People v. Proteau

297 N.W. 485, 297 Mich. 263
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 8, 1941
DocketDocket No. 115, Calendar No. 41,221.
StatusPublished

This text of 297 N.W. 485 (People v. Proteau) 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. Proteau, 297 N.W. 485, 297 Mich. 263 (Mich. 1941).

Opinion

Bushnell, J.

Defendant Proteau was charged with fraudulently and feloniously disposing of and converting to bis own use personal property of tbe value of $29.58. At bis arraignment before a justice of tbe peace be entered a plea of not guilty to *265 the charge of embezzlement and several days later was released under personal bond. At the trial a motion was made to amend the complaint and warrant to include counts of larceny and obtaining money under false pretenses. Over the objection of the defendant this motion to amend was granted by the justice, whereupon the defendant withdrew his plea of not guilty and stood mute. Defendant then moved to quash the warrant on the ground that it was not properly signed and to dismiss on the theory that, when defendant was arrested, the officer did not have the warrant in his possession. These motions were denied and, after trial before a jury, defendant was convicted and sentenced to serve a term of 90 days in the county jail. A writ of certiorari was granted by the circuit court to which the justice made a return.

At the hearing in the circuit court, defendant complained that the return of the justice was insufficient and incorrect. The court subsequently entered an order requiring the justice to “amend and make further return to all the matters specified in the affidavit of Roy F. Andes attached to and from which said writ of certiorari issued.” The record shows that a number of days elapsed before the hearing was resumed, at which time defendant informed the court that, although several of the questions raised in his affidavit for writ of certiorari had been eliminated, he supposed the remaining questions would be answered by an amended return as previously ordered. The court then informed counsel that the justice had requested information by telephone from the court as to the amendments desired. The circuit judge stated that the request of defendant’s counsel for an amended return was too general and did not contain sufficient specific details on which an amended return could be made *266 and, without allowing further argument, said that, after review of all the records filed, the court could not see “any sufficient reason for disturbing the judgment,” and dismissed the proceedings.

The various questions raised by appellant may be summarized as follows:

1. Was defendant entitled to a new trial because of the claimed prejudicial remarks of the prosecutor?

2. Should defendant’s motion to quash the warrant have been granted because the officer did not have the warrant in his possession when he arrested the defendant?

3. Was improper testimony admitted as to defendant’s reputation?

4. Was the return of the justice of the peace sufficient under the statute? (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17462 [Stat. Ann. § 28.1229].)

5. Was the court justified in refusing to require the justice to comply with the order for an amended return?

The claimed improper remarks of the prosecuting attorney had to do with a separate charge of malicious destruction of property then pending against the defendant. The return of the justice of the peace shows that defendant’s motion for mistrial on this ground was denied because, prior to the statement by the prosecutor, defendant’s attorney had referred to this other charge in the presence of the jury, and it was subsequently discussed by both sides in their argument to the jury. We are not informed as to the exact language used, except by general statements in the affidavit of defendant’s counsel. We are limited to such information as we have from the return. People v. Hobson, 48 Mich. 27, and Henika v. Brown, 155 Mich. 559. The return does not indicate that the justice abused his *267 discretion in denying defentant’s motion for mistrial.

By statutory authorization, a peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when he has been authoritatively advised that a warrant has been issued. 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17149 (Stat. Ann. § 28.874). A new, section of the criminal code now specifically provides that:

“Where an arrest is made under a warrant, it shall not be necessary for the arresting officer personally to have the warrant in his possession but such officer must, if possible, inform the person arrested that there is a warrant for his arrest and, after the arrest is made, shall show such person said warrant if required, as soon as practicable.” 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17152 (Stat. Ann. § 28.877).

For a general discussion of the law of arrest by Professor John B. Waite, see 29 Michigan Law Review, p. 448.

The complaint .in the instant case was filed April 24, 1939. A warrant was issued upon the recommendation of the prosecutor and defendant, was arrested the same day. When he was arrested, defendant asked the deputy sheriff if he had a warrant in his possession and was informed that he did not but that it was in the sheriff’s office. Defendant did not see the warrant until he was lodged in the Ma-comb county jail on the same day. The record shows a compliance with the provisions of the statutes, supra.

Defendant complains of the alleged improper admission of testimony offered in rebuttal by the people as to defendant’s reputation. The minutes of the justice show-that defendant was sworn as a witness in his own behalf and that he was later called as a witness by the people. They also show that *268 Frank Strohm and Edgar I. Moses were sworn for the people. The return of the justice says:

“I do further certify and return that a motion was made by the attorney for the defendant to strike from the record testimony introduced by the people’s witnesses Frank Strohm and Edgar I. Moses and that such motion was denied for the reason that these witnesses testified not as to the character of the defendant but [were?] used as impeachment witnesses and testified as to his general reputation as to truth and veracity in the neighborhood in which he resided, that these witnesses attacked only his creditability and not his reputation.”

In People v. Etter, 72 Mich. 175, the court said:

“When a person is convicted of a criminal offense before a justice of the peace, and conceives that injustice has been done him, he has a choice of two remedies — he may appeal to the circuit court, where a retrial will be had upon the merits; or he may remove the conviction into the circuit court by writ of certiorari. If he chooses the latter remedy, he elects to rely upon such return as he may be able to obtain from the justice, and he can claim no error that is not shown by the return.”

Defendant relied on certiorari and we are bound by the return.

We have examined the record presented which does not contain a transcript of the testimony taken before the justice, there being only a summary of the proceedings noted by the justice on the back of the warrant and the further statement made by the justice in his return to the writ.

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Related

Ritter v. Daniels
11 N.W. 409 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1882)
People v. Hobson
11 N.W. 771 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1882)
Howell v. Shepard
12 N.W. 661 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1882)
Rawson v. McElvaine
13 N.W. 513 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1882)
Erie Preserving Co. v. Witherspoon
13 N.W. 781 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1882)
Whitbeck v. Common Council
14 N.W. 708 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1883)
Wilkinson v. Williams
16 N.W. 319 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1883)
Mann v. Tyler
23 N.W. 314 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1885)
People v. Etter
40 N.W. 241 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1888)
Henika v. Brown
119 N.W. 1083 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1909)

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Bluebook (online)
297 N.W. 485, 297 Mich. 263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-proteau-mich-1941.