Commonwealth v. Litchfield

12 Pa. D. & C. 557, 1929 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 218
CourtDelaware County Court of Quarter Sessions
DecidedJune 21, 1929
DocketNo. 42
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Pa. D. & C. 557 (Commonwealth v. Litchfield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Delaware County Court of Quarter Sessions primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Litchfield, 12 Pa. D. & C. 557, 1929 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 218 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1929).

Opinion

MacDade, J.,

The above case was called by the district attorney for trial before us on June 12, 1929, which date it was scheduled for trial on our printed list, or calendar of criminal trials, in due course, but the defendant failed to respond to the call when his name was called three times.

No explanation was given for his absence, either in person or by attorney, although he gave security on March 27, 1929, when the alleged offense was committed, before an alderman in the City of Chester in the sum of $2000 (own recognizance), to appear at the June Sessions, 1929, of our Quarter Sessions Court, to answer such charges as might be preferred against him, namely, operating a motor-vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, in violation of the Act of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of May 11, 1927, § 621, par. (f), P. L. 886, which reads as follows:

“It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts:
[558]*558“(f) To operate a motor-vehicle while tinder the influence of intoxicating liquors ... or permit any person who may be under the influence of intoxicating liquor ... to operate any motor-vehicle owned by him or in his control or custody.”

This is a misdemeanor for which the defendant must be indicted by the grand jury, which was done June 3, 1929, and upon conviction of its violation, the following penalty is provided, namely, $200 or imprisonment for three months, or both such fine and imprisonment. The Act of 1929 amends the Act of 1927 by increasing the imprisonment to three years. See section 620, paragraph (f), Act of Assembly of May 1, 1929', effective June 1, 1929.

When the defendant was duly indicted on June 3rd aforesaid, the district attorney publicly announced, as is the custom, that the said case was listed for trial on June 12, 1929, at 9 A. M. (Standard Time), and when said time arrived, the above took place. (See Notes of Testimony filed.)

The transcript was filed March 30, 1929, and the indictment thereon, as referred to above, is as follows:

“In the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of the County of Delaware. No. 42, June Sessions, 1929.
"County of Delaware, ss.:
"The Grand Inquest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, inquiring for the County of Delaware, upon their respective oaths and affirmations, do present, That Herman V. Litchfield, late of the said County Yeoman, on the twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine, at the County aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, with force and arms, etc., did unlawfully, wilfully and maliciously operate a certain motor-vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, in and upon a certain public highway in the City of Chester, County of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania, contrary to the form of the Act of the General Assembly in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“WM. J. MacCARTER, Jr.,
“District Attorney.”

The defendant not appearing for trial on June 12th to answer his indictment, the district attorney then asked in open court that the recognizance be forfeited and a bench warrant issue for the defendant. Before acting upon this usual application of the district attorney when a defendant does not answer when called for trial, we learned upon inquiry the following:

Mr. Bloom: This is a charge of operating a motor-vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The defendant's name has been called. He doesn’t answer.

Mr. McClenachan: Before asking that a bench warrant be issued, I want to call the court’s attention to a rule which has been served on the clerk of the court of this county yesterday in behalf of the United States District Court in Philadelphia. It appears that a petition has been filed by Herman V. Litchfield to George W. Coles, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, before this rule was issued and served on the' party here, directing this court to show cause why the proceeding should not be removed to the District Court of the United States. The case is one of driving an automobile while the operator was intoxicated, and the order says that the defendant was acting as a Federal prohibition officer in making investigations of liquor violations in the City of Chester under assignment by Colonel Samuel O. Wynne, Federal Administrator for the Fifth Prohibition District of Pennsylvania, and that the defendant was acting under color of his office as prohibition agent. The rule is not returnable until Friday. We feel that we can go ahead with the trial of the case, and if he is not here we can have a bench warrant issued. The rule is not absolute until the hearing is heard on Friday. Nothing stays any of the proceedings.

The Court: What is the charge against Litchfield? Mr. McClenachan: Operating a motor-vehicle while the operator was under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

[559]*559The Court: What has the United States to do with that? Mr. McClenachan: He is an agent; an agent of the Prohibition Department, a Federal prohibition officer.

The Court: But the same as any ordinary person-? Mr. McClenachan: And we contend he ought to be the same as any ordinary person coming within the jurisdiction of this court.

The Court: This happened in the City of Chester? Mr. McClenachan: Yes, sir. He has been indicted for that offense and, notwithstanding the fact he is a prohibition enforcement agent, he is the same as any other individual driving a motor-vehicle along the highways of this State and in this county and ought to be amenable to the laws providing for such cases.

The Court: The man referred to is a United States officer? Mr. McClenachan: Yes, sir.

The Court: And he is charged with operating a motor-vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor? Mr. McClenachan: Yes, sir.

The Court: And his case is scheduled for trial today? Mr. McClenachan: Yes, sir.

The Court: Witnesses are here? Me. McClenachan: Yes, sir.

The Court: And you are served with this (indicating)? Mr. McClenachan: Yesterday.

The Court: With what? Mr. McClenachan: With notice of rule to show cause why writ of habeas corpms mm causai should not issue.

The Court: What is the petition? Mr. McClenachan: We have the order.

The Court: The court may look at it, but can’t you read it? Mr. McClenachan: An order from the United States District Court.

The Court: That looks like a carbon copy. Mr. McClenachan: This is the order filed.

The Court: You are handing up a part of the record in the case? Mr. McClenaehan: It was handed to the clerk of court of this county yesterday and by him handed to us. Mr. Meli has a certified copy of the order.

The Court: What I want to know, is that (indicating) the original which was served? Mr. McClenachan: No.

The Court: Where did you get that (indicating)? Mr. McClenachan: This (indicating) is the paper, copy of the original. This is what was served on the clerk of the courts in this county.

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Bluebook (online)
12 Pa. D. & C. 557, 1929 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 218, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-litchfield-paqtrsessdelawa-1929.