State v. McGlasson

52 N.W. 226, 86 Iowa 44

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 28, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

Kinne, J.

The defendant was indicted, tried and convicted for keeping a liquor nuisance. He appeals. The sentence was imposed on December 18, 1891. December 19, 1891, he served notice of appeal to this court, and on January!, 1892, his appeal bond was approved. No other or further steps have been taken by the defendant. January 11, 1892, the state served a notice on the defendant’s counsel that it would, at-the January term of this court, 1892, file with the clerk of this court certified copies of the notice of appeal, the appeal bond, and final judgment of the court below, upon which it would ask that the case be docketed, and the judgment below affirmed. These papers were all duly filed with the clerk of this court on and prior to' January 20, 1892.

1. appeals in criminal cases: failure to prosecute affirmance on motion. I. The defendant, in an argument filed, insists that the court cannot affirm or dismiss the case — first, because, as he claims, it is incumbent upon the clerk of the court below-to send -up a transcript when an appeal is taken by the . „ . , . ... . defendant m a criminal cause; and, second, because we are required to examine the record.

Section 4524 of the Code provides, in substance, that an appeal in a criminal case shall be deemed taken when the notices required by section 4523 are filed in the office of the clerk of the court in which judgment was rendered, with evidence of the service thereof' indorsed thereon or annexed thereto. Section 4525 provides that when an appeal is taken the clerk must, without unnecessary delay, make out, certify, and transmit to the clerk of this court, a full and perfect transcript of. all papers in the case on file in his office, except those returned by the examining magistrate. By section 4538 we are required, when an appeal is taken by the defendant in a criminal case from a judgment rendered against him, to examine the record, and, without regard to technical errors or defects which do not affect the substantial rights of the parties, render such a judgment on the record as the law demands. The statute is imperative, and hence we cannot, on motion, either affirm or dismiss the case, but must in all cases examine the record as required.

2. -: omission of clerk to certify transcript: affirmance oh record made by appellee. II. The defendant contends that, as the statute requires the clerk of the court below to send up a transcript when the appeal is taken, and, as ke so ^o, therefore, the defendant “is not to be punished for the clerk’s neglect of duty.” If the clerk had refused to send up a transcript after the defendant’s appeal was taken, doubtless the defendant could, by proper proceedings, have compelled the clerk to peliforra his duty in that respect. If, however, the defendant chooses, as in this 'case, to take no such steps, and the state files a transcript, which it may do, we must, in the absence of a showing by the defendant that he will be prejudiced, or that he desires a continuance, and has good grounds therefor, dispose of the case upon its merits. State v. Pratt, 20 Iowa, 268. There is no such showing or application in this case. We have examined the record with care, and find no error. The record does not contain the instructions, evidence, or rulings thereon, nor the motion for a new trial, and it does not appear that the defendant excepted to any of the proceedings had, except to the overruling of his motion for a new trial. In the absence of the motion, evidence, and rulings thereon, we are not able to say that the action of the court in overruling the motion was error.

The judgment below will be aeeiemed.