City of Glasgow v. Bazan

ELLISON, J. This case is a prosecution under an ordinance of the city of Glasgow, begun before the mayor. On appeal to the circuit court the case, on motion of defendant, was dismissed and the defendant discharged. The following is the complaint, omitting caption: “To Mayor, Councilmen and Citizens of the city of Glasgow, Dr.: To violation of an ordinance of said city, entitled ‘Misdemeanors,’ approved seventh ■day of March, 1892, ninety dollars. In this to-wit: that the said defendant, on the twelfth day of June, 1902, at the city of Glasgow and within the corporate limits thereof, did then and there unlawfully disturb the peace of others by violent, tumultuous, offensive and obstreperous conduct and carriage, and by assaulting, striking and fighting another contrary to the said ordinance in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of said city.” The following is a copy of the ordinance upon which the complaint is based: “Whoever shall disturb the peace of others in the city of Glasgow by violent, tumultuous, offensive or obstreperous conduct or carriage, or by loud or unusual noise, or by using profane, obscene or offensive language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, or by assaulting, striking or fighting another; and whoever shall in the city permit any such conduct in or upon any house or premises owned or possessed by him or under his management or control, so that others in the vicinity are disturbed thereby, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.” Two reasons are stated by defendant as a ground of dismissal. One that the charter did not give the city power to pass the ordinance, that is to say, that the ordinance was not authorized by the charter of the city. The provisions of the charter cited by either side, as applicable, are as follows: “Section 10. He (the mayor) may remit fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves and pardons in any case arising under the ordinances of the city: he shall [415] be a conservator of tbe peace within tbe limits of tbe city.” The council shall have power: “Section 13. To regulate tbe police of tbe city, and from time to time pass all such ordinances to carry into effect tbe object of tbis act and tbe powers hereby granted, as tbe good of tbe inhabitants may require. “Section 11. Tbe mayor shall be ex-officio justice of tbe peace within and for tbe city, and have tbe same jurisdiction in all cases in tbe city as justices of tbe peace shall by tbe laws of tbe State for tbe time have in their respective townships; be shall have tbe same powers and proceed in tbe same manner, and be governed in all things by tbe same rules and proceedings which may be in force for tbe time regulating justices’ courts.” Tbe police power granted tbe city authorities by tbe thirteenth section aforesaid was ample to authorize tbe council to pass tbe ordinance for disturbing tbe peace. Green City v. Holsinger, 76 Mo. App. 567, and authorities cited in appellant’s brief. But it is said that under a recent statute of tbe State tbe ordinance must conform to tbe State law. Tbe statute (sec. 6258, R. S. 1899) is as follows: “Any municipal corporation in tbis State, whether under general or special charter, and having authority to pass ordinances regulating subjects, matters and things upon which there is a general law of tbe State, unless otherwise prescribed or authorized by some special provision of its charter, shall confine and restrict its jurisdiction and tbe passage of its ordinances to and in conformity with tbe State law upon tbe same subject.” Tbe State law (sec. 2159, R. S. 1899) on tbe subject of disturbance of tbe peace is as follows: “If any person or persons shall willfully disturb tbe peace of any neighborhood, or of any family, or of any person, by loud and unusual noise, loud and offensive or indecent conversation, or by threatening, quarreling, challenging or fighting, every person so of [416] fending shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor. ” We do not understand the statute (sec. 6258) to prevent municipalities from, passing ordinances on a. subject, or in relation to a misdemeanor which have already been provided for by the general statute. They clearly may do that. City v. Schoenbusch, 95 Mo. 618. The section was only intended to keep city ordinances in harmony with the State law on the same subject, and thus avoid confusion and, perhaps, conflict in the administration of that part of the law. In this case we consider the ordinance aforesaid to be in harmony with the statute. They each, in a general way, cover the same subject and have the same object. There is no conflict between the two laws and certainly the ordinance is not out of harmony with the statute. We will reverse the judgment and remand the cause to the end that the defendant may be put to trial on the charge aforesaid. All concur.