People v. Fonda

29 N.W. 26, 62 Mich. 401, 1886 Mich. LEXIS 816
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 15, 1886
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 29 N.W. 26 (People v. Fonda) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Fonda, 29 N.W. 26, 62 Mich. 401, 1886 Mich. LEXIS 816 (Mich. 1886).

Opinion

Sherwood, J.

The complaint against the respondent in this case is criminal, and was made by Charles W. Cond, president of the Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, in behalf of the bank, for the larceny and embezzlement of its funds, while the respondent was engaged in its employment as clerk or servant.

The Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, at the time the alleged crime was committed, was “ an incorporated bunking institution, organized and existing under the laws of the United States providing for the creation of national banking associations.” ' ’

■The information against respondent contains nine counts; upon two of which (the third' and fourth) he was tried and convicted of the offense stated therein, in the St. Joseph circuit, at the last October term, and was, upon such conviction, sentenced to imprisonment at Jackson for the period of three years and six months.

The case is now before us for review on error.

[403]*403The counts upon which the conviction was had were as follows:

Third Count. And the said prosecuting attorney, who prosecutes as aforesaid, further gives the said court here to understand and be informed that Charles W. Fonda, late of the township of Constantine, in the county of St. Joseph aforesaid, on the twenty-fifth day of January, A. D. 1881, ■at the village of Constantine, in the county aforesaid, being ■then and there a servant and clerk of the Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, £an' incorporated banking institution, organized and existing under the laws of the •United States providing for the creation of national banking •associations,’ and not being then and there an apprentice, nor other person under the age of sixteen years, did, by virtue of his said employment, then and there, and whilst he was a servant and clerk as aforesaid, receive and take into his possession certain money to a large amount, to the amount of two thousand dollars, and of the value of two thousand dollars, of the property of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, and which said money came to the possession of the said Charles W. Fonda by virtue of said employment; and the said money then and there fraudulently and feloniously did embezzle and convert to his own use, without the consent of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, his said employer.
“And the said Charles W. Fonda then and there, in manner and form aforesaid, the said money, the property of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, his said employer, from the said Farmers’ National. Bank of Constantine, Michigan, feloniously did steal, take, and carry •away, against the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of the State of Michigan.
Fourth Count. And the said prosecuting attorney, who prosecutes as aforesaid, further gives the said court here to understand and be informed that Charles W. Fonda, late of the township of Constantine, in. the county of St. Joseph aforesaid, on the fourth day of December, A. D. 1880, at the village of Constantine, in the county aforesaid,, being then and there a servant and clerk of the Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, ‘an incorporated banking institution, organized and existing under the laws of the United States providing for the creation of national banking ■associations,’and not. being then and there an apprentice, nor other person under the age of sixteen years, did, by virtue [404]*404of his said employment, then and there, and whilst he was a servant and elerk as aforesaid, receive and take into his possession certain money to a large amount, to the amount of one thousand dollars, and of the value of one thousand dollars,, of the property of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, and which said money came to the possession of the said Charles W. Fonda by virtue of said employment ; and the said money then and there fraudulently and' feloniously did embezzle and convert to his own use, without the consent of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan, his said employer.
“And the said Charles W. Fonda then and there, in manner and form aforesaid, the said money, the property of the said Farmers’ National Bank of Constantine, Michigan,, feloniously did steal, take, and carry away, against the form, of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of the State of Michigan.,y

The statute under which the conviction was had at the-circuit reads as follows:

“ If any officer, agent, clerk, or servant of any incorporated' company, or of any city, township, incorporated town or village, school district, or other public or municipal corporation, or if any clerk, agent, or servant of any private persons, or of a copartnership, except apprentices, and other persons under the age of sixteen years, shall embezzle, or fraudulently dispose of, or convert to his own use, or shall take or secrete, with intent to embezzle1’ and convert to-his own use, without consent of his employer or master, any money or other .property of another, which shall liavecome to his possession, or shall be under his charge, by virtue of such office or employment, he shall be deemed by so doing; to have committed the crime of larceny.” How. Stat. § 9151.

This statute was passed by the Legislature prior to the-national banking system, and could not, therefore, have-special reference to the national legislation creating that system, however clearly the crime of the respondent may be described in the statute. Rev. Stat. 1838, p. 630, § 27; Rev.. Stat. 1846, p. 666, § 29.

At the time the alleged act of embezzlement was committed the respondent was in the bank, and in its service, as-clerk.

[405]*405The question raised in this case is: The federal government having declared the act charged against this respondent a criminal offense, and provided for the apprehension, trial, and conviction of the offender under its laws, had the State •court any jurisdiction, concurrent or otherwise, to deal with •the respondent under the State statute making the same act ■criminal, and providing for its punishment ? The learned •counsel for the respondent claim that the jurisdiction of ■the federal court in the case is complete and exclusive; that the offense charged in the information is for the violation of a federal law; and that the punishment therefor has. become fixed and established, and the whole subject has been covered by the legislation of Congress.

The Constitution of the United States provides as follows:

This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of- any state to the contrary notwithstanding.” Const. U. S. Art. 6.

The statute passed by Congress punishing the offense •charged in the information is as follows:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
29 N.W. 26, 62 Mich. 401, 1886 Mich. LEXIS 816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-fonda-mich-1886.