State v. McDonald

27 Mont. 66 | Mont. | 1902

MeMORANDuM OPINION.

ME. CHIEF JUSTICE, BEANTLT:

Tbe defendant in this cause was convicted of tbe crime of grand larceny, and, on June 26, 1902, was sentenced to serve at bard labor in tbe state prison for a term of one year. Thereupon be appealed to this court. He then ¿pplied to tbe judge of tbe district court for a certificate of probable cause (Penal Code, Sec. 2278). This application was denied. Application was then made to the same judge for bail pending the appeal. This was also denied. A like disposition was made of an application to tbe district court for a temporary stay of proceedings to enable tbe defendant to prepare bis bill of exceptions and bis record on appeal, in order that he might apply to this court, or one of its justices, for a certificate of probable cause and for bail pending bis appeal. Thereupon, and on June 27, tbe defendant applied to tbe supreme court for an order admitting him to bail. Tbe court, after consideration, denied this application for tbe reason that there was presented with it no record on appeal containing tbe defendant’s bill of exceptions. Tbe order was made without prejudice, however, to, another application to tbe court, or to one of its justices, for bail or for a certificate of probable cause, when tbe bill could be presented in support of tbe application. I am now asked for an order staying proceedings under tbe judgment until tbe record upon appeal may be properly prepared. It appears that tbe business of tbe district court is in such condition that defendant’s bill of exceptions cannot be prepared and certified to this court before tbe 25th of tbe pres-*68exit month, and that that court, for good cause, has enlarged the time for preparing it until that date.

The district court should have granted the stay ashed for until the bill could be prepared. (People v. Lane, 96 Cal. 596, 31 Pac. 580.) As the defendant is now situated, unless a stay is granted, the judgment of the district court will be in process of execution during the time required for the preparation of his bill of exceptions and the presentation of his record on appeal. No possible harm can result from a stay during this time. The effect will be simply to delay the execution of the judgment in the meantime, and until it can be determined whether the defendant' is entitled to the relief which he seeks pending his appeal. I have therefore concluded to' make the following order:

It is ordered that all proceedings against the defendant be stayed pending a settlement of his bill of exceptions and his application to' this court, or to one of its justices, for bail, or for a certificate of probable cause; but such stay shall not extend beyond Saturday, August 2, 1902. The defendant shall give at least three days’ notice to the attorney general of any application made in pursuance of this order.