Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

38 La. Ann. 928

State v. Stephens

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Decided December 15, 1886

Supreme Court of Louisiana · decided 1886-12-15

Homan, J. ]. An appeal in a criminal case will be dismissed, proprio motu when made returnable on appellant’s suggestion at an improper time and place. 38 Arm. 34, 42, 363; 36 Ann. 865 ; 35 Ann. 980; 32 Ann. 692, 542; 27 Ann. 540. 2. “Violently” is equivalent to “forcible,” and conveys with technical accuracy the idea of force as involved in the crime of rape.

Decided 1886-12-15

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Bekmudez, C. J.

¶2The Attorney General asks the dismissal of this appeal, because made returnable on an improper day, at the suggestion of appellant.

¶3The sentence was passed on the 2d of September, and the appeal was moved for in writing on the 14th following, the court acting on the motion which merely asks for the appeal, suggesting the return day. It is not followed, as motions usually are, by the order of the court granting the appeal, returnable to this Court at the city of New Orleans on the first Monday of November, the day suggested in the body of the motion of appeal, under the signature of counsel for defendant.

¶4The appeal ought to have been made returnable to this Court at Shreveport on the second Monday of October following, it being the place and time where this Court was first to hold sessiou after the passing of sentence. Act No. 30 of 1878, secs. 1, 3, 4; State vs. Laqué, 37 Ann. 853; State vs. Burns, 363.

¶5Counsel for appellant offered to file an affidavit to show that it was at the suggestion of the judge that the appeal moved for was made returnable at Now Orleans.

¶6He was not permitted to do so, for the reason that, conceding the fact, the suggestion instead of being declined was accepted, and thus the error of the judge became that of the appellant, to whom it is imputable.

¶7It is. therefore ordered that the appeal herein he dismissed with costs.

Fenner, J., dissents.
/38/laann/928 · .json · Public domain