State v. Newell

106 A. 561, 93 Vt. 81, 1919 Vt. LEXIS 138

• Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
• Decided: January 18, 1919
• Status: Published

Opinion

Powers, J.

At common law, the crime of burglary could be committed in the nighttime only. Therefore, a noctanter was necessary to a valid indictment therefor. But under our statute, G-. L. 6858, 6859, it is as much burglary to break and enter in the daytime as it is to break and enter in the nighttime. The effect of the sections referred to is not to make two crimes, but to make two grades of the same crime. The words “in the daytime” are not used in 6859 to define or characterize the offence, but merely to distinguish it from the higher grade of the same offence specified in 6858. The case, then, comes within the rule thus stated by Chief Justice Shaw in Devoe v. Commonwealth, 3 Met. (Mass.) 316: “Where there are several species of the same general crime, with more or fewer circumstances of aggravation, and subject to a gradation of punishments, it is not necessary, in the indictment, to negative (directly or indirectly) those circumstances which would render it more aggravated.”

In order to convict of the higher grade, the aggravating circumstances must, of course, be alleged. But to convict of the lower grade, it is not necessary to allege that the offence was committed in the daytime. Butler v. People, 4 Denio (N. Y.) 68; Com. v. Reynolds, 122 Mass. 454; Schwabacher v. People, 165 Ill. 618, 46 N. E. 809; State v. Neddo, 92 Me. 71, 42 Atl. 253; State v. Burns, 131 La. 396, 59 So. 823.

There was no error in the sentence. The respondent could properly be sent to the House of Correction. G. L. 7184. We assume, of course, the contrary not appearing, that he was over sixteen years of age.

There is no error, and respondent tahes nothing. Lei execution be done.