State v. Davis
State v. Davis
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Appellants were convicted on two counts of an information charging illegal sales of intoxicating liquors, and on one count for maintaining a common nuisance under the prohibitory law. After a plea of not guilty the appellants challenged the array of jurors. The challenge was overruled.
Thirty days before the beginning of the term the judge of the district court made an order directing that twenty-four jurors be drawn to serve at the ensuing term, under sections 3813 and 3814, General Statutes of 1901. On the 7th day of January, the day after the court convened, another order was made, under the authority of section 3815, General Statutes of 1901, that twelve more jurors be drawn and summoned, for the reason that a sufficient number had not been theretofore drawn. The order was complied with. It is contended by appellants that after the first order, made in vacation, the power was exhausted, and thereafter the court must proceed under section
After the commencement of the term the court became satisfied that the number-of jurors summoned was insufficient. It then proceeded, under section 3815, supra (and we think properly), to order more jurors to be drawn. The court in such cases uses its discretion under the law, to the end that business before it may proceed with expedition.
It will be noticed that under section 3813, supra, the judge cannot order the drawing of more than twenty-four additional jurors, and the order therefor must be filed with the county clerk at least thirty days before the commencement of the term of court at which they are required to attend. When the term of court is opened it may then become apparent (which was not before known) that the regular business for that term, as shown by the docket, requires the services of additional jurors. It is then that the power conferred by section 3815 may be exercised. We are inclined to place a liberal construction on statutes relating to the drawing and selection of jurors.
There was no error in refusing the demand of defendants for separate trials. A severance is discretionary in misdemeanor cases. (Gen. Stat. 1901, §5663.)
There was filed with the information the testimony of R. A. Dewitt, J. W. Leahy, and O. E. Reynolds, taken before the county attorney under the authority
We have given attention to the claim of error based on the giving of instruction No. 13. While some of the language used was, perhaps, extravagant, yet the jury were told that the evidence necessary to convict must meet the legal requirements, and the rights of defendants be sacredly guarded. The instruction concluded :
“No innocent man should be convicted, punished,*549 or disgraced, and the law does not expect such to be done, and the public must not be so unreasonable as to expect it.”
The judgment of the court below will be affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.