Renado v. Lummus

205 Mass. 155 | Mass. | 1910

Knowlton, C. J.

This is a petition for a writ of mandamus, to be directed to the judge and clerk of the police court of Lynn, to compel them to allow the petitioner’s claim of appeal in a criminal case. On January 6, 1910, the petitioner was found guilty of the crime of assault and battery, and ordered to pay a fine of $10, and to stand committed until it was paid. He was informed of his right to take an appeal, whereupon he said in open court that he did not wish to appeal, and waived his right of appeal. He requested a suspension of the execution of the sentence, and thereupon the judge ordered that the execution of the sentence be suspended, and that the petitioner be placed on probation until the sitting of the court on January 12, 1910, upon condition that the fine should be paid during this period of probation. This order was made under the provisions of the R. L. c. 220, § 1, as amended by the St. 1905, c. 338. At the sitting of the court on January 12,1910, the probation officer reported that the fine was still unpaid, and that the petitioner was able to pay it. The petitioner then, for the first time, claimed an appeal from the sentence, but the judge refused to allow it. He then contended that the fine had been paid; but after a hearing the judge found to the contrary, and revoked the suspension of the execution of the sentence. From this finding and revocation the petitioner claimed an appeal to the Superior Court, and he renewed his claim of appeal from the sentence. But the judge refused to allow the appeal, and the clerk refused to enter or record it, or to transmit copies of the papers to the Superior Court.

A right of appeal in. a criminal case in a police, district or municipal court is given only to one who has been convicted, and the appeal is only from the sentence, which corresponds to the judgment of the court in civil actions. R. L. c. 219, § 22. Although this section does not say in terms that the appeal is to be from the sentence, this is its meaning. It is founded on earlier statutes. Rev. Sts. c. 138, § 1; Gen. Sts. c. 173, § 1; c. 120, § 46; Pub. Sts. c. 155, § 58; St. 1893, c. 396, § 48; and in all of these the express language is that the appeal is to be “ from the sentence.” In the last revision there was no intentian on the part of the commissioners or the Legislature to change the meaning of the statutes in this particular. See also St. 1909, c. 381.

The petitioner having waived his right of appeal, and having requested and accepted a different provision for his benefit, his claim of an appeal six days afterwards, at a subsequent sitting of the court, came too late. Weiner v. Wentworth, 181 Mass. 15.

The remaining question is whether he had a right of appeal from the finding of the court that he had not performed the condition on which the execution of the sentence was suspended, and from the order revoking the suspension of the execution of the sentence. '■

The St. 1905, c. 338, amending R. L. c. 220, § 1, which was derived from St. 1900, c. 449, gives a person, convicted of a crime in a police, district or municipal court, an opportunity, if the judge so directs, to have the execution of his sentence suspended, and to be put on probation for such time and on such terms and conditions as the judge determines. One whose sentence is to pay a fine not exceeding $10 and to stand committed until it is paid, has a right, if the judge finds that he is unable to pay the fine at that time, and will not probably default, and that it will not be detrimental to the interests of the public, to have execution of the sentence suspended, and to be placed on probation. One of the conditions of the probation must be that the fine be paid during the period of probation.

We need not determine how far, if at all, the court has power to change conditions in the further disposition of the case, either by a modification of the sentence, or by dismissing the prosecution, or by putting the case on file, if there is a suspension of the execution of the sentence under the first part of this section. See Marks v. Wentworth, 199 Mass. 44 ; Commonwealth v. Lobel, 187 Mass. 288. The action in the present case was under the second provision, as the sentence was to pay a fine not exceeding $10, which the petitioner was not able to pay at that time. We are of opinion that the action of the court, which was incidental to statutory proceedings for the benefit of the convicted person after the imposition of his sentence, was not subject to a right of appeal. It is not included in the right of appeal given by the statute. It is not necessary for the protection of the defendant in his right to a trial by a jury. This latter right is fully protected by the power to appeal from the sentence.

The case was submitted on briefs. J. W. Sullivan, for the petitioner. W. S. Peters, District Attorney, for the respondents.

Where jurisdiction is given to a court or magistrate by a statute, and there is no provision for an appeal, the decision of the court or magistrate is final. Fletcher v. Bartlett, 10 Gray, 491. Russell v. Goodrich, 8 Allen, 150. Mowry’s case, 112 Mass. 394. Macaig’s case, 137 Mass. 467. Young v. Blaisdell, 138 Mass. 344. Brown’s case, 173 Mass. 498.

These provisions are all intended for the benefit of convicted persons, and in mitigation of the punishment imposed by a sentence which, in the absence of an appeal, is a conclusive adjudication of their guilt. It is proper to entrust these matters of administration to the court, without a right of appeal. As no such right is given by the statute, the petitioner’s claim was properly denied. Brown’s case, 173 Mass. 498. Commonwealth v. McGovern, 183 Mass. 238.

Petition dismissed.