Lamb v. People

Mr. Justice Scott delivered the opinion of the court: First—The record of the empaneling of the grand jury shows that Davey S. Pate was appointed foreman of that body. The indictment returned in open court is endorsed a true bill by “David S. Pate, foreman of the grand jury,” and the record recites that the indictment so endorsed was by the grand jury presented in open, court, and it is urged that neither the foreman nor any member of the grand jury endorsed the indictment, so far as appears from the record. We do not think there is any variance between the names Davey S. Pate and David S. Pate, as “Davey” is a diminutive or nickname for “David.” Kerr v. Swallow, 33 Ill. 379; Walter v. State, 105 Ind. 589. Second—The placita of the court record for the day upon which the motions for new trial and in arrest of judgment were disposed of, shows that the judge of the court, the sheriff of the county and the State’s attorney were present. These facts were attested by William C. Lawson, as clerk, as appears from the record of that day, when in fact Patrick J. Cahill was clerk of the court. In Yates v. People, 38 Ill. 527, it was held that it was not necessary that the record should show the “organization of the court,” if by that phrase is meant the names and presence of its various officers, and that the only thing that was important was, that it should appear from the transcript that the court was actually in session, and that its proceedings should be shown from its record by the certificate of its clerk under his official seal. We are of opinion that if Cahill was not present, by himself or deputy, and plaintiff in error desired to avail himself of that fact, such absence should have been made to appear affirmatively by a bill of exceptions. Third—-It is urged that “Lamb had no opportunity to be heard why sentence should not be pronounced upon him, according to the requirements of the common law.” The record of the court in this regard reads as follows: “And now neither the said defendant nor his counsel for him saying anything further why the judgment of the court should not now be pronounced against him on the verdict of guilty, heretofore rendered to the indictment of this cause.” In Gillespie v. People, 176 Ill. 238, it was said that similar language implied that opportunity was afforded defendant to speak, and that while the proper practice is to ask a defendant if he has anything to say why he should not be sentenced, the omission so to do is not ground for reversal, citing Gannon v. People, 127 Ill. 507, and Harris v. People, 130 id. 457. Fourth—It is then said that there is nothing in the record which shows the indictment returned by the grand jury to be-the same indictment upon which the prisoner was tried. The record shows' that the grand jury returned an indictment for murder in the case of The People of the State of Illinois vs. Charles C. Lamb, No. 57231. It is then shown that the accused was tried in the same cause bearing the same number, upon an indictment for murder. We think the indictment upon which he was tried is thereby identified as the one which the record shows was returned in open court by the grand jury charging him with the crime of murder. Fifth—The remaining assignment of error which is brought to our attention by the brief and argument for Lamb is, that it does not appear from the record that any officer was sworn to take charge of the jury, or that any officer sworn by the court did take charge.of the jury when they retired to consider of their "verdict, or at other times when they retired from the court room. It is not made to appear that the accused objected to the irregularity, if any occurred at any time when the jury retired, nor is it made to appear by a bill of exceptions that the jury, upon any retirement, was not in charge of a sworn officer. This assignment, therefore, cannot be considered. Dreyer v. People, 188 Ill 40. The judgment of the criminal court of Cook county will be affirmed. Judgment affirmed.