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2 Tyl. 249

State v. S. L.

Supreme Court of Vermont

Decided June 15, 1803

Supreme Court of Vermont · decided 1803-06-15

INFORMATION by the State Attorney, for that the defendant, on the 22d of April, 1802, vi et armis stole, took, and carried away from… Held: upon consideration of the statutes, that the prosecutor had his election to prosecute either for felony or misdemeanor, and though there had been several indictments for such offences, yet none have had any such averment as is insisted on to be necessary by the counsel for the defendant, and judgment was given for the prosecutor; but…

Decided 1803-06-15

¶1The Court have been more particular on this subject than might otherwise seem necessary, were it not that it is the first time this point in defence has been submitted to them.

¶2It is for the Legislature to make laws, and this Court to construe them. If we construe them incorrectly, they can correct our decisions by future statutes. But when a statute offence is not merely malum prohibitum, but is against the common principles of morality, and the general sense of the community, the Court will ever give effect to such sta*258tute, and not unnecessarily create embarrassments in the administration of the laws, which may constantly require legislative aid to remove; for whoever observes the history of jurisprudence, will perceive, that such has been too often the case, to the obstruction of the due dispensation of justice.

Levi House, for the State.Amos Marsh, or defendant.

¶3If, however, a conviction should follow this interlocutory opinion, the prisoner may move in arrest of judgment for the improper admission of evidence in support of the second count in the information, and the Court will, on further argument, yield all that attention to the cause which the importance of the subject, especially as relative to him, may require.

¶4Let the evidence be admitted.

¶5The State Attorney failing to make out the scienter in the defendant, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

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