In re Stoneberger
In re Stoneberger
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
It appears in this case that on February 13, 1884, John Stoneberger filed with A. Stevens, a justice of the peace of Hodgeman county, a complaint against D.‘ M. Jessup, alleging that the latter .had -committed an assault and battery upon him. Jessup was arrested, and brought before the justice to answer the complaint. He demanded an immediate trial, which the justice refused, and granted a continuance until February 19 following. On February 19, 1884, the defendant obtained a change of venue, and the cause was sent to J. D. Mackay, another justice of the peace of the county, for trial. When the case was called before Mackay, a motion was made by the defendant, Jessup, to discharge him upon the ground that the complaint did not
The complaint was sufficient for the trial of the defendant for an assault and battery. The statement of the defendant in court showed that he was guilty of the charge made against him. The judgment of the justice against the complainant for costs and committing him to jail was without authority of law, and void. There is no statute authorizing a justice to adjudge costs against a complainant in a criminal proceeding before him where the complaint is disposed of by a motion to discharge the defendant on the ground that no offense is charged therein. (Comp. Laws of 1879, ch. 83, § 19; The State v. Meinhart, 9 Kas. 98; The State v. Campbell, 19 id. 481; The State v. Dean, 24 id. 53; Bonney v. Van Buren Co., 2 G. Greene, 230.)
The petitioner will be discharged.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.