State v. Cole

48 Mo. 70

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: March 15, 1871
• Status: Published

Opinion

Currier, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The defendant, having committed an assault and battery, as the case shoAvs, went before a justice and instituted proceedings against himself, and was fined three dollars and costs. Subsequently the present prosecution was instituted by the injured party for the same offense. The defendant pleads the former conviction in bar of the prosecution.

It is apparent that.the first prosecution was a mere sham, gotten up by the defendant to shield him from the consequences of a real prosecution followed up by a real prosecutor. His action in that respect was a fraud upon tbe cnminal justice of the State, and cannot be allowed to succeed. The conviction, if such it might be called, is no bar to the present prosecution. It is a sufficient answer to the plea, that the alleged conviction was procured by the fraud and evil practice of the defendant himself. (8 Greenl. Ev., § 88, and authorities cited.)

Let the judgment be affirmed.

The other judges concur.