Commonwealth v. Smith
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Complaint to the Municipal Court of Boston, under the Pub. Sts. c. 207, § 13, charging the defendant with keeping a house of ill-fame in Boston. In the Superior Court, before the jury were empanelled, the defendant, moved to quash the complaint, on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction, because the court to which the complaint was made had none. The judge overruled the motion; and the defendant thereupon pleaded guilty, and appealed to this court.
1Opinion of the CourtMorton, C. J.
The keeper of a house of ill-fame may be punished either under the Pub. Sts. c. 207, § 13, or under c. 101, § 7. Commonwealth v. Ballou, 124 Mass. 26.
The complaint in the case at bar was brought under the Pub. Sts. e. 207, § 13, which provides that the keeper of a house of ill-fame shall be punished by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding two years. The defendant contends that the Municipal Court of the city of Boston has not jurisdiction of this offence. The Pub. Sts. e. 154, § 50, provide that the original criminal jurisdiction of that court “ shall include all crimes under the degree of…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Commonwealth v. BallouMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1878
3Cited by3 opinions
- Commonwealth v. New York Central & Hudson River RailroadMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1910
- Solomon v. United StatesCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1924
- Ex parte BrownU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts · 1907