St. Lawrence County v. Goldberg

158 N.Y.S. 146

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: April 7, 1916
• Status: Published

Opinion

BORST, J.

Defendants demur to the complaint on the ground that it does not state a cause of action. It is alleged in the complaint: That one Giles A. Chase was a justice of the peace of the town of Massena, St. Lawrence Comity. “That on or about the 1st day of January, 1916, an information was laid before the said Giles A. Chase as such justice of the peace of the town of Massena, charging one Abe Wilcovitz with a violation of section 1370 of the Penal Law of the state of New York, and a warrant was thereupon, and on or about said 1st day of January, 1916, issued by said Chase as such justice as aforesaid, for the arrest of said Abe Wilcovitz, charging him with a violation of section 1370 of the Penal Law of the state of New York, the offense so charged being one that the said Chase as such magistrate had jurisdiction to- hear, try, and determine.” That Wilcovitz was arrested and thereafter arraigned before the justice, and to procure his release from custody on the charge made against him the defendants “signed and executed an undertaking whereby they jointly and severally undertook that the said Abe Wilcovitz should appear and answer the said charge of violating section 1370 of the Penal Law of the state of New York, in whatever court the same might be prosecuted, and should at all times render himself amenable to the orders and process of the court, and if convicted should appear for judgment and render himself in execution thereof, and that if he failed to perform either of said conditions, that they, the said defendants, would pay the sum of $200.” That Wilcovitz was released from custody on said bail, but did not thereafter appear for trial as provided in the undertaking, and the same was forfeited.

[1,2J The justice had jurisdiction to inquire and decide whether there was cause to believe that the accused had committed a criminal offense within the county of St. Lawrence. Necessarily the power so vested in the justice likewise vested in him the power to hold the accused to answer the charge, if he found an offense had been committed and there was reasonable cause to believe the accused guilty of such offense. The power of the justice to hold the accused to bail in such case followed, even if his determination was erroneous' and the facts found by him constituted no offense. The determination of the justice cannot be questioned in an action on the undertaking given to secure the release of the accused. This would allow the decision of a court, which had jurisdiction to inquire and determine, to be assailed by collateral attack.

[3] Further, the principal was held to appear, not only to answer the particular charge made, but also any other charge of crime, for the terms of the bond as stated in the complaint are that he “should at all times render himself amenable to the orders and process of the court,” and until he appeared and was discharged, or served under the judgment of the court, his sureties would not be released. The accused failed to appear, and his sureties are liable on their undertaking that he would appear. The following authorities support the conclusion reached: People v. Gillman, 125 N. Y. 372, 26 N. E. 469; People v. Russell, 35 Misc. Rep. 767, 72 N. Y. Supp. 1; Pernetti v. People, 99 App. Div. 393, 91 N. Y. Supp. 210; Champlain v. People, 2 N. Y. 82; Hardy v. U. S., 71 Fed. 158, 18 C. C. A. 22; U. S. v. Graner (C. C.) 155 Fed. 679 ; 5 Cyc. 98.

The undertaking having been taken in a Court of Special Sessions, the action is properly brought in the name of the county. Section 739, Code of Criminal Procedure.

The demurrer is overruled, with costs of motion to the plaintiff. A draft order may be submitted accordingly.