State v. Goodchild

• Decision Date: 16 June 1955
• Parties: STATE of Maine v. Paul F. GOODCHILD.
• Court: Maine Supreme Court

Page 725

115 A.2d 725

151 Me. 48

STATE of Maine v. Paul F. GOODCHILD.

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.

June 16, 1955.

William D. Hathaway, Asst. County Atty., Gaston Dumais, County Atty., Lewiston, for plaintiff.

Harold L. Redding, Lewiston, Benjamin J. Arena, Lewiston, on the brief, for defendant.

Before FELLOWS, C. J., and WILLIAMSON, TIRRELL, WEBBER, BELIVEAU and TAPLEY, JJ.

TIRRELL, Justice.

This case is here on exceptions to the overruling of a demurrer filed in the Superior Court for the County of Androscoggin.

The case originated by complaint in the Municipal Court for the town of Lisbon in the County of Androscoggin. The body of the complaint is as follows:

'* * * on the Fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-three at Lisbon, in said County of Androscoggin, operated a motor vehicle, to wit a passenger automobile in said Lisbon to wit upon the premises of the Ancient York Lodge No. 155 F. & A. M. while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, said premises being located in the village of Lisbon Falls in said Town of Lisbon against the peace of said State, and contrary to the form of the Statute in such cases made and provided.'

On this complaint the respondent was arrested and brought before the Judge of the Lisbon Falls Municipal Court. The respondent pleaded not guilty, and after the hearing, was adjudged guilty by said Court and was sentenced to pay a fine of $100 and costs. Respondent took an appeal from the sentence to the next Term of the Superior Court in September 1953.

At the September 1953 Term of Superior Court held in the County of Androscoggin the respondent came into Court and filed a general demurrer in which the respondent reserved the right to plead anew should the demurrer be overruled. The County Attorney for the County of Androscoggin joined in the demurrer and prayed for judgment, asking that said Paul F. Goodchild be convicted of the complaint specified. The Presiding Justice overruled the demurrer and granted the respondent the right to plead anew. This is the ruling to which the respondent excepts and the exceptions were allowed by the Presiding Justice.

As we stated in State v. Schumacher, 149 Me. 298, at page 300, 101 A.2d 196, at page 197:

'The general rule in criminal cases is that upon an appeal from a magistrate or lower court to the Superior Court the matter comes before the Superior Court for trial de novo. This means that the matter comes forward on the complaint and further upon the plea of the respondent, the words 'de novo' applying to the actual trial of the case. The withdrawal of the plea made in the lower court must be by and with the consent of the Presiding Justice. In the instant case the Presiding Justice did not directly give to the respondent leave to withdraw his former plea, the County Attorney stood by, made no objections to the filing of the demurrer, and as a matter of fact joined it and made that the issue. The Presiding Justice took before him the merits of the demurrer and ruled thereon. In doing this this Court holds that he, the justice presiding, impliedly gave his consent to the respondent to withdraw the former plea of not guilty.'

In our opinion the proper rule to follow when the respondent attempts to change his plea after an appeal is as set forth in State v. Schumacher, supra, and cases therein cited.

The only question involved in the instant case is whether the complaint on which the warrant was issued sets forth any violation of law inasmuch as it is not charged therein that the vehicle was operated upon any way or in any other place. R.S.1944, Chap. 19, Sec. 121 (now R.S.1954, Chap. 22, Sec. 150), under which the complaint was drawn, and which has not been amended with regard to the point in question, reads as follows:

'Whoever shall operate or attempt to operate a motor vehicle upon any way, or in any other place when intoxicated or at all under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, upon conviction, shall be punished * * *'

It is the contention of the respondent that the words 'place' and 'premises' are not in common parlance synonymous. While the word 'place' has several meanings, it ordinarily has reference to locality. The word 'premises' signifies a distinct and definite locality. It may mean a room, shop, building or any definite area. We cannot extend the statute by construing it beyond the plain significance of the language used. It is our opinion that the word 'place' in the statute cannot, by any reasonable interpretation, exclude the word 'premises.' State v. Fezzette, 103 Me. 467, 69 A. 1073; State v. Grames, 68 Me. 418.

On reading the statute it will be noted that it first applies to the operation of motor vehicles upon a way. It then applies to operation of automobiles in any other place. To us this means any other place than a way. Indictments and complaints should be so worded that the respondent is sufficiently apprised of the crime with which he is charged so that he may properly prepare his defense and so that he will be protected against double jeopardy. State v. Munsey, 114 Me. 408, 96 A. 729; State v. Cormier, 141...