Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

3 Va. 587

Commonwealth v. Connell

General Court of Virginia

Decided June 15, 1846

General Court of Virginia · decided 1846-06-15

The defendant was indicted at the October term 1845, of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for the county of Monroe, “ for that he the said William Connell, jailor of Monroe county, and who hath the care, charge and custody of the jail of Monroe county, on ^e 27th day of August, in the year of Christ 1845, at the county aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery aforesaid, did permit and suffer one James K.…

Decided 1846-06-15

Brown, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2If this were an indictment against the defendant as jailor, for negligently permitting a prisoner committed to his custody to escape, there could be no doubt but it would be good; as it is well settled that such an indictment can be sustained. But upon a careful examination of the indictment in the case at bar, the Court is of opinion, that it is not of that character. The facts charged *590are, that the defendant as jailor, did suffer and permit James K. Rittenhouse, who was confined in his jail on a charge of felony, to have in his possession a razor, aQd t0 keep said razor in the room where he was confined and that he failed “ carefully to examine at short intervals the condition of said jail, and what the prisoner James K. Rittenhouse was engaged at in said jailand the escape set out in the indictment, is stated merely as a consequence of said act and omission, and not as an independent offence. If the indictment were for a negligent escape, these facts would have been proper evidence before the jury, for the purpose of sustaining that charge. But the Court is of opinion, that they are not of themselves indictable.

¶3This renders it unnecessary to answer the second queer e.

¶4As to the third, the Court being of opinion that it does not properly arise in the case, declines responding thereto. All of which is ordered to be certified.

/3/va/587 · .json · Public domain