Butler v. People

By the Court, Jewett, J. Burglary, at the common law, consists in breaking and entering the dwelling house of another in the night time, with intent to commit a felony. (4 Bl. Com. 224.) With us that offence has been divided into three degrees. One definition of the offence in the third degree is the “ breaking and entering into the dwelling house of another in the day time, under such circumstances as would have constituted the offence of burglary in the second degree if committed in the night time.” (2 R. S. 669, § 18.) In the second degree the offence may be committed by “breaking into any dwelling house in the night time, with intent to commit a crime, but under such circumstances as shall not constitute the offence of burglary in the first degree.” (Id. 668, § 12.) The definition of the crime in the first degree superadds to the description of the offence just mentioned some other circumstances—as that some human being must be in the house, or the offender must be armed, or must violently break in, or pick a lock, or have confederates present, &c. (Id. § 10.) The question is whether [70] this indictment sets forth with sufficient certainty such an of-fence as is described in the eighteenth section above referred to. If the count had averred that the acts were committed in the night time, it would have brought the offence within the twelfth section, and it would have been burglary in the second degree—the only distinction between the two grades relating to the time when the acts are done. The acts constitute burglary whenever committed, and the time is only material for the purpose of determining the degree and measuring the punishment. Unless they are charged to have been done in the night, it is clear there could not legally be a conviction of the higher offence described in the twelfth section. It is urged that it is equally essential in order to bring the offence within the eighteenth section that it should be stated that the offence was committed in the day time, though it is conceded that the statement of time in this case would be rather formal then substantial. In indictments for this offence at common law the time of day is all important, as the circumstance of a nocturnal entrance is vital to the offence: and the indictment must always state the entry to have been in the night. (1 Hale’s P. C. 549.) So where a conviction is sought under our statute for either of the higher grades of the offence, the statement of an entry in the night time cannot be omitted. But in this case the conviction is for the less heinous offence, and as to that the circumstance of time seems to be of no moment. The omission to state that it was in the night is as clear an intimation that the prosecution does not proceed for the higher offence, as though it had been expressly said that it was done in the day time. The general rule respecting indictments upon statutes, undoubtedly is that contended for by the counsel for the plaintiff in error; but I am of opinion that the offence is stated, in this case, with the certainty which the rule requires. But if it were formally defective, it would be aided by the statute which provides that “ any defect or imperfection in matters of form which shall not tend to the prejudice of the defendant,” may be disregarded. (2 R. S. 728, § 52, sub. 4; The People v. Rynders [71] 12 Wend. 425.) (a) It cannot be pretended that the defendant was prejudiced on the trial by the defect complained of, as it would have been competent for the jury to have convicted him of this offence in the third degree upon an indictment charging the same offence in either of its higher grades. (2 R. S. 702, § 27.) The judgment must be affirmed. Judgment affirmed. Footnotes [(a)] See The People v. Charles, (3 Denio, 212.)