Town of Glenwood v. Roberts

Gill, J. This action was instituted before the chairman of the board of trustees of the village of Grlenwood in Schuyler county, the complaint charging defendant with violating an ordinance prohibiting intoxication or carrying a revolver while so intoxicated. The case was tried on appeal in Macon county, a change of venue being taken from Schuyler on the application of the plaintiff; and from a judgment in defendant’s favor plaintiff has appealed. [170] The matter relied on for reversal arises from the action of the trial court in instructing the jury that “if from the whole evidence the jury are unable to say that defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, they should acquit.” It is claimed that, as the action is civil, not criminal, the case of the prosecution was made out by a mere preponderance of the evidence, and that it was error to advise the jury that defendant’s guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Notwithstanding the plausibility of the learned counsel’s argument, we think his position unsound and we hold the instruction proper. We are mindful of the general rule that the burden of proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt attends criminal prosecutions only, and that as to ordinary civil actions it is only necessary for the plaintiff to sustain his claim by a mere preponderance of testimony. And it is also true that in Missouri these suits for recovery of penalties for violating the police ordinances of municipal corporations are ordinarily, denominated civil actions, though in some cases they are said to be quasi criminal. But, conceding that they are civil actions, they yet partake of the nature of criminal prosecutions, in that they have to do with the personal liberty of the citizen. The statute under which this action must be sustained provides for the issue of a warrant to arrest the accused, and when forcibly brought 'before the judicial officer of the village and tried and conviction had it is made a part of the judgment, “that the defendant stand committed to jail until the judgment is complied with,” etc. Sec. 1686, et seq., R. S. 1889. It is not the case of one citizen against another standing on equal footing, but the accused is confronted by a community and he is indicted or charged by information emanating from its law officer. Nor is it a suit involving money or [171] property only, but probably involving that dearer and more valuáble right—the. liberty of the accused. It is from these considerations and for these reasons that the courts of the more enlightened nations of the earth require the guilt of the accused shown beyond a reasonable doubt. Wharton, Crim. Ev., sec. 1. Grreenleaf thus refers to the other reason for the rule: “In civil cases, where the mischief of an erroneous conclusion is not deemed remediless, it is not necessary that the minds of the jurors be freed from all doubt; it is their duty to decide in favor of the party on whose side the weight of evidence preponderates, and according to the reasonable probability of truth. But in criminal cases, because of the more serious and irreparable nature of the consequences of a wrong decision, the jurors are required to be satisfied, beyond any reasonable doubt, of the guilt of the accused, or it is their duty to acquit him.” 1 Greenl. Ev., sec. 13a. Why, then, should not this same solicitude for the liberty of the citizen, or this idea that it is better that ten guilty ones escape than punish one innocent, be applied in such cases as this as where the state is the party prosecuting? If, now, this defendant had been prosecuted for a misdemeanor under the general statutes where the like punishment would be visited as in case of violation of a municipal law, unquestionably he would have been entitled to an instruction telling the jury that his guilt must have been shown beyond a reasonable doubt; and if in the latter, why not in the former. We think it is the common understanding with bench and bar everywhere that the same rule applies to prosecution for misdemeanors, whether the action is founded on a general statute or on a municipal ordinance, and whether the party be arraigned before a police judge or before a judicial officer of the state. We [172] discover no reason, then, to condemn the ruling.of the trial court in holding that the accused defendant was entitled to his liberty, unless the charge against him was established beyond a reasonable doubt. We notice other objections relating to the instructions given, but see nothing to warrant a reversal. The court fairly submitted the case to the jury, and since the finding has ample support in the evidence we have nothing to do but affirm the judgment. It is so ordered. All concur.