State v. Ricker
Supreme Court of New Hampshire
Complaint for assault and battery, committed at Somersworth, by the respondent, a resident of Somersworth, upon the complainant, a resident of Dover. The complaint was signed and sworn to at Dover, before a justice of the peace resident in Dover, who issued a warrant returnable before the police court of Dover.
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Complaint for assault and battery, committed at Somersworth, by the respondent, a resident of Somersworth, upon the complainant, a resident of Dover. The complaint was signed and sworn to at Dover, before a justice of the peace resident in Dover, who issued a warrant returnable before the police court of Dover. On being arraigned in that court the respondent entered a plea to the jurisdiction, that the offence alleged, if committed, was “ committed in Somersworth, in said county of Strafford, within the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace for said county, and not in Dover, in said county,…
1Opinion of the CourtBell, J.
The general purpose of the statutes establishing police courts can hardly be mistaken. The number of justices of the peace in our larger towns had become so increased, and the business consequently so divided, that it was not worthy the attention of persons who were well qualified to discharge the duties of the office. It became, therefore, desirable to establish a single court, with the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace ; to exclude other magistrates generally from acting as such, and to provide a suitable compensation for the justice of such court, sufficient to secure the service of a…
2Cited by1 opinion
- State v. KennisonSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1875