People v. Moris

Kruse, J.: The defendant was convicted of perjury for swearing falsely upon a bastardy proceeding brought against him. He testified that he was unmarried and never had been married, when in fact he had been married and then had a wife living. That he so testified willfully, knowing that his testimony was false, is beyond doubt. The excuse he makes for so doing is that he wanted to save his wife and mother from disgrace. This, however, does not save him from conviction for perjury [712] if what he swore to was material. His motive or object is unimportant if in fact he willfully testified falsely, knowing his testimony to be false. (People ex rel. Hegeman v. Corrigan, 195 N. Y. 1.) But his testimony must have been material to make out the crime of perjury (Penal Law, § 1620; People ex rel. Hegeman v. Corrigan, supra; People v. Teal, 196 N. Y. 372; People v. Peck, 146 App. Div. 266; affd., 206 N. Y. 669), and that question is one of law. (People ex rel. Hegeman v. Corrigan, supra; People v. Peck, supra.) The test is whether the statement could properly have influenced the court which was investigating the bastardy proceeding upon any question which was before it for its determination. The testimony need not be direct proof upon the issue. If the false statement is circumstantially material or tends to support and give credit to the witness in respect of the main fact, it is sufficient to sustain a charge of perjury. (Wood v. People, 59 N. Y. 117, 123.) The learned district attorney concedes that the false testimony was not material upon the main question, namely, whether the defendant was the father of the child, but contends it was material on the question as to what amount he should be required to pay to support the child and mother. The indictment alleges that the testimony was material upon the inquiry and charge against the defendant, which included and embraced inquiries into the financial condition of the defendant, and the legal obligation resting upon him to support and maintain other persons. It is possible that the testimony may have been material upon that inquiry, but not only must the materiality be shown in the indictment itself, either by direct statement or by the facts stated therein (People v. Peck, supra); it must also be proven on the trial. (Wood v. People, supra.) Title 5 of part 6 of the Code of Criminal Procedure relates to bastardy proceedings. Chapter 1 of said title provides that the father and mother of a bastard are liable for its support, and in case of their neglect or inability, it must be supported by the county, city or town chargeable therewith, under the provisions of the Poor Law. (Code Crim. Proc. § 839.) The parents may [713] be compelled to support the child, and proceedings instituted for that purpose by the officers having the care of the poor. If, upon such a proceeding, the magistrates before whom the proceeding is brought, determine that the defendant is the father of the child, they must make an order of filiation, specifying therein the sum to be paid by him for the support of the child and the mother during her confinement and recovery, if she be indigent, and the necessary funeral expenses of the child, if it shall die, and certify the costs of the proceeding. (Code Grim. Proc. § 850.) Defendant must immediately pay the costs and give an undertaking, with sufficient sureties approved by the magistrates, to pay the sum so directed to be paid, or which may be ordered by the County Court, and to indemnify the counties, cities or towns which may have been or. may be put to expense for such support of the child and its mother, against those expenses, as therein stated; or an undertaking that he will appear at the next term of the County Court to answer the charge and obey its order thereon or that the sureties will pay a sum equal to the full indemnity as therein provided. (Id. § 851.) Upon giving such undertaking the defendant must be discharged; otherwise he must stand committed to the jail or prison therein named. (Id. § 852.) Provision is also made for reducing or increasing the amount directed to be paid. (Id. § 859.) Chapter 2 of the same title provides for an appeal to the County Court, and for discharging a defendant from imprisonment, if the court is satisfied that the defendant is wholly unable to support the bastard, or to contribute to its support, or to procure security therefor. (Id. § 861 et seq.; Id. §§ 877, 878.) The testimony on behalf of the prosecution relating to the false testimony is very brief. It appeared that in the bastardy proceeding the defendant was called as a witness for the overseer of the poor, and after being sworn and stating that his occupation was that of a traveling salesman, he was asked: “Are you a married man?” and answered, “No, sir.” He was then asked: “Ever been married ? ” “No, sir.” In the proceedings subsequently had in the County Court to discharge the defendant from imprisonment, the defendant at first testified that he was unmarried, but immediately thereafter stated [714] that he was married, and that his wife lived in Buffalo, N. Y., giving her place of residence and how long they had been married and by whom. Upon the perjury trial the defendant was sworn on his own behalf and testified there that he was married; that he had testified falsely about that fact in the bastardy proceeding; that he had done so to keep the matter from his wife and mother and to save them from disgrace; and that on the bastardy proceeding he was examined about money matters and as to whether or not he was married. The nature of the examination about the money matters does not appear. This is substantially all of the testimony relating to the false testimony or to show its relevancy in the bastardy proceedings. While the defendant was under a legal obligation to support his wife as well as his bastard child, it is not apparent how it became material to show in the bastardy proceeding that the defendant had a wife. If it was material there it should have been made to appear on the perjury trial. Even upon the application to discharge him from imprisonment, the circumstances had but a remote bearing. But there he testified truthfully. As has been pointed out, the law requires the defendant to support his bastard child. A full indemnity to protect the public against the expenses thereof by way of an undertaking must be given by him in the first instance, or he must go to prison. If after that he is unable to support the child or give the undertaking, proceedings may be taken to release him from imprisonment. Upon that proceeding the question of his financial condition and ability to support the child becomes material. I think the judgment of conviction should be reversed and a new trial ordered. All concurred, except McLennan, P. J., who dissented in an opinion; Lambert, J., not sitting.