State v. McFarland

121 Ala. 45 | Ala. | 1898

■ HARALSON, J.

— The Code, section 5049 (3789), provides among other things, that “any person * • * * who steals any personal property of the value of five dollars or more, from the person of another, * * * ’is guilty of grand larceny, etc.”

The defendant was proceeded against, on affidavit and writ of arrest for the violation of this section of the Code. Tt appears, when carried before the recorder for trial, he was tried for this offense and for no other. He did not attempt to show that he was not guilty of the offensé charged, by proving that he did not take the watch from the person of the prosecutor, but that he ■ found it on the street. The recorder evidently did not believe that theory of defense, for he bound defendant over to the city court to answer an indictment for the offense charged in the affidavit and warrant — an offense the recorder did not have jurisdiction to try finally, and punish. We need not consider and decide whether the recorder had jurisdiction under this affidavit and warrant, to convict the defendant of petit larceny, if the facts brought out before him on the trial convinced him that he was guilty of petit and not of grand larceny; for, however that may be, he did have the authority, and it was his duty, if he believed defendant to be guilty of grand larceny, the offense with which he was charged, to bind him over to answer an indictment therefor.—Nicholson v. The State, 72 Ala. 176; Ex parte Crawlin, 92 Ala. 101. It is true, as we have before now decided, that if one is charged before a magistrate, with the commission of a misdemeanor, of which the officer has jurisdiction to finally try and punish, he cannot bind the defendant over to answer an indictment therefor, but must proceed to try and make final disposition of the cause. Ex parte Pruitt, 99 Ala. 225; Brown v. The State, 105 Ala. 117. But, when the offense charged is a felony, as here, and the recorder so adjudged, and bound the defendant over, he did what he had the jurisdiction and authority to do. '

The grand jury, at the ensuing term of the city court, indicted the defendant for grand larceny, for stealing the watch from the person of the prosecutor. That indictment was well drawn under the section of the Code referred to, and its sufficiency was not questioned by defendant. He did not plead on the trial, and could not have interposed a plea of former jeopardy, growing out .of any state of the proof before the recorder. On the phase of the evidence tending to show a larceny by finding, the learned judge below charged the jury, that they might, if they believed the evidence, find the defendant-guilty of petit larceny. That charge, it seems, the court afterwards recognized to be erroneous; for it had theretofore been settled, that when one is indicted under the statute for larceny from the person of another, and the proof showed that the property Avas not stolen from the person named, but from some other place, the defendant could not be convicted of larceny, either grand or petit. Stone v. The State, 115 Ala. 121. Afterwards, on the motion of the defendant, the judgment rendered by the court on the verdict of the jury finding him guilty of petit larceny Avas set aside. The court, hoAvever, refused to discharge but bound defendant over to answer an indictment for petit larceny.

It is well settled that when on motion of a defendant a judgment is set aside, whether accomplished on motion to arrest, for a neAV trial, or on appeal or Avrit of error, ■such action having been taken at the instance of defendant, is an express Avaiver of the constitutional privlege of .not being placed in jeopardy a second time for the same offense. On another trial, therefore, under a new indictment, if preferred, for petit larceny of this watch, the defendant Avould not be entitled to plead former jeopardy for anything growing out of this trial. He estopped himself to do so, by moving to set aside the judgment.—Kendall v. The State, 65 Ala. 492; Morrisett v. The State, 77 Ala. 71; Gunter v. The State, 83 Ala. 96, 105.

As we bave seen, tbe defendant was pnt on bis trial for grand larceny, and was fonnd guilty of petit larceny, growing out of bis finding and criminal misappropriation of tbe watcb afterwards. Tbe jury might bave found bim guilty of grand larceny for stealing tbe watcb from tbe person of tbe prosecutor, but they refused to do so. He was in jeopardy as to that offense. Tbe verdict they rendered, though not authorized in such an indictment, was, however, in legal effect, an acquittal of tbe offense with which be was charged.—Clayborne v. The State, 103 Ala. 53, where tbe authorities are collated.

Tbe judge below on tbe trial of this writ, discharged tbe defendant from custody. This decision was based on tbe theory that defendant had been once in jeopardy for the offense of petit larceny, even, growing out of tbe facts of the case. Tbe court, when it set aside tbe judgment of conviction for petit larceny, on tbe facts disclosed, very properly bound defendant over to answer an indictment for that offense, of tbe guilt of which there was an admission by defendant in bis application for arrest of judgment. Tbe jury believed his guilt on the evidence and so declared by their verdict. Tbe evidence was fully sufficient for believing there was probable cause for charging defendant with it. Tbe order of the judge from tbe bench binding bim over for petit larceny, was a mittimus to tbe jailor to keep bim in custody until duly discharged, which the court bad the discretion and authority to issue. — Code, § 4922 (4394) ; Ex parte Graves, 61 Ala. 381.

We are constrained to bold that tbe order of discharge rendered on this trial was erroneous. Tbe defendant is in custody on a proper commitment, and will so remain until discharged by law.

Reversed and remanded.