Sharp v. State

1917 OK CR 12, 161 P. 1178, 13 Okla. Crim. 59, 1917 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 14

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
• Decided: January 13, 1917
• Docket: No. A-2561.
• Status: Published

Opinion

DOYLE, P. J.

The plaintiff in error, T. I. Sharp, was convicted in the county court of Pawnee county of a violation of the prohibitory law, and his punishment fixed at a fine of $50 and costs and confinement for 30 days in the county jail; failing to pay said fine and costs, that he be further so confined until the same are satisfied as by law provided. From the judgment rendered on the verdict he appealed by filing in this court on October 14, 1915, a petition in error with case-made. On September 4, 1916, while his appeal was pending and awaiting decision before this court, he departed this life. His counsel of record have filed a motion to abate the proceedings.

In the case of Boyd v. State, 3 Okla. Cr. 684, 108 Pac. 431, it is said:

“In a criminal action, the sole purpose of the proceedings ■ is to enforce the criminal law and punish the person found guilty of a violation thereof. The personal representative of the deceased is not responsible for the alleged violation of the law by the defendant during his lifetime, and cannot be required to satisfy the judgment rendered against him. It is only the person adjudged guilty who can be punished, and a judgment cannot be ■enforced when the only subject-matter upon which it, can operate has ceased to exist.”

And see United States v. Dunne, 173 Fed. 254, 97 C. C. A. 420, 19 Ann. Cas. 1145.

In a criminal action the purpose of the proceedings being to punish the defendant in person, the action must necessarily abate upon his death. It is therefore considered and adjudged that the proceedings in the above-entitled cause, ,and especially under the judgment therein rendered, have abated, and that the county court of Pawnee county enter its appropriate order to that effect.

ARMSTRONG and BRETT, JJ., concur.