People v. Randolph

2 Park. Cr. 213

• Court: Court Of Oyer And Terminer New York
• Decided: May 15, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

B. L. Bessac, (District Attorney)

urged that notwithstanding the age of the prisoner and his presumed inability to perpetrate the offence, he might lawfully be convicted of an assault with intent to commit a rape, and that it should be submitted to the jury with proper instructions to pass upon the guilt or innocence of the party, of this offence.

Church & Davis, for the defendant,

insisted that the prisoner could only be convicted of a simple assault and battery upon the ground that the law adjudging that he could not commit the offence charged, he could not be guilty under the law of a criminal intent to commit the offence, and cited Rex v. Eldersham, 3 C. & P. 396; Grovenbridge’s case, 7 id. 582 and Regina v. Phillips, 8 id. 736.

: The Court ruled that the guilty intent, which, under the statute, aggravated a simple assault and battery and made it punishable as a felony, could not exist where there was a physical incapacity presumed by law of the person .charged, i to consummate the offence alleged to have been intended. The intent was simply a thought or desire, which could not in the nature of things produce any result, the highest offence of ■which the party was capable being a mere assault and battery, as determined by the law itself. The circumstances attending the assault are to be considered in awarding a punishment for the offence.

In Eldersham’s case, Vaughan, B., held that a boy, under the -' age of fourteen, could not be convicted of an assault with intent to commit a rape, Gaselee, J., held the same, after consulting Lord Abinger, C. B., in Rex v. Grovenbridge, and Patterson, J., made the same ruling in Phillips’ case. The reverse had been, before either of these cases, decided by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in Commonwealth v. Green, 2 Pick. 380, Parker, C. J., dissenting The reasons assigned in the prevailing opinion are not sufficient, against the dissent of the Chief Justice, to overcome the force of the English cases and the principle upon which they are based. If the offence deserves a higher penalty than can be imposed for a simple assault and battery, the remedy is with the legislature, who can provide such a punishment as will most effectually protect females from boys of vicious propensities. That the presumption of impotency is in England absolute, while, as held by the Supreme Court in this case it is only prima facie in this state, does not affect the question. It is conclusive until overcome by evidence.

Under the direction of the court, the prisoner was found guilty of an assault and battery.