State v. Blevins , 134 Ala. 213 ( 1901 )

DOWDELL, J.

This appeal is prosecuted by the State from an order of the judge of the city court of Mobile discharging the petitioner on habeas corpus.

The prisoner was arrested on a warrant issued by the judge of the inferior criminal court of Mobile county, on an affidavit made by one Mary Junius, charging the defendant with an assault and battery on the affiant. The warrant was made returnable before the judge of said inferior criminal court. A day was set for the- trial, and at which time the trial was entered upon, the defendant interposing the plea of not guilty. After the introduction of evidence by the State and defense, and upon the conclusion of the argument of counsel, the judge of the inferior court made ánd entered upon the docket! the following order:. “State v. Willis Blevins.” “Assault and! Battery.” “On hearing the evidence in this case it appears to the court that the offense of ami assault with intent tb ravish has .-been committed, and that there is probable cause-to believe that the defendant is guilty .thereof, wherefore .it is ordered and adjudged that unless the defendant enter into a bond in the sum of five hundred dollars with good and sufficient surety for his appearance to answer said charge at the next term of the city court of Mobile, Alabama, and from term to ternu thereafter until legally discharged, he be detained in the Mobile county jail until legally discharged.” “April 26tlf, 1902.” •'

Pursuant to this order a mittimus in due form was issued committing the defendant to' jail, and under and by virtue of which he is now held in custody.

It is conceded that but onie assault was committed, and that the assault and battery for which he was arrested and fried on the affidavit and warrant, and the assault with intent to ravish, for which he was committed, was the. same offense. It is also admitted that there Avas no fraud or,collusion in the suing ouitl of the affidavit and Avarrant of arrest for the assault and battery. The case presented is whether or not the defendant was put in jeopardy, in the proceeding against him for an assault and battery.

That the inferior criminal court of Mobile county has final jurisdiction in cases of assault and battery is not questioned. This court, under the act amendatory of the act of its creation, is given final jurisdiction of all misdemeanors concurrent with that of the city court of Mobile. — Acts, 1900-1901, p. 2575. In the trial of misdemeanors before the judge of the inferior criminal court, the proceedings are commenced on affidavit and warrant as in tire county court, under the provisions of Chap. 112 of the Criminal Code. The proceeding against the defendant for an assault and battery Avas commenced Ainder -the provisions of this chapter. The affidavit upon which the Avarrant of arrest issued, Avas -the complaint, and on this complaint the judge of the inferior court had jurisdiction to try the ease and render final judgment. ■

The felonious assault for which the defendant Avas bound over embraced the minor offeinise of assault and battery for AAhich lie was arrested and put on trial. If the defendant had been, convicted for the assault and battery it would not for a moment be contended that he could again he tried and punished for the assault with intent to ravish. To do so, would be in violation of an organic law, that no> person shall for the same offense be twice put in jeopardy of life or1 limb. While cases aro to be found in other jurisdictions Svhich hold that on an acquittal or convictioni for a minor offense, and the defendant is afterwards put on trial for the greater offense, which embraced the former, no- jeopardy arises, this court is thoroughly committed to the contrary doctrine. The State cannot elect, to prosecute and try a person for a, lower grade and then put him on trial for a higher grade of the same offense. — Moore v. State, 71 Ala. 307; Gunter v. State, 111 Ala. 23; Storrs v. State, 129 Ala. 101.

At what stage in the particular case, jeopardy arises, has in some instances been of serious and doubtful question, but there exists no- room for doubt or question in the present case. The trial of the defendant here'1, upon issue joined on the,plea of not guilty, before a tribunal of competent almdi final jurisdiction, had proceeded to the conclusion of the evidence, and reached the stage calling for a judgment of the court on the issue as made. There can be no, doubt that the defendant was thus placed in jeopardy, and it follows that the order of the judge of the city court of Mobile appealed from discharging the prisoner, must be affirmed.