People ex rel. Barnes v. Court of Sessions

31 N.Y.S. 373, 82 Hun 242, 89 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 242, 63 N.Y. St. Rep. 821

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: December 4, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinions

HERRICK, J.

This case comes before us upon a writ of certiorari to review a proceeding to punish the relators for contempt, in having published a false and grossly inaccurate report of the proceedings of the court of sessions of Albany county. The proceeding is one founded upon section 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The contempt charged is a criminal contempt. The practice of courts for the punishment of criminal contempt does not seem to be regulated by statute, any further than as prescribed by section 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which reads as follows:

“Such a contempt, committed in the immediate view and presence of the court, may be punished summarily; when not so committed, the party charged must be notified of the accusation, and: have a reasonable time to make his defence.”

The provisions of title 3 of. chapter 17, sections 2206 to 2292, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure, refer, I think, to the practice in cases of civil contempt, and do not apply to the cases enumerated in section 8, unless some of the acts set forth as contempts in section 8 are also included among those enumerated in section 14, and have resulted in the rights or remedies oí a party to a civil action or special proceeding being defeated, impaired, impeded, or prejudiced thereby, and the offending party is sought to be punished as for a civil or private contempt, upon the motion of the party injured. The distinction between criminal and civil or private contempts is very clearly set forth in People v. Court of Oyer & Terminer, 101 N. Y. 245, 4 N. E. 259. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to criminal contempts are similar to those of the Revised Statutes, which they supersede, so that the decisions upon questions of criminal contempt arising under the Revised Statutes are applicable to cases arising under the Code of Civil Procedure. It will be observed that the only requirements, when the contempt is not committed in the presence of the court, are that “the party charged must be notified of the accusation, and have a reasonable time to make his defense.” The form and manner of the notice is not specified. The practice has been to proceed by an order to show cause. People v. Freer, 1 Caines, 518; Conover v. Wood, 5 Abb. Pr. 84. An affidavit seems to be unnecessary, and it has been held that the court may proceed, upon its own motion, to make the accusation. People v. Court of Oyer & Terminer, 27 How. Pr. 14-18. It has been held that, where the proceeding is by an order to show cause, it is unnecessary to file interrogatories before the final adjudication. Pitt v. Davison, 37 N. Y. 235-243; Mayor, etc., of City of Yew York v. New York & S. I. Ferry Co., 64 N. Y. 622. Although these cases were cases of civil contempt, the principle applies in criminal cases as well. The court below proceeded by an order to show cause. The court having directed the district attorney to take measures to bring the publisher and author or the publishers and authors of said newspaper articles before the bar of said court, the district attorney prepared an affidavit upon which an order to show cause was granted, .directing the relators to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of court, in writing and publishing the articles referred to in the affidavit of the district attorney. The proceeding resulted in the court fining the relators for the contempt charged against them.

It is elementary law that every court is the judge as to whether a contempt has been committed against it. Ex parte Chamberlain, 4 Cow. 49; Conover v. Wood, 5 Abb. Pr. 84; Mitchell’s Case, 12 Abb. Pr. 252. The contempt in this case was of the most outrageous character, and the only question open for discussion by this court is as to whether there was sufficient before the court to justify the court in finding that the relators were the persons guilty of the contempt that had been committed against it. This leads us to a review of the proceedings had in the court.

After the parties accused of contempt have been notified of the charge against them, and brought into court, and a reasonable time given'them to make their defense, the trial, if it may be so called, is necessarily of a somewhat summary character; and, while all necessary safeguards to protect the innocent should be preserved, yet the same technical precision of pleading and evidence that is required in the trial of indictments before' a jury is not required. The proceeding is one conducted on behalf of the public, to maintain the dignity of the court and the public respect, without which courts are useless; and upon a review of such proceedings the appellate court will not be ready to reverse the proceedings taken by a court to preserve its self-respect and maintain its dignity, unless it pretty clearly appears that injustice has been done, or the rules of law promulgated for the protection of the liberty of the citizen have been plainly violated.

The affidavit of the district attorney, referred to in the order to show cause, set forth the publication of several articles in a newspaper published in the city and county of Albany, reflecting upon the presiding judge of the court of sessions of Albany county, and which articles, it was alleged in said affidavit, were grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings in said court. The articles in question appear to be set forth in full in said affidavit. In his affidavit, the district attorney alleged, upon information and belief, that the defendants (the relators here) were the editors, proprietors, and managers of the newspaper named in his affidavit, and the writers and publishers of said articles. The order to show cause was issued on the 25th day of April, 1894. The relators appeared in court, in person and by counsel, on the 4th day of May, following. As before stated, the hearing in proceedings of this character is necessarily somewhat summary, and, in determining whether sufficient appeared before the court to justify it in coming to the conclusion that the defendants were the persons responsible for the writing and publication of the articles in question, we must bear in mind that the court was acting as court and jury both, and was judge both of the law and the facts; and we must try and place ourselves in the position of the court at that time, in order to judge how the proceeding, demeanor, and conduct of the defendants appeared to the court, and how far the same would justly- and properly influence the judgment and opinion of the court in arriving at the conclusion that the persons then before it were in truth and fact the parties responsible for the newspaper articles in question. On coming into court in response to the order to show cause, the counsel for the defendants “moved to dismiss the proceedings on the ground that nothing was stated in the affidavit which gives the court any jurisdiction of the proceedings; that the only statute which gave jurisdiction to any court to punish for criminal contempt was section 8 of the Code of Civil- Procedure, and that the affidavit did not show the commission of any act coming within the provisions of that section, or any subdivision thereof; also, that the affidavit did not state or point out wherein the article alleged to be published by the defendants was false, or grossly inaccurate; that the affidavit, like an indictment or a complaint in a civil action, should point out wherein the report is false, and wherein it is grossly inaccurate; and that, until defendants áre apprised of what is charged against them in that respect, they ought not to be put upon their defense in a proceeding of this kind.”

The first objection may be well termed frivolous. The affidavit sets forth the publication of grossly abusive articles in relation to the proceedings of the court of sessions. The affidavit of the district attorney states that such articles were grossly false and inaccurate reports of the 'proceedings. It is unnecessary to cite authorities, or to demonstrate by argument that a court has jurisdiction of a proceeding to punish for a contempt persons who are charged with publishing false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings of that court. The Code of Civil Procedure (section 8) expressly makes such a publication a criminal contempt.

The second objection, that the affidavit did not show the commission of any act coming within the provisions of section 8, or any subdivision thereof, is equally untenable. As before stated, the affidavit sets forth in full certain articles in relation to the proceedings of the court, alleged to have been published in a newspaper printed in the city of Albany, and which articles the affidavit states to be grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings of said court,—an amply sufficient allegation to bring it within the section of the Code claimed to have been violated.

The next objection is that the affidavit did not state or point out wherein the articles alleged to have been published were false or grossly inaccurate. It is sufficient answer to that to say that the affidavit characterizes all the articles as grossly false and inaccurate. Hi addition, the court, did, of itself, then and there announce to the defendants and their counsel thte particular things stated in the articles for which it proposed to hold them to answer, and that portion was pointed out to them in the following words:

“That portion of it in which they charge this court with assigning Henry Peckham to defend a repeater, or a person charged with repeating, and also-Mr. Andrews, stating that they were both counsel for the Citizens’ committee, or some committee,—Honest Elections committee, or something of that sort. That portion X shall require them to reply to.”

As we have seen, it was not necessary that the order to show cause should be founded upon any affidavit. The court could make an order of its own motion, and bring the defendants into court, and notify them of the charge against them. Here an affidavit was made, setting forth several newspaper articles; they are brought into court; and then and there the court orally notifies them what particular portion of those articles it proposed to hold them to answer for. The court gave them what might, perhaps, be termed a bill of particulars.

It will be observed that, up to this point, no question is raised as to the affidavit being insufficient, as a matter of evidence, to charge the defendants with the authorship or publication of the articles in question, or that they were connected therewith by legal evidence. The only objections that are raised are as to the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the proceedings, and as to whether the facts set forth in the affidavit constitute a criminal contempt, and that the affidavit does not specify what portions of the articles published are grossly false and inaccurate. There is not a hint or suggestion that the defendants were not guilty of the publication of the articles in question, the only question raised being whether they constitute an offense. The objection that some of the allegations were upon information and belief was not raised in any way before the court It was claimed by the defendants that the affidavit was. like an indictment or complaint in a civil action, and their objections being overruled, and the court having pointed out to them the specific portions of the articles which it claimed to be false and inaccurate reports of its proceedings, the defendants then made a verified answer to the accusation made against them. Instead of pleading not guilty, or making a general denial, as to an indictment or complaint, where it is intended to deny all that is alleged in the indictment or complaint, they answer only a part of the moving paper, which they have designated as corresponding to an indictment or complaint, but which may more properly be likened to an information. Their answer is a singular document, and'reads as follows:

“The above-named defendants, each of them, hereby deny, each for himself, that he has been guilty of the publication of any false or grossly inaccurate report of any of the proceedings of said court.”

Under all rules of pleading or of evidence, it seems to me that ’ this must be regarded as an admission of everything charged against them, except that which is specifically denied, and so it must have appeared to the court It is a negative pregnant,—a negative big with affirmative meaning. The affidavit alleged the publication of several articles in a newspaper; that such articles were grossly false and inaccurate reports of the proceedings of the court; and that the defendants were “the editors, proprietors, and managers of said paper, and the writers and publishers of said articles.” Merely denying that they had been guilty of publishing any false or grossly inaccurate proceedings of the court was, in effect, an admission of the publication of such articles in the newspaper named, and that they were the editors, proprietors, and managers of the newspaper, and the writers and publishers of the articles set forth in the affidavit they were answering. The court had specified the particular portions of the articles they were to be held accountable for, and, in simply using the language of the Code which defines the offense, in making their denial, their answer was evasive. In the case of Yates v. Lansing, 9 Johns. 395-414, it was held that, where there is a refusal to answer to a charge against one for contempt, it is an admission by the defendant that the complaint is well founded. Upon the same principle, I think it must be held that when he does answer he must be held to admit those things which he does not deny. If we treat the proceeding as a motion being heard on affidavits, it seems to me the result is the same. Considering it as a motion, it may be, if the defendants had come into court, and challenged the sufficiency of the allegations made against them, that as matter of law the allegations in the moving papers and the statement of the court were not legally sufficient to hold them responsible as writers and publishers of the articles in question, and had thus raised the question of the sufficiency of the allegation upon information and belief to hold them, that the court might have held, and properly so, that there was not sufficient to hold them responsible. But they did not elect to take any such proceedings. They did not keep silent as to the facts, when called upon to make answer to the charge of being guilty as the authors or publishers of the articles in question. They chose, as it were, to go upon the stand and be sworn, by filing their verified answer, and thereby placing themselves in the same situation that the defendant in either a civil or criminal action is always placed when he becomes a witness in his own behalf, either by being sworn and giving oral testimony, or by giving testimony by affidavit or pleading. The rule that a defendant making answer to a complaint against him admits those things stated in the complaint that he does not in his answer deny, is not simply a rule of pleading. It is a rule of evidence as well. And where, upon the hearing of a motion, the party answering the moving affidavit or affidavits only denies a portion of the allegations of fact alleged in them, he must be held to admit all those which he does not deny. It seems to me, therefore, that the attitude of the defendants before the court,—the answer to the accusation filed by them,—tested by any rule of pleading or of evidence, or the construction ordinarily given to language used, compels us to hold that they were the publishers of the articles in question, and that the only issue presented to the court was whether they were, in truth and in fact, false or grossly inaccurate reports of its proceedings. That was the only issue tendered, and it was tendered to the court whose proceedings were purported to be published. Whether they were false or grossly inaccurate, that court knew. As we have heretofore seen, it was the judge as to whether, in that respect, contempt had been committed against it. The court of sessions might well have proceeded to judgment upon the answer so filed, because, as we have already seen, it was unnecessary to file interrogatories. But, out of abundant caution, it caused interrogatories to be propounded to the defendants, and gave them ample opportunity to purge themselves of the contempt charged against them. Separate interrogatories were propounded to each of the defendants. It is unnecessary, for the purposes of this discussion, to set forth the interrogatories propounded to each, and their answers thereto. They are, in substance, alike, and a consideration of those propounded to one of the defendants, together with his answers thereto, will be sufficient to dispose of the questions relating to all of them. The following interrogatories were propounded to the defendant Barnes:

Q. 1. “Who compose the editorial staff of the Albany Morning Express, and what,are the duties of each member of the editorial staff, respectivelyV” Q. 2. “Who compose the editorial staff of the Albany Evening Journal, and what are the duties of each member of the staff, respectively?” Q. 3. “Is not John Hastings managing editor of the Albany Morning Express?” Q. 4. “Does not George N. Southwick sometimes write editorials for the Albany Morning Express?” Q. 5. “Do you know from statements made by the writer, or in any other way, who wrote the editoral in the Albany Homing Express of the issue of April 21, 1894, and on the fourth page of said issue, entitled, ‘The Disgrace of Ciute’ ?” Q. 6. “Did George N. Southwick write that editorial?” Q. 7. “Did John Hastings write that editorial?” Q. 8. “If you answer the two preceding interrogatories in the negative, or say that you do not know, please state whether any one besides yourself wrote that editorial, and, if so, who?” Q. 9. “Do you know from statements made by the writer, or in any other way, who wrote the news article in the Albany Morning Express of the issue of April 21, 1894, and on the eighth page of said issue, entitled, ‘His Action Needs Explanation’?” Q. 10. “If you answer the preceding interrogatory in the negative, or say that you do not know, please state whether any one besides yourself wrote that article, and, if so, who ?”

To these interrogatories the defendant Barnes made the following response:

“The above-named defendant, William Barnes, Jr., in response to the interrogatories filed herein, hereby denies that he has been guilty of the publication of any report of its proceedings which was believed or intended by this defendant to be false or grossly inaccurate, and disclaims any intention on his part to be guilty of such contempt, or of any such false or inaccurate publication.” “This defendant, in response to the fourth interrogatory filed, and to be administered to this defendant, answers the same, T do not know.’ ” “As to each and every of the other interrogatories filed and to be administered to this defendant, this defendant, acting under advice of counsel, hereby declines to answer the said interrogatories, or any or either of them, upon the ground that answers to such interrogatories might tend to expose this defendant to a criminal prosecution, or might furnish evidence which could be used against him' on such prosecution; and this defendant is privileged, under the constitution and laws of this state, from answering the same.”

If the defendant had chosen to assert what he claims to be his rights under the constitution, and refused to be sworn as a witness, it may be that he would have been sustained in such contention, but he made no such objection; or if he had confined himself to answering the single interrogatory that he did answer, and then making the objections to the others that he did, he would then, perhaps, have come within the case of People v. Forbes, 143 N. Y. 219-230, 38 N. E. 303. But prior to answering or raising his objection he made a voluntary statement, which is not, and does not profess to be, in answer or response to any of the interrogatories propounded to him, but is intended as testimony or a statement in his own behalf. He first made himself a witness in his own behalf, then answered the question he thought safe, and then raised his constitutional privilege as to the others. The question of privilege is raised too late. A defendant cannot go upon the stand as a witness, and give testimony that is, or is intended to be, for his own benefit, and refuse to answer questions that may tend to convict or criminate him. Stover v. People, 56 N. Y. 315. It will be observed that the defendant does not deny that he is the publisher, proprietor, or manager, or the writer of any of the articles in question, but denies “that he has been guilty of the publication of any report of its proceedings which was believed or intended by this defendant to be false or grossly inaccurate, and disclaims any intention on his part to be guilty of such contempt, or of any false or inaccurate publication.” As I have shown in discussing the answer filed by the defendants, this is an admission of the publication, or of responsibility for the publication, of the articles in question, and, upon the most favorable construction for the defendants, can only be said to raise the question as to their correctness as reports of the proceedings of the court of sessions; there being added to it now a disclaimer of any belief by the defendants that they were false, and a disclaimer of any intention of being guilty of contempt, or of publishing any false or inaccurate report. In so far as this response raises a question of intention, it is no defense or justification of the defendant’s action; it is simply a matter in palliation. People v. Freer, 1 Caines, 518; Ex parte Chamberlain, 4 Cow. 49. The testimony thus offered by the defendant in Ms own behalf, coupled with his refusal to answer the other questions propounded to him, amply justified the court in holding him guilty of the offense charged. They were put in a position to piirge themselves, if they were innocent. If innocent, they could deny that they were the publishers of the newspaper in which such articles appeared, or that they were the writers or authors of such articles. But when they elected to deny any intention of publishing any false or inaccurate reports, and deny the publication of any report of the proceedings of the court which they believed to be false, and remained mute as to the matters of fact set forth in the affidavit, and refused to answer the interrogatories propounded to them, it must be assumed, under the rules of evidence, that they did so because they could not truthfully deny the facts alleged, and could not truthfully answer the interrogatories propounded to them without avowing their guilt. The silence of a party where he has an opportunity to deny a statement in which he is interested is taken as an admission, and must be so regarded on the trial. 1 Tayl. Ev. 809. Having volunteered to give testimony in his own behalf, there is no reason why he should not be held to the same rules that prevail in relation to any defendant charged with crime who becomes a witness in his own behalf. He cannot elect to give testimony as to such parts of his case as he may choose, and refuse as to others, and if he does so refuse the presumption is that he does so because he cannot truthfully answer without confessing his guilt. Stover v. People, 56 N. Y. 315; Andrews v. Frye, 104 Mass. 234. Thus the court below, after a full consideration of the defendants’ case, both upon the answer filed by them and upon the testimony given by them in response to the interrogatories filed, adjudged, not only that the contempt had been committed against the court, but that the defendants were the persons guilty thereof. It was a trial upon the merits, as much as any such proceedings well can be,—an adjudication both upon the law and the facts,— and, there being some evidence to sustain the finding of fact, this court will not disturb it. The only defense offered upon the part of the defendants was that they had no intention of committing any contempt, or of publishing any false or ..inaccurate report of the proceedings of the court, and that they did not believe that they had done so. This, as before stated, was simply a palliation of the offense, and seems to have been taken into consideration by the court in imposing sentence in the case,—a very moderate one for the gross nature of the offense committed. I can see nothing in these proceedings which would warrant me in saying that the court was not justified in holding that the relators were responsible for the publication or writing of the articles in question. I do not see that in so holding the court violated any rule of law that is necessary for the protection of the liberty of the citizen. The defendants-have been granted ample opportunity to purge themselves of the contempt charged, and they have failed to do so. The certiorari should therefore be quashed, and the decision of the court of sessions affirmed.

PUTNAM, J., concurs.