People v. Prendergast

Kelby, J. The relators were duly assigned as counsel to defend one Sarah Sypher, charged with murder in the first degree. She had turned on the gas in the bedroom where her children were sleeping, for the purpose of causing their death and her own, in the belief that all would be happier thils than to remain alive. It was necessary to have the benefit of the scientific knowledge of medical experts on the facts, and counsel incurred a personal expense of two doctors of $50 each for services and conferences before the trial and in the preparation therefor, and a further expense of $100 each for attendance on the trial, for two days. Under the authority of section 308 of the Code of Criminal Procedure the trial judge allowed counsel a fee in the sum of $500 and also allowed personal and incidental expenses to them in the sum of $149.20, made up of the two items of $50 each, and some other expenses, and disallowed the further items of $100 each. The comptroller has refused to pay these expenses and the case of People ex rel. Cantwell v. Coler, 61 App. Div. 598; affd. on opinion below, 168 N. Y. 643, is cited on his behalf, but I do. not think it supports his refusal. That was an instance of large fees to expert witnesses who testified on the trial as to handwriting. It was said that the statute did not confer authority upon counsel to make contracts of a special character involving a large liability upon the county. The items which the comptroller refuses to pay in this present case were not special or extraordinary, but necessary and ordinary in the trial of such issues, nor do they appear large either by the somewhat familiar scale of medical expert fees or by the light of any evidence or comparison furnished by the comptroller, who in fact furnishes none. The definition which in the Cantwell' case was given by the court, of “ personal and incidental expenses,” does [323] not indicate that the interpretation of the statute is not to be fairly liberal in order to further and effectuate its plain purpose of having the defense of an indigent, accused and in peril of his life, properly prepared and carefully conducted. In that the state as well as the accused has an interest, and the judge presiding at the trial is empowered to allow and limit the expenses which may be necessary. The allowance of “ personal and incidental expenses ” should include all minor expenses incurred on the personal account and for the personal-use of the attorney in the proper and necessary preparation of the case for trial. People ex rel. Levy v. Grout, 37 Misc. Rep. 431; Matter of Monfort, 78 App. Div. 567; People ex rel. Edwards v. Pendergast, N. Y. L. J., Sept. 30, 1912. In the Levy case it was indicated illustratively that traveling expenses of an attorney to the scene of the alleged crime would be proper, and the necessary expenses of employing an interpreter for an accused Italian was allowed. The Edwards case was somewhat similar, and there the items allowed also included the cost of stenographic minutes covering earlier steps in the prosecution of the crime before the counsel assigned had become connected with the case. In the Monfort case the facts somewhat resemble those at bar. There a professional man was employed to accurately inform assigned counsel, before the trial, of the physical situation and condition of the place of the homicide by means of a survey and diagram, while in the present case professional men were employed, before the trial, to furnish counsel with proper and scientific information concerning the condition of the defendant’s mind, so that they might be able to decide upon and establish such defense as might be fairly offered and upheld in her behalf. They would not have done their duty to the defendant, or probably succeeded as they have in [324] securing her acquittal, had they restricted their preparation, as suggested, to an examination of “ a medical work on insanity ” and such knowledge as might be gained therefrom'. In People v. Simpson, 121 App. Div. 403, the opinion of Mr. Justice Kelly, which is in the record on that appeal, mentions several unreported instances of allowances in this department for fees paid medical experts and he allowed substantial sums' therefor in that'case, and also substantial fees to experts called to testify to the mechanism and working of shot-guns; the-defense being accidental dischargé of a gun. To the extent indicated, therefore, the writ is allowed. The others, items for typewriting and subpoena fees, are such as are not allowable. - Motion granted.