People v. Causley

Because of unusual circumstances we issued an order to show cause why the circuit judge should not have granted a motion to dismiss the information, which charged defendant Causley and others with conspiracy to damage and destroy the poles and wires of the Consumers Power Company, a public utility corporation. As the jury were unable to agree upon a verdict, the testimony given on the trial need not be reviewed.

Defendant advances two arguments in support of his motion to dismiss:

1. Conspiracy is an offense known to the common law. Conspiracy to commit a common-law crime is itself a common-law…