This cause comes here upon appeal by defendant from a judgment of conviction in the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, upon an indictment charging defendant with a violation of the provisions of section 2219, Revised Statutes 1899.
“State of Missouri vs. Louis Miller.
On indictment for establishing a policy.
“We, the jury in the above-entitled cause, find the defendant guilty of aiding and assisting in making and establishing a policy, and assess the punishment at six months in the city jail.
“John J. Sheeshaw,
“Foreman.”
On March 30, 1904, during said term of court, defendant filed his motion for new trial; on April 1, 1904, said motion for new trial was overruled. On April 2, 1904, defendant filed his motion in arrest of judgment, and this motion was continued to the April term,, 1904, of said court.
There is an entire absence of any disclosure in this record that the action of the court in overruling the motion for new trial was preserved by bill of exceptions, during the term of court at which the motion was overruled, nor was there any leave given to file it later. It is clear that timely objections and exceptions to the action of the court, in overruling the motion for new trial, in order to be subject to review by this court, must be made at the time of such action and duly preserved by bill of exceptions, filed during the term at which such action was taken, or at such time to which leave to file had been granted;
No bill of exceptions was filed during the term at which defendant’s motion for new trial was overruled, nor was there any extension of time for filing the same; hence it is apparent there is nothing before this court in this cause for review except the record proper. [State v. Broderick, 70 Mo. 622.]
There was no motion by respondent to dismiss tbe appeal or to strike tbe case from tbe docket and tbe cause was submitted without any suggestion as to tbe jurisdiction of tbis court by virtuei of tbe order granting tbe appeal, hence, we are inclined to tbe opinion tbat tbe better practice is tbat defects of tbe character here complained of should be taken advantage of by motion to dismiss tbe appeal or to strike tbe cause from tbe docket.
Tbis would enable the defendant to make such showing upon such defect as may be within bis power, but we think it would be unfair after submitting tbe cause presumptively upon its merits for tbis court to dismiss tbe appeal or strike tbe case from tbe docket.’ Tbis cause having been submitted by counsel, it is too late to urge tbe striking of tbe cause from tbe docket or dismissing of tbe appeal; suggestions in tbat direction should be made in advance of submitting tbe cause to tbis court. We will say, however, in justice to tbe Attorney-General in failing to- call our attention by motion to tbe defect in tbis record now insisted upon, that doubtless such failure occurred by reason of tbe absence of tbe record from tbe clerk’s office.
Tbe verdict in tbis cause forms a part of tbe record proper; hence, may be reviewed without motions for new trial or in arrest of judgment.
We have reproduced tbe verdict rendered in tbe form as returned by tbe jury, and it is sufficient to say that a verdict in substantially tbe same form was fully discussed by Gantt, J., in State v. Cronin, ante, 663.
With this expression of our views upon the record before us, the judgment in this cause is reversed and the cause remanded.