State v. De Laney
State v. De Laney
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
On July. 10th, 1923, one Wilbur Morse made the following complaint before the recorder of the city of Camden:
“Camden Police Court.
“State of New Jersey, Camden County, ss.:
“Wilbur Morse, on his oath, says that on the 1st day of July, 1923, and divers days in the months of January, February, March, April, May and June, 1923, at the city of Camden, county of Camden and State of New Jersey, one Mary De Laney, did use, or pretend to use, or have skill in physiognomy, palmistry or like craft science, or did pretend to tell destinies or fortunes, and was a disorderly person, contrary to section 1 of the act of the legislature of the State of New Jersey entitled ‘An act concerning disorderly persons/ approved June 14th, 1898, and the supplements thereto, against the peace of the state, the government and dignity of the same.
“Therefore he asks that the said Mary De Laney may be apprehended, held to answer to said complaint, and be further dealt with as law and justice may require.
“Wilbur Morse.
“Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of July, 1923.
“John ,T. Cleary,
"Recorder, City of Camden, Judge of Camden Police Court.”
The defendant has sought, under the statute, a review of this conviction.
In the case of State v. Hatfield, 87 N. J. L. 124, the complaint, on which the prosecutor in that case was convicted, read as follows: “That said Charles Hatfield did use, or pretend to use, or have skill in physiognomy, palmistry or like crafty science, and did pretend to tell destinies, or fortunes, contrary to the statute in such case made and provided.”
It will be observed that this complaint is similar to the complaint in the present case. In State v. Hatfield, supra, the court held that the offense charged in the complaint must be positive and certain, and not in the alternative, so that the defendant will be protected from a second prosecution for the same act, and set aside the conviction. On the same grounds the conviction of the defendant in the present case will be set aside.
The Disorderly act cannot, in my opinion, be construed so as to make the acts with which the defendant was charged offenses under that act.
The conviction is set aside.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY v. MARY DE LANEY
- Status
- Published