People v. Dresser

HALL, J.

This case was upon the calendar for argument on May 8th last, and the only brief on file at that time being the opening brief of appellant, an order was made allowing respondent fifteen days to file its brief and appellant fifteen days to reply.

The attorney general subsequently filed, on behalf of respondent, a brief in which he asks that the appeal be dismissed and the judgment affirmed, because the record fails

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to show that an appeal has ever been taken by defendant to this court.

The statute allows a defendant to appeal from a final judgment of conviction, from an order denying a motion for a new trial, and from an order made after judgment, affecting the substantial rights of the defendant. (Penal Code, sec. 1237.) The appeal from the judgment and from an order made after judgment must be taken by oral announcement in open court made at the time of the rendition of the judgment or making of the order respectively. (Penal Code, sec. 1239.)

The fact of such announcement “must be by the clerk immediately entered in the minutes of the court. But the failure of the clerk to so enter the same in the minutes shall in no way affect or invalidate the appeal.” (Penal Code, sec. 1241.)

Section 1246 (Penal Code) provides that upon the appeal being taken, the clerk must within twenty days transmit to the clerk of the appellate court copies of certain papers, among which are: “A copy of the minutes of the trial” and “A copy of other minutes of the action, including the proceedings on motion for arrest of judgment or new trial.”

In accordance with this section the clerk of the trial court did transmit to this court copies of the papers designated, but the minutes of the court nowhere show that the defendant took any appeal.

The minutes of the clerk under date of January 30, 1911, show the rendition of judgment, and after reciting the judgment concludes with the statement that “The defendant was then remanded to the custody of the sheriff,” etc., but makes no mention of any appeal or of any announcement in open court of any appeal. If, in fact, the defendant did in open court take an appeal as required by section 1239, Penal Code, the clerk should immediately have made an entry thereof in the minutes, following the statement of the judgment, to the effect, substantially, that the defendant thereupon in open court personally, or through his attorney, orally announced that he appealed from such judgment.