Commonwealth v. Brown

Where terms of a police court are by law to be held daily for the transaction of criminal business, and on the first and third Wednesdays of each month for civil business, and the record in a criminal case shows that it was heard and adjudged in that court on the second Wednesday of a month, but fails to set forth that the pro ceedings were had “ at a criminal term ” of the court, it will he presumed that the court was then engaged in the transaction of criminal business, and a motion in arrest of judgment must be overruled.

Complaint to the Police Court of Haverhill for keeping and maintaining a certain tenement in Haverhill, for the illegal sale and illegal keeping of intoxicating liquors, the same being a common nuisance. The record, transmitted to the Superior Court on appeal, was as follows: “ Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essex, ss. By virtue of the within warrant, the respondent is brought before the Police Court of Haverhill, in said county of Essex, this ninth day of May, A. D. 1877, and the within complaint is read to him, and being asked whether he is guilty or not guilty of the offence within charged upon him says that he is not guilty; but after hearing divers witnesses duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and fully understanding the defence of said defendant, it is adjudged by the said' court that said defendant is guilty of said offence. It is therefore ordered by said court that the said defendant pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs of this prosecution; and, in default of payment, that he be committed to either house of correction in said county for the term of sixty days, and that he be committed to either house of correction aforesaid for the further term of three months.” The record further stated that the defendant appealed to the Superior Court for the county of Essex, and recognized to prosecute his appeal. In the Superior Court, after a verdict of guilty, the defendant moved in arrest of judgment, “ because it does not appear from the record that the complaint was heard and adjudged at a criminal term of the Police Court of Haverhill, or at a term of said court held for the transaction of criminal business, which fact should appear to give either the court below or this court jurisdiction in the premises.” Pitman, J., overruled the motion; and the defendant alleged exceptions.