State v. Cotton

19 La. 550 | La. | 1841

Garland, J.

delivered the opinion of the court.

The defendant being charged with a criminal offence entered into a bond for the sum of $2000, with two securities in the sum of $1000 each, the condition of which was, he should appear before the District Court of the parish of Ouachita, at the April term, 1841, to answer to tlie offence witli which, he was charged. An indictment was found by the Grand Jury, the defendant then being in attendance ; a short time after which, he wishing to return home, as he says to prepare for his trial spoke to the deputy clerk and another person of his intentions and asked their advice. By those persons he was informed that he-could not be tried until three days after service of a copy of the indictment, and venire had been served on him. He then requested those persons to inform his counsel if he should be wanted, that he had gone home and should return on the third day afterwards with his witnesses. The next day, the District Attorney called for the defendant to arraign him, and he not appearing, his securities were called upon to produce him, which they failing to do instanter, the District Attorney moved the court to enter up a judgment forthwith for the amount of the bond, to wit: $2000 against the principal, and $1000 against each of the securities, which judgment the court gave immediately. A bench warrant was issued and the sheriff went to arrest the defendant, who was from home when the sheriff arrived at his house, but hearing that the officer was in pursuit of him, he came immediately, surrendered himself and accompanied the deputy sheriff to the court-house, where they arrived before there could in the 'ordinary course of business have been a trial, if the defendant had not gone away. The deputy sheriff says the defendant made no effort to escape, which he might easily have done if he had wished. As soon as the defendant arrived his securities surrendered him, and they were subsequently discharged from all liability. The defendant also showed cause and endeavored to get the judgment ni si set aside as to him, which the judge refused and made it final, from which lie appealed.

This proceeding took place under the first section of the act of 1837, p. 98, relative to the recovery of bonds and recogni-zances in criminal cases. This act authorizes the District Attorney to call on a party accused of any offence, (who has given bond,) at any time on or after the second day of the term, to appear, and if he do -not, and if the securities wheii cape(j faq t0 surrender liim, then the District Attorney may on motion have a judgment entered against both principal and sureties in solidum for the full amount of the bond. Which judgment may, during the same term of the court, be set aside upon the appearance, trial and acquittal, or conviction and pu-Msbment of the party accused, or if it is proved the party is prevented from attending; by some existing physical debility. v J ° 1 J In a very little time after the defendant returned to the courthouse and was surrendered by his sureties, he was arraigned, bis case was continued On his application to procure witnesses, he gave bond and security in solido for four thousand ° J dollars to secure his appearance at the succeeding- term of the court< Notwithstanding all this, the district judge made the judgment ni si final, because the defendant was not tried at J ° that term of the court.

On the failure to appear'when seccmd day ^of term, a judgment ni to only is to he entered', seí asiifeduring oif the1 appear-anee of the ty accused. So where a andhis sureties failed to appear on the second day of the term, was^nterfdup and afterwards’, hut during the term the principal surrendered himself: Held, that the jndp-have been°^et pearance1118 a?ñ court.

We think the judge has given a too literal and rigid interpretation to the law. Its object was to secure attendance at court 0f the persons accused of offences, to answer the accu-r sations prefered against them, and should be executed in a wav , ... that will attain that object, and not to punish parties m advance., Suppose in this case, the State had not been ready for trial, and bhe District Attorney had applied for a continuance, according the literal application given to the law, the defendant would have been still obliged to pay his bond, which would have been unjust. He would certainly be entitled to a ralease upon the ground that the prosecution was not under his control, hut that of the laws of the country, and he could not prepare the cause for trial in hehalf of the State. Now we are to presume, he showed sufficient cause in the District Court to entitle him to the continuance that was granted, whereby the requisites of the law were fulfilled and public justice, satisfied. A citizen ought not in a criminal presecution, without some fault on his part, he put in sucha situation, that he must incur a heavy pecuniary loss, or go to trial under circumstances that would almost if not completely insure his conviction.

Nearly every case has its circumstances of mitigation or aggravation, which should have their due weight in forming an opinion in relation to it. In this, we cannot see any intention to avoid a trial or to escape, on the contrary, the defendant although badly advised-, seems to have been desirous of preparing for trial, and was possibly prevented from getting ready by being arrested when he was in search of his witnesses.

The judgment of the District Court is therefore annulled-, avoided and reversed, and a judgment given for the defendant-.