State v. Chartrand

30 A. 10, 86 Me. 547, 1894 Me. LEXIS 72

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: August 17, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinion

Foster, J.

Search and seizure process. After verdict a motion in arrest of judgment was filed, which was overruled, and to this ruling the defendant excepts.

The ground of arrest which is relied on is, that the warrant contains a command to the officer not set out in the complaint.

The complaint and warrant specifically designate the premises to be searched. The warrant, however, contains the further command to the officer to search the defendant if he has reason to believe that he has concealed said liquors about his person, and if they are found upon him to arrest him. There is no corresponding allegation in the complaint or prayer for process to search the person of the defendant.

A motion in arrest of judgment reaches only such errors as appear upon the face of the record. State v. Carver, 49 Maine, 588 ; State v. Murphy, 72 Maine, 433.

Nothing appears from the record that the command complained of has ever been acted on. No such claim is set up. There was a valid complaint and corresponding warrant aside from the alleged objectionable matter.

Eliminating from the warrant so much as refers to the search of the person, and the process is sufficient. The objection urged is, not that the record contains too little, but too much. Not that it empowered the officer with no authority, but with more than he could properly execute. Assuming that to be true, we are of opinion that it may be regarded as surplusage, and enough remains with that stricken out to constitute a record complete in itself and sufficient upon which to found a verdict and judgment.

It is somewhat analogous in principle to the case of an indictment containing several counts, one or more of which is bad, and a general verdict of guilty is rendered upon the whole. The current of authority in this country is that judgment and sentence will be sustained upon such counts as are valid, and a motion in arrest will not be sustained; the judgment and sentence being considered as given in accordance with the offense properly laid and proved. State v. Burke, 38 Maine, 574; Jennings v. Commonwealth, 17 Pick. 80, 83.

It is unnecessary to consider the other objections as to the right of the clerk to hear the complaint and issue the warrant., as those have been passed upon by the court in another case. State v. LeClair, ante, p. 522. Exceptions overruled.