State v. Munzenmaier

Wright, J.

'.'ci.GBAjro.juBT: Btanders. I. It appears that this indictment was found in January, 1866. In November, 1865, the clerk issued his precept to the sheriff, commanding him to summon fifteen persons by name to serve as a grand jury for the year commencing the then next January. At the January Term, when this indictment was found, the record shows that the sheriff brought into court “ fifteen good and lawful men to serve as grand jurors,” eight of them being other and different persons from those named in the precept. Defendant moved to set aside the indictment, because the grand jury were not selected or summoned as required by law; because the sheriff had no precept, and because the sheriff' returned other persons than those named in the precept. This motion, upon the evidence above stated, was overruled. In deciding it, however, the judge stated that he had a recollection, that, at the said January Term, several of the jurors drawn and summoned did not appear, and that their places were filled by the sheriff from the bystanders, and tbe court thereupon upon its own motion and knowledge of the facts directed the clerk to make a nuno pro tuno order, showing in substance that eight of the persons named in the sheriff’s precept failed to appear though called, and that the panel was filled by the sheriff by those named in the former order in connection with those who answered to their names. In this condition of the record it is objected that the court erred in overruling the motion to set aside the indictment upon the evidence offered before the entry of the mono pro twno order; that it was error to make that entry, and that with it the ruling was still erroneous.

What is meant by the objection that the sheriff had no precept, we do not understand. He had a precept fully complying with section 2733 of the Revision, and thifi very precept the defendant offered in evidence in sfipport of his motion. The suggestion, in argument, that /thh sheriff failed to make any return of his doings undeh the process, is equally without force. The return itself jyas. not called for, its sufficiency as such was not in issue, ami if conceded it would make no difference. For, after all, the question is, whether there was such a departure from the law in the selection of the grand jury, as to justify the court in setting aside this indictment.

It is needless to inquire whether, without the aid of the corrected record, this motion should have been sustained. For, if properly made, it is but the entry, of record, of the facts as they existed at the time the motion was decided, and for the purpose of the present inquiry it must be treated as though then made. And if properly made the question is of easy disposition.

z. — record: nuncpro tunc order. The objection to it is, that it was made at a subsequent term, and that this could only be done to correct an evident mistake (Rev. 2667). We do not, how- ' . ever, understand that this order alters or changes a prior one. It surely is not in conflict with it, but rather explains it. The sheriff, it will be remembered, brought into court fifteen men. But how 1 Not necessarily upon his precept. Not only so, but we cannot say, all the facts being before the court, but that the mistake, if one, was evident; just such as the law contemplates may be amended or altered. Without the correction we think the motion was properly overruled. With it, there is no semblance of error.

3. ihtoxioatevitience?E: indictment. II. The instructions given and objected to are, for the-most part, identical with those passed upon in The State v. Baughman, (20 Iowa, 497); Same v. Guisenhause (id. 228); Same v. Carny (id. 82). qn addition to what is said in those cases, we remark that the indictment charges that defendant not only Icept intoxicating liquors with intent to sell, but sold the same, at the place named. An instruction, therefore, that proof of the sale at the place and within the time named is presumptive evidence of the commission of the offense charged, is in the exact language of the statute. Whether proof of the sale would be presumptive evidence of the intent to sell, we need not inquire. And that this is the correct view of the record is further shown by defendant’s first instruction which was given, and which charged that there could be no conviction “ without proof of the sale or keeping with intent to sell."

4 • — • evidence: instructions, A witness, without objection, stated, that, what he knew about the location of the building named in the indictment, he obtained from the record, and yet . _ , , testified, that, from an examination of the city plat, and his familiarity with the location of lots and blocks in the neighborhood of defendant’s saloon, he was able to fix it upon the lot described. An instruction under such circumstances, that the record was the best evidence, and should be produced, otherwise defendant must be acquitted, was very properly refused. It is not the best evidence in the first place, and if it was, the question could not be made for the first time in the instruction.

5. — amountoffine. III. Defendant was fined two hundred dollars. It is now objected that there was no evidence, that this was a third or other than a first conviction, and that therefore, under the law, the fine could not exceed twenty dollars. The indictment, however, is under section eight, and not section six of the act, and in it there is nothing said about a first, second or third conviction. Offenders thereunder are guilty of a nuisance, and may be prosecuted and punished, in the manner provided bylaw.

6 uimn.iT. judgment by agreement. IY. It seems that there were eight other cases pending in the District Court, against other defendants for a similar offense. This and one other were tried — verdicts of guilty returned, and then it was agreed that the same entries should be made in the others; that this case should be appealed, and all the others abide the decree in this. Counsel now suggest, upon the authority of Cancemi v. The People (18 N. Y. 128), that the judgments thus entered by agreement, without trial or conviction, are utterly void, and asks us to so decide. The only case before us, however, is that against the one defendant Munzenmaier, who was regularly tried and convicted. What course may be taken with the other judgments, in view of the objection above suggested, we have no means of knowing. It is sufficient to decide the case before us, and it will be time enough to dispose of the others when properly appealed, if in fact any thing shall remain for determination, in view of the agreement and the order now made that this judgment stand

Affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Munzenmaier

Court Name: Supreme Court of Iowa

Date Published: Jan 29, 1867

Citation: 24 Iowa 87

Court Abbreviation: Iowa