City of Spokane v. Griffith

Root, J. Appellant was charged in the police court of the city of Spokane with disorderly conduct, and convicted. He appealed to the superior court, and upon a de novo trial, a verdict of guilty was returned. A motion to vacate the verdict and discharge the prisoner was denied, and judgment and sentence was entered upon the verdict. From this judgment, the present appeal .is prosecuted. In his brief appellant says: “There is but one question presented by this appeal. Did the failure of respondent, at the trial of this cause in the superior court, to introduce evidence of the existence of, or the contents of, Ordinance No. A1324, constitute a complete failure of proof.” The ordinance mentioned is that under which appellant was prosecuted. The statement of facts recites that the court gave the jury the substance of the ordinance, and also, “That counsel for the plaintiff called the court’s attention and submitted to the court for examination Ordinance No. A1324 of the code and charter of the city of Spokane.” Said ordinance was in a bound and printed volume, which bore the certificate of the city clerk, and was printed by the authority of the city of Spokane. The court read the ordinance in full to the jury in giving its instructions to them. There is some difference of opinion among the authorities as to whether an appellate court may take judicial notice of a city ordinance in a case appealed from a municipal court which was authorized to take such notice of the ordinance. It is unnecessary for us to pass upon this question as we think the existence and contents of this ordinance were sufficiently established by being read to the jury from a legally authorized publication thereof. No exception appears to have been taken to this reading to the jury and no question was raised as to the authenticity of the ordinance so read. As to competency of the evidence, see Bal. Code, §§ 1299, 3947, 6851 (P. C. §§ 406, 7985, 2104). The judgment of the superior court is affirmed. Hadley, C. J. and Crow, J., concur.