State v. Rockwell ( 1891 )

■Ro itirock, J.

I. These appeals involve the same questions. They were presented to this court upon the same abstract and arguments, and they will be determined in one opinion. The first question presented by counsel for the oFimriefto™ fngPbystMders. appellants is that the court erred in over-xuling certain challenges made to the jury. It appears from the record that twenty-four trial jurors were regularly and legally drawn, and that but nineteen •appeared in obedience to the summons commanding them to appear and serve as jurors at the terms at which the defendants were respectively required to appear. This fact was discovered early in the term, and at the time these causes were called for trial. It is provided by section 232 of the Code that, where the whole number of jurors fail to attend, or because some are excused by the court, “the requisite number of persons to •supply the deficiency shall be drawn in the same manner as provided” by law for drawing the panel in the first instance. The cases now under consideration were ■called for trial at the time the jury was first called and the deficiency ascertained. The defendants challenged the panel, because it was not filled to the requisite number in the manner provided by the statute above cited. The challenge was overruled. It is not claimed that this ruling was error. It was in accord with the ■case of Buford v. McQetcMe, 60 Iowa, 298. The court proceeded to impanel the jury, and the number was reduced by challenges for other causes to less than twelve. Thereupon, the court ordered the sheriff to call jurors from the bystanders. The defendants objected to this, and challenged the bystanders or talesmen called by the sheriff. Each one was challenged as he was ■called, and the challenges were overruled, and when the ■defendants’ challenges were all exhausted the jury consisted of nine of the regular panel and three of the talesmen called by the sheriff.

We have held that section 232 of the Code is ■directory, so far as'it involves the right to challenge’a juror because of the failure of the court to order a second drawing of jurors. In State v. Harris, 64 Iowa, 289, it is said: “No penalty, however, is attached for .-.a failure to comply literally with, the statute [ section 232 of the Code], and we think it must be regarded as •directory, and that a simple disregard of its provisions, where error does not affirmatively appear, is not sufficient to authorize a reversal of the judgment. The •court is, and must of necessity be, invested with a judicial discretion in this respect, to the end that justice may be obtained, and that unnecessary delays in the proceedings of courts may not occur.” State v. Ryan, 70 Iowa, 155; State v. McCahill, 72 Iowa, 111. The ¡statute does not provide that the court shall delay the trial of jury causes until a drawing can be made, and •officers sent to distant parts of the country to summon .and bring in additional jurors ; and there is nothing in the record in these cases showing that the defendants were in any manner prejudiced by the method adopted by the court to secure a jury for the trial of the •causes.

II. The court instructed the jury that if the ■defendants maintained buildings in which intoxicating "5 Intoxicating- ‘ íiqnore: nui-liquors were kept for sale contrary to law, v i and that such buildings were situated within five hundred yards of the line of Jones •county, they were guilty of the crime charged in the indictments. It is provided by statute that, when a public offense is committed on the boundary of two or more counties, or within five hundred yards thereof, the jurisdiction is in either of the counties. Code, sec. -4159. It is contended that this provision of the-law has no application to a criminal prosecution for keeping a liquor nuisance. The argument of counsel appears to be grounded upon certain provisions of the statute authorizing actions enjoining the keeping of nuisances of this character. We do not think there is any ground for holding that these statutes in any manner limit the .general statute above cited. It applies to all “public •offenses,” and the keeping of a saloon nuisance is a public offense, and punished the same as any other public nuisance.

We discover no reason for reversing the judgments of the district court, and they are Affirmed.