State v. King
State v. King
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The defendant appeals from a conviction for the violation of the prohibitory liquor law, complaining that the court erred in overruling a plea in abatement of former jeopardy.
The facts were substantially as follows: A deputy sheriff, passing defendant’s premises about ten o’clock one night in May, 1925, heard music and unusually loud talking. He procured other officers, two of whom went to the front door and two to the back door of her.
The defendant contends that her plea in abatement, which was supported by affidavit, stated sufficient facts to show that she had been placed in jeopardy for the same offense as that for which she was thereafter tried and convicted upon a new information filed in a court of separate and distinct jurisdiction. We cannot agree with the contention. Justice of the peace courts have concurrent original jurisdiction with the district court in cases of misdemeanor in which the fine cannot exceed $500 and imprisonment cannot exceed one year. (R. S. 63-101.) The jury in justice court having disagreed and having been discharged, another trial was in order. The defendant was then in precisely the same position as if no trial had occurred. The state could have had another trial before the justice of the peace; or it could, at its option, dismiss the action there and file another directly in the district court. The latter procedure, which it followed, was in conformity with the principles adopted in the early decisions of this court and adhered to through the years. (State v. Curtis, 29 Kan. 384; State v. McKinney, 31 Kan. 570, 3 Pac. 356; State v. Hart, 33 Kan. 218, 6 Pac. 288; State v. Spendlove, 47 Kan. 160, 28 Pac. 994. See, also, 22 Cyc. 223, 226, and 275.) Trial in the instant case in the district court occurred some six
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.