People ex rel. Levy v. Preston

Gaynor, J.: The sworn complaint or deposition against the relator on which the Justice of the Peace issued the-warrant oh which he was arrested is on information and belief only, and therefore conferred no jurisdiction on the-magistrate to issue the warrant (Matter of Blum, 9 Misc. Rep. 571). It is contended, however, that the evidence taken before? the magistrate on the examination after the arrest was sufficient to warrant his being held for the grand jury, and', that, therefore he was properly committed to await the grand, jury. But the trouble is that the magistrate had no jurisdiction to hold such examination, and therefore all of his-acts were void (People ex rel. Kingsley v. Pratt, 22 Hun,. 300). The relator’s counsel on being arraigned moved for the relator’s discharge for the insufficiency of the complaint, but the motion was denied, and the magistrate held the relator for examination, which was subsequently had.. There is therefore no claim that the relator gave jurisdiction? by consent; but that, I suppose, would be impossible in the* case of a mere magistrate, if it might be possible in the case* of a court. The relator is discharged.