People v. Beman

One Baker was charged with the crime of arson.' Nathan Beman *284■was indicted as an accessory before the fact, lie interposed a demurrer to the indictment, which was overruled, the decision by the Oyer and Terminer being, that judgment be given for the People upon the indictment, unless he plead over. A judgment was not entered. Beman seeks to review the decision of the Oyer and Terminer upon certiorari.

In a criminal case prosecuted by indictment, if judgment be entered on a demurrer, the judgment maybe reviewed upon a writ of error. (People v. Reagle, 60 Barb., 527, 543.) But we find no authority at common law or under the statutes for reviewing a decision of the Oyer and Terminer, overruling a demurrer, upon a certiorari before judgment. The decision sought to be reviewed by this writ is not a judgment, nor a termination of the action. (People v. Walter, 68 N. Y. 409.) This practice being without precedent or authority, we cannot review the decision because counsel are agreed that it may he so reviewed. It might become a troublesome precedent, and it may well be doubted whether any decision made by this court under such circumstances would be binding on the parties. The writ of certiorari must he quashed.

Certiorari quashed.