State v. Ela

Strout, J. This indictment contains three counts. The first charges oral perjury in testifying before the Probate Court. The other two charge perjury in swearing to the truth of a paper signed by the defendant. The first count follows substantially the form given in R. S., c. 122, § 4, which was held good in State v. Corson, 59 Maine, 139. It charges that the testimony was material to the issue then pending. But the count alleges that the parties to this proceeding were Alfred Ela and Lucia Ela. The testimony complained of was, that the defendant had made search among his own papers and those of Lucia Ela, and found no book or paper relating to the matter, except two mentioned. It does not appear how a search by a stranger for papers could be material to an issue between two other parties. Defendant was not a party to the proceeding in court. Why should he search for papers, among his own or those of another party? Of what consequence could it possibly be to the litigant parties whether he searched or did not search, whether he found or did not find papers desired by them ? [314] To constitute perjury the testimony must be material to the issue. While the statute requires only the allegation of materiality, yet if the recited testimony is clearly not material, the indictment defeats itself. It alleges a thing to be material, and shows on its face that it is not material. The allegation of materiality, though in the words of the statute, in such a case cannot save the indictment. This count is therefore bad. The other two counts relate to an affidavit of defendant and are drawn under B,. S., c. 122, § 5. The form there provided has been held insufficient by this court in State v. Mace, 76 Maine, 64. The remedial statute of 23 George 2, c. 11, has not been adopted in this state. State v. Hanson, 39 Maine, 339. These counts therefore must be sustained, if at all, at common law. By the common law, “there must be some proceeding, matter or thing to which the oath was taken; and by the common law the indictment must set it forth, so as to exhibit its character and the jurisdiction of the court or magistrate.” State v. Hanson, supra; Com. v. Knight, 12 Mass. 274. . It must also set forth enough of the issue between the parties to show the materiality of the testimony. Com. v. Johns, 6 Gray, 275; People v. Fox, 25 Mich. 492; Com. v. Byron, 14 Gray, 31; Beecher v. Anderson, 45 Mich. 552. See form of indictment at common law in Archbold’s Cr. Pr. & Pl. vol. 2, p. 967. Nothing appears in either of these counts from which the court can see what the issue was from which to judge of the materiality of the affidavit. The second count contains no assignment of perjury of any part of the affidavit, but charges the whole to be false and the whole to be material. It cannot all be false. If no search was made, then it was true that nothing was found. If search was made, and papers were found, which the affiant denied, then the affidavit was true in part and false in part; but the allegation is of falsehood in its entirety, which is contradictory. It does not inform the defendant whether the alleged fact of search or of not finding is to be relied on. There should be an assignment of the perjury, when part of the paper is or must be true, so that the defendant may be informed [315] of the specific charge he is to answer. Several assignments may be made, and if one is sustained by the proof, a conviction may follow, but each assignment must be specific. It is stated in the affidavit that no book or paper was found “referring in the least to the matter”, except those stated. Whether any paper referred to a particular matter, was in the nature of opinion, and cannot be assigned as perjury. Com. v. Brady, 5 Gray, 78. To what matter reference was had does not appear in the affidavit, and is not alleged in the indictment. To be sustained, the indictment must negative the matter sworn to which is alleged to be false, by special averment. That averment should be as to such parts as the prosecutor can falsify, admitting the truth of the rest. Archbold’s Cr. Pr. & Pl. vol. 2, p. 965, and note; Wharton’s Precedents, vol. 2, p. 577. The third count in addition to charging the falsity of the affidavit generally, assigns the perjury in one clause, “I cannot take a single step in making more definite account,” and alleges its materiality and falsity. The phrase may refer to an' account being rendered or to be rendered to the probate court, in settling some estate. But the indictment shows that the defendant was not a party to the proceeding. He therefore could not render an account; he had.no authority to do so. If he attempted it, the court would not be authorized to receive it. He was a stranger to the proceeding. The statement was literally true. It was immaterial to the issue between the parties, whether this defendant could render an account, or furnish the data for one. It was not his duty to do either. If it referred to an accounting by himself to the parties or either of them, it was matter of opinion. Com. v. Brady, supra. There is no allegation in this count from which the court can see its materiality to the issue, whatever it was, then pending. Exceptions sustained. ' Indictment quashed.