate publication.” “This defendant, in response to the fourth interrogatory filed, and to be administered to this defendant, answers the same, T do not know.’ ” “As to each and every of the other interrogatories filed and to be administered to this defendant, this defendant, acting under advice of counsel, hereby declines to answer the said interrogatories, or any or either of them, upon the ground that answers to such interrogatories might tend to expose this defendant to a criminal prosecution, or might furnish evidence which could be used against him' on such prosecution; and this defendant is privileged, under the constitution and laws of this state, from answering the same.”
If the defendant had chosen to assert what he claims to be his rights under the constitution, and refused to be sworn as a witness, it may be that he would have been sustained in such contention, but he made no such objection; or if he had confined himself to answering the single interrogatory that he did answer, and then making the objections to the others that he did, he would then, perhaps, have come within the case of People v. Forbes, 143 N. Y. 219-230, 38 N. E. 303. But prior to answering or raising his objection he made a voluntary statement, which is not, and does not profess to be, in answer or response to any of the interrogatories propounded to him, but is intended as testimony or a statement in his own behalf. He first made himself a witness in his own behalf, then answered the question he thought safe, and then raised his constitutional privilege as to the others. The question of privilege is raised too late. A defendant cannot go upon the stand as a witness, and give testimony that is, or is intended to be, for his own benefit, and refuse to answer questions that may tend to convict or criminate him. Stover v. People, 56 N. Y. 315. It will be observed that the defendant does not deny that he is the publisher, proprietor, or manager, or the writer of any of the articles in question, but denies “that he has been guilty of the publication of any report of its proceedings which was believed or intended by this defendant to be false or grossly inaccurate, and disclaims any intention on his part to be guilty of such contempt, or of any false or inaccurate publication.” As I have shown in discussing the answer filed by the defendants, this is an admission of the publication, or of responsibility for the publication, of the articles in question, and, upon the most favorable construction for the defendants, can only be said to raise the question as to their correctness as reports of the proceedings of the court of sessions; there being added to it now a disclaimer of any belief by the defendants that they
PUTNAM, J., concurs.
Concurrence Opinion
Proceedings having been heretofore instituted in the court of sessions to determine whether the relators had been guilty of contempt of that court, in publishing certain alleged libelous articles reflecting upon that court, on the 12th of May, 1894, the court made the following order or determination:
“On all of the papers In the proceedings, the parties appearing in person and by counsel, and after hearing Matthew Hale, Esq., of counsel for the defendants, and James W. Eaton, Esq., district attorney of the county of Albany, we did determine and adjudge that the said William Barnes, Jr., George N. Southwick, and Arthur Lucas to be guilty of criminal contempt of court, and did sentence said William Barnes, Jr., George N. Southwick, and Arthur Lucas, as a punishment for said offense, to each pay a fine of one hundred dollars, or in lieu thereof to each stand committed to the Albany county jail for the period of thirty days.”
This order of conviction was duly signed by the county judge presiding at such court of sessions, and by the associate justices of sessions, and was attested by the signature and seal of the clerk of that court. For the purpose of reviewing that conviction and determination, the relators, on the 12th day of July, 1894, applied to the special term of this court for, and obtained, an order that a writ of certiorari issue out of this court, directed to the court of sessions of Albany county, and staying all proceedings in execution of the conviction pending such certiorari; and on the same day a writ of certiorari was issued and allowed by the justice holding such term, directed to the court of sessions of Albany county, among other things commanding that court to certify and return to the supreme court, at the office of the clerk of Albany county, all and singular the proceedings, decisions, and actions of the court of sessions in the premises, and all the evidence, documents, records, or papers before it, or which were submitted to it, concerning the same, and all the affidavits offered to and filed with such court of sessions in relation thereto, with the ruling and decisions of the court thereon, to the end that the decision and action of such court of sessions may be reviewed. To this writ the court of sessions made and filed a return setting forth that on the 25th of April, 1894, James W. Eaton, district attorney of the county of Albany, presented his affidavit, duly verified, also a newspaper, Albany Morning Express, dated April 21, 1894, extracts from which were made a part of the affidavit, upon which affidavit and extracts the court made an order requiring the relators to show cause before it on the 27th day of April, 1894, why they, and each of them, should not be punished for a contempt of court. The affidavit of James W. Eaton, district attorney of Albany coxxnty, set out the fact that on
“The Disgrace of Clute.
“County Judge Jacob H. Clute added to bis unsavory notoriety yesterday by assigning Arthur L. Andrews and Henry A. Peckham to defend men who were arrested on Election Day, charged with attempting to vote illegally. Messrs. Andrews and Peckham have been prominent among the lawyers whose services have been given freely and without charge to prosecuting violators of the election laws. Of this fact, Jacob H. Clute, of course, was fully aware, not only because their activity in the interest of honest elections has been a matter of current news, but also because they have appeared before Judge Clute’s own tribunal in the performance of their duty. In the light of these facts, the low-down character of the judicial trick to which Jacob H. Clute descended may be realized.”
The affidavit also referred to the following article, published in such paper:
“His Action Needs Explanation.
“Judge Clute Assigns Committee of 50’s Counsel to Defend Alleged Repeaters—He Names Messrs. Arthur L. Andrews & Harry Peckham—Both Men have been Indefatigably Active in Securing Evidence against Violators of the Election Law—Nobody has yet Suggested that Perhaps Judge Clute is Laboring under the Delusion that He is the Chief Comedian in a Farce Company * * *.
“Yesterday, when the grand jury returned with indictments against several of the men charged with infraction of the election laws, this same Judge Clute gave proof that he still has a peculiar conception of the duty of a public official. He designated to defend two of the men so accused Messrs. Arthur L. Andrews and Harry Peckham, lawyers whp, as counsel for the committee of fifty, have been indefatigable for many weeks in their efforts to secure the conviction of any who might be guilty of crooked work in connection with the election.”
The affidavit further states:
“That, as deponent is informed and believes, the above-named defendants are the editors, proprietors, and managers of said paper, and the writers and publishers of said articles. That a complete copy of said paper con*384 taining said articles is herewith filed, marked ‘Exhibit A,’ and made a part of the papers to be used upon this application. That no previous application has been made for the order hereby asked. Wherefore, deponent prays that an order to show cause issue from this court, requiring said defendants, William Barnes, Jr., George N. Southwick, John Hastings, and Arthur Lucas, to show cause before this court, at some time herein stated, why they, or each or any of them, should not be punished for contempt of this court in the writing and publication of the articles hereinbefore set forth.”
The return also contained the order to show cause, the proceedings had thereon before the court of sessions, and the answers of the several defendants on oath, each denying that he had been guilty of any publication of any false or grossly inaccurate report of any proceedings of said court. Interrogatories were then propounded to each of the relators separately, to which answers were severally made, none of which directly denied the allegations in the affidavit of Mr. Eaton, charging, on information and belief, that the defendants were the editors, publishers, and managers of the said paper, and the writers and publishers of the articles charged as contumacious. The effect óf the determination of the court was that 'the relators were in contempt óf court, and that they had not purged themselves of such contempt by their answer to the order to show cause, or on their answers to the interrogatories. It is now urged by the learned district attorney that conviction for criminal contempt cannot be reviewed on certiorari, and that the exception contained in section 2148 of the Code of Civil Procedure, passed in 1880, of criminal con-tempts of court, has been repealed by chapter 372 of the Laws of 1884 (section 535 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), which provides as follows:
“Writs oí error and certiorari in criminal actions and proceedings, and special proceedings of a criminal nature, as they have heretofore existed, are abolished; and hereafter the only mode of reviewing a judgment, or order in a criminal action, or proceeding, or a special proceeding of a criminal nature, is by appeal.”
The language of this section is so broad and comprehensive that, but for the recent decision of the court of appeals in the case of People v. Forbes, 143 N. Y. 219, 38 N. E. 303, I should have little doubt in holding that the remedy, in a case like this, is by appeal, and not by certiorari. But the authority of that decision cannot be ignored by this court, and I see no way of distinguishing it, in principle, from the case at bar. Both are certiorari from conviction for a criminal contempt, neither of which is enumerated in the Code of Criminal Procedure; and, the court of appeals hold that the “special proceedings of a criminal nature” referred to in section 515 of the Code of Criminal Procedure are only those designated as such in that Code. We must therefore consider and determine whether or not this conviction can be sustained upon the merits.
On the return of the order to show cause, the defendants in that proceeding appeared in person and by counsel, and moved that the order be vacated and set aside, which motion was denied; and the presiding judge, in denying the motion, called the attention of the defendants to the charge in the publication that he, as presiding judge, had assigned Henry W. Peckham and Arthur L. Andrews to
“The Disgrace of Clute.
“County Judge Jacob H. Clute added to his unsavory notoriety yesterday by assigning Arthur L. Andrews and Harry A. Peckham to defend men who were arrested on Election Day, charged with the attempt to vote illegally."
The article then proceeds to allege that those lawyers had been engaged in prosecuting violators of the election laws, and that the judge was cognizant of that fact. It then proceeds as follows:
“In the light of these facts, the low-down character of the judicial trick to which Jacob H. Clute descends may be realized. He avaiis himself of his power as county judge to place these two worthy lawyers, who have fought to prevent suffrage stealing in Albany, in the dilemma of defending election criminals, or else subjecting to a fine of $500 and imprisonment for thirty days for contempt of court.”
The affidavit of the district attorney, used before the court in obtaining the order to show cause, shows that the indictment against John Hughs and William Doyle, whom Peckham was assigned to defend, were not for violation of the election law, and that they were not charged with attempting to vote illegally; but that such indictment was for an assault not connected with election, or committed on Election Day. It would seem to follow, therefore, that the article complained of was not a substantially correct account of a judicial proceeding in court, which would be a privileged and lawful publication, but was upon its face, false, and used as the pretext for making a most offensive and disgraceful attack upon the ■court of sessions while such court was in session; tending to hold it up in a most unfavorable and ridiculous light before the public, and in a manner well calculated to impair the public confidence and respect for that important tribunal, charged, as it is, under the law, with trial of most of the criminal offenses in the administration of the criminal law in that county. Can the court, under such circumstances, vindicate its good name, and punish as for a contempt for the publication of a false report of its proceedings, and a false, scurrilous, and censorious attack made upon its integrity, through a public newspaper? If it has such authority, the charge made against it in this case would seem to justify its exercise. Section 143 of the Penal Code defines criminal contempt of courts, and,
“Such a contempt, in the immediate view and presence of the court, may be punished summarily; when not so committed, the party charged must be notified of the accusation, and have a reasonable time to make defence.”
The alleged offense in this case was not committed in the presence of the court, and the accused parties were entitled to, and were given, reasonable time to make their defense. The affidavits and order to show cause were duly served upon the relators, and no question seems to be made of the sufficiency of the notice; and all of the defendants, as we have seen, appeared before the court in person and by counsel. There is therefore no serious question as to the jurisdiction of the court. Nor do we think the determination of the court of sessions as to the relators’ participation in the publication of this contumacious libel can be questioned here. The production of the printed article in the paper in which it was printed proved the publication, and the affidavit of the district attorney established, prima facie, the participation of the relators in its publication. That prima facie case was in no way affected by the evasive answers of the defendants, or by any proof offered by them. That question was fairly raised, and might have been controverted by the relators, either by their answer or answers to the interrogatories filed, or by independent proof before the court. It is true that they were not bound by these answers to criminate themselves, and that no legitimate conclusions or inferences of guilt can be drawn from the assertion of their privilege, but the facts of the existence and assertion of such privilege do not relieve them from the prima facie case made against them by the affidavit of the district attorney. On the whole case, I think the order and conviction for contempt of court must be affirmed, and the writ of certiorari quashed, with $50 costs and printing disbursements. Let an order be entered accordingly. •
