Powell v. State

<p>1. “Where a rule nisi for contempt of court was brought against two defendants jointly, and they made a joint answer thereto and were tried together, and the judge sitting both as a court and jury, after hearing evidence, rendered two separate judgments, in one of which he adjudged one of the defendants to be in contempt of court and sentenced him to pay one hundred dollars and to serve twenty days in jail, and in the other he adjudged the other defendant to be in contempt of court and sentenced him to pay one hundred dollars, the two defendants in these circumstances may bring a joint bill of exceptions from such judgment to the court having jurisdiction thereof. Nothing in the foregoing ruling is to be construed as preventing each of the defendants from excepting to the judgment in his own case.”</p> <p>2. Conceding, without deciding, that the city court of Miller county “ has no inherent power to define contempt’s of court,” still, under § 4643 of the Civil Code of 1910, the city court of Miller county has authority to issue attachments against, and inflict summary punishment for contempt of court on, any person who bribes or attempts to bribe a witness not to appear and testify in obedience to his subpoena, even though the bribery is completed or the attempt to bribe is made in a county different from that in which the case is pending.</p>