192 Ind. 261 | Ind. | 1922
This was a prosecution by affidavit filed in the Parke Circuit Court whereby appellees were sought to be charged with the offense of involuntary manslaughter.
The venue of this cause was transferred to the Vigo Circuit Court where a motion to quash the affidavit was interposed, and by the court sustained over the objection and exception of the state. No other motion, answer, or plea to the charge so presented was entered by appellees, either jointly or separately. The state, on appeal to this court, has assigned as error the action of the court in sustaining appellees’ motion to quash.
On June 23, 1921, the attorney-general filed briefs on behalf of the state, but no briefs have been filed on the part of appellees, nor do we have any explanation of such failure, although it appears from the record that while this cause was pending in the Parke Circuit Court, that court, on motion of the prosecuting attorney, made a temporary allowance of $500 to each of two attorneys and $500 to another attorney as fees for defending appellees.
The record shows that each of the attorneys to whom the aforesaid allowance was made appeared for appel
and obtained a favorable ruling thereon. In the absence of any showing to the contrary, we must assume that these attorneys accepted the appointment and employment so made by the Parke Circuit Court, and were paid the fees thus allowed out of the public treasury. For aught appearing, when these attorneys accepted the employment as here shown, and the case was appealed to this court, it was their duty to appear in this court and file briefs in defense of the judgment of the trial court, or in due season furnish an excuse for not doing so. Hence, for the neglect of appellees to file briefs, we would be justified in reversing the judgment of the court below.
However, it appears that no final judgment was rendered. The wording of the record, in so far as it is material, is “the court having considered the same and being sufficiently advised in the premises now sustains defendants’ motion to quash heretofore filed in this cause.” To-this ruling the prosecution attorney reserved an exception, prayed an appeal to the Supreme Court, appeal .granted and sixty days time given to perfect the same. The ruling thus made on the motion to quash cannot be regarded as a final judgment from which an appeal will lie to this court. State v. Uptgraft (1899), 153 Ind. 232, 53 N. E. 285; 12 Cyc p. 800. The mere sustaining of the motion cannot be treated as a declaration, judgment or ruling of the court that the affidavit be quashed, as was the case in State v. Swope (1863), 20 Ind. 106, and State v. Allen (1884), 94 Ind. 441.
Appeal dismissed.
