Grosky v. McGovern

This certiorari brings up for review the conviction of prosecutor for operating a motor vehicle upon a public street in Hudson County while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, in violation of R.S. 39:4-50.

In lieu of depositions, an agreed state of facts was submitted, which, in part, is as follows:

"The prosecutor, Tony Grosky, resides at 174 County Avenue, Secaucus, New Jersey, where he maintains a pig farm.

"On March 20th, 1945, at about nine P.M., said Tony Grosky was driving an automobile on a public highway known as County Avenue, Secaucus, New Jersey, when he struck a parked automobile owned by one Edward J. Gunther, a friend of said Tony Grosky. That he alighted to inspect the damage done to said automobile, and the owner was not then in the automobile.

"That the said Edward J. Gunther pursued Tony Grosky for about three-fourths of a mile, and took him to Patrolman Sarcander of the Hudson County Police Department, and told said patrolman that he wanted Tony Grosky examined for drunken driving. Said Tony Grosky, together with Patrolman Herman Sarcander and Edward J. Gunther went to the Hudson County Police Headquarters at Newark Turnpike, Kearny, New Jersey. The officer there in charge directed that Tony Grosky be examined by Doctor William Doody, 19 Bentley Ave., Jersey City, N.J., to determine whether said Tony Grosky was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and unfit to operate a motor vehicle. The examination by said doctor was made at about nine twenty P.M., on March 20th, 1945.

"Immediately after the examination by the doctor, said Tony Grosky was returned to the Headquarters of the Hudson County Police Department at Newark Turnpike, Kearny, New Jersey, and there incarcerated in jail.

"No complaint had then been made against him or had any warrant issued for his arrest, nor did any of the police officers advise him on which charge he was being held or was he advised he was entitled to bail or to contact his counsel."

The agreed state of facts then sets up that the defendant was appointed clerk of the Hudson County Traffic Court on June 23d 1943, and at the same time was appointed acting judge of said court by the judge thereof, "to serve in his place and stead on such times as he was unavailable," and that the court holds regular sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 8 P.M. at room, Part I, in the Hudson County Court House.

The agreed state of facts further sets forth:

"On March 21, 1945, at about eleven A.M., said James F. McGovern, Jr., was summoned by William Diercks, a patrolman of the Hudson County Police Department to conduct a hearing at the record room of the Hudson County Police Department, Newark Turnpike, Kearny, New Jersey.

"At that time and place, said James F. McGovern, Jr., was advised by Patrolman Diercks of the accident involving the motor vehicles of Tony Grosky and Edward J. Gunther, and that as a result thereof said Tony Grosky was examined by Doctor William Doody and pronounced unfit to operate a motor vehicle by reason of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor, and that the said Edward J. Gunther desired to prosecute a complaint against the said Tony Grosky."

The state of facts then says that the respondent entertained a complaint signed by Gunther, charging the prosecutor with operating a motor vehicle in violation of R.S. 39:4-50, and that respondent thereupon issued a warrant and called a special session of the court; that respondent read the complaint signed by Gunther to the prosecutor and asked him if he was guilty or not guilty as charged; that respondent asked prosecutor "if he understood he was pleading guilty first to the operating of the motor vehicle, and secondly that he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor while operating said motor vehicle, and he replied, ``yes;'" that the plea of guilty was accepted and a fine of $200 plus $10 doctor's fee was imposed, or a sentence of thirty days. "That at the hearing of the matter, neither Dr. William Doody, who had examined the prosecutor, Tony Grosky, nor Patrolman Herman Sarcander who arrested him attended the hearing."

Prosecutor sets up fifteen reasons for reversal, which are argued under six headings:

1. The complaint was a nullity, therefore the conviction is illegal.

2. The proceedings are coram non judice and void.

3. The hearing was held at an unauthorized place and was void.

4. The arrest and detention of prosecutor was illegal and an unlawful restraint of his liberty.

5. The warrant issued was not supported by proper complaint.

6. Prosecutor was denied due process of law.

R.S. 39:5-3 provides:

"A complaint, in writing and duly verified having been made to a magistrate, that a person has violated a provision of this subtitle, the magistrate may, within thirty days after the commission of the offense, issue either a summons or warrant directed to a constable, police officer, an inspector of motor vehicles or the commissioner for the appearance or arrest of the person so charged."

In the instant case, the complaint is in the following form:

"County of Hudson, State of New Jersey, ss:

"Patrolman Herman Sarcander, Hudson Co. Police, on information and belief, on complaint of Edward Gunther — 903 New York Ave., Union City, N.J., being duly sworn complains that on the 20th day of March, A.D., one thousand nine hundred and forty-five, at 9:10 P.M. upon County Ave., a public highway of said Hudson County and, Secaucus, N.J., aforesaid."

It then sets out that Tony Grosky violated title 39, chapter 4, section 50, Revised Statutes, in that, "the said defendant did drive and operate a motor vehicle being then and there under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

"Wherefore, this complainant prays that the said offender may be dealt with according to law.

(Sgd.) ED. GUNTHER, Complainant.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of March, 1945. (Sgd.) JAMES F. McGOVERN, JR., A Judge, Hudson County Traffic Court."

Thereupon a warrant was issued, which recites: "Whereas, Patrolman Herman Sarcander, Hud. Co. Police, on information furnished by Edward Gunther of 903 New York Ave., Union City, N.J., has this day made complaint upon oath before the Hudson County Traffic Court," and then sets out an alleged violation of the statute as above stated, and authorizes and commands the apprehension of defendant and that he be brought before the court to answer the complaint.

In addition to R.S. 39:5-3, above quoted, R.S. 39:5-25 provides:

"Any constable, police officer, peace officer, motor vehicle inspector or the commissioner may, without a warrant, arrest any person * * * violating in his presence any provision of Chapter 4 of this title * * *. If the arrest is for a violation of section 39:4-50 of this title, the arresting officer may, if no magistrate, clerk or deputy clerk is available, detain the person * * * for such reasonable time as will permit the arresting officer to obtain a warrant for the offender's further detention."

39:5-26 provides that:

"In a prosecution instituted under this subtitle the complaint filed therein, if made by a constable, police officer, motor vehicle inspector or the commissioner, will be considered duly verified if made under his oath or affirmation, which oath or affirmation may be made by the official upon information and belief."

In the instant case, the complaint does not comply with either provision of the statute for a duly verified complaint. The arrest apparently was made by Patrolman Sarcander on complaint of Gunther. But, although the complaint so states, Sarcander did not swear to it, so that the provisions of 39:5-25 and 39:5-26 do not apply. Nor does it conform to 39:5-3 because it does not state that Gunther "being duly sworn" avers that the prosecutor herein, in his presence and within his knowledge, violated the statute. It states that Sarcander "on information and belief, on complaint of Gunther, * * * being duly sworn complains" of such violation. Also, it would appear that the warrant was issued on the duly verified complaint of Sarcander, and none such appears in the record. It is obvious, therefore, that there was no duly verified complaint upon which a warrant could issue, and that the court was without jurisdiction over the subject-matter. The statute clearly requires a complaint duly verified by a person who has knowledge of the alleged offense, or by one of the designated officers upon information and belief. Neither requirement was complied with. Nor was a warrant issued upon proper complaint. The court, therefore, never acquired jurisdiction over the subject-matter and the conviction is without legal support and must be set aside.

Nor did the appearance of prosecutor confer jurisdiction over the subject-matter. As stated in State v. Rosenblum,102 N.J.L. 125, "We, of course, concur in the view that, when it appears upon the face of the complaint that the magistrate has no jurisdiction over the subject matter complained of, a conviction had upon that complaint, either in the magistrate's court or in the Common Pleas, is a nullity."

This disposition of the matter renders it unnecessary to determine the other questions raised.

The conviction under review is set aside.