State v. Long
State v. Long
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The defendant was prosecuted before magistrate Jennings, in Sumter County, for violation of a written farm labor contract, under section 357, Criminal Code, was found guilty by a jury and sentenced by the magistrate. On appeal therefrom, the Circuit Court reversed the judgment of the magistrate’s court, and ordered the case dismissed upon the ground that the contract would not sustain a criminal indictment. From this judgment, the State appeals, assigning error to the ruling that the written contract was insufficient to support a criminal indictment under the statute.
“This memorandum of agreement entered into this first day of May, 1901, between R. C. Folk, farmer, of the 1st part, and Wade Long, a laborer of the 2d part, witnesseth:
“I. That the party of the 1st part agrees to pay to the party of the 2d part, in money or goods, between the 1st day of May, 1901, and the first day of Aug., 1901, the sum of twenty-five no 100 dollars at such time and times as the said *401 party of the 2d part shall require the same or any part thereof.
“II. That in consideration of such payment, the party of the 2d part agrees to labor as an agricultural laborer for the party of the 1st part, at any time from the 1st day Jan., 1902, to the 1st day Dec., 1902.
“Provided always, nevertheless, and it .is the true intent and meaning of the parties to these presents.
“1. That for the performance of the labor aforesaid, the party of the 2d part shall be entitled to a credit on account of 35 cents for each day’s labor, except when he is required to pick cotton, and then shall be entitled tó a credit of 40 cents for each hundred pounds of seed cotton picked.
“2. That the -party of the 2d part shall not within the period aforesaid remove farther than two miles from the residence of the party of the 1st part.
“3. That the party of the 1st part shall give the party of the 2d part twelve hours notice of the time, place, and nature of such agricultural labor as — may require of the party of the 2d part.
“In witness whereof, the parties hereto have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and date first above written. R. C. Folk. [l. s.] Wade (his X mark) Long [l. s.] In the presence of H. D. Moise.”
This contract, we think, complies with the requirements of sec. 355, Criminal Code, which provides: “All contracts made between owners of land, their agents, administrators or executors, and laborers, shall be witnessed by one or more disinterested persons, and excepting the verbal contracts provided for in section 357, at the request of either party, be duly executed before a magistrate, whose duty it shall be to read and explain the same to the parties. Such contracts shall clearly set forth the conditions upon which the laborers engage to work, embracing the length of time, the amount of money to be paid and when; if it be on the shares of the crop, what portion or portions thereof, etc.” So far as it appears in the “Case,” it was not disputed in the Circuit Court that *402 defendant made the contract stated, received advances in money or supplies thereunder to the stipulated amount, and thereafter wilfully and without just cause refused to perform the labor required of him by the contract. It was, therefore, error in the Circuit Court to reverse the judgment of the magistrate court and dismiss the prosecution.
The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed, and the judgment of the magistrate is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State v. Long.
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Appeal — Solicitor.—Notice of intention to appeal from an order dismissing a prosecution before a magistrate on demurrer signed by attorneys other than solicitor as “attorneys for Stateexceptions signed by same attorneys and solicitor; and “Case” showing “The State served the following notice” of appeal, are sufficient to show authority on part of solicitor for appeal. 2. Criminal Law — Misdemeanor—Land Owner — Larorer.—Contract between land owner and laborer, providing for labor on farm, time of labor, price, &c., reduced to writing and signed by parties in presence of one witness, is sufficient under Crim. Code, 355, to support a prosecution for failure to work after receiving advances.