People v. Higgins

The alleged contemnor, a deputy sheriff of the county of Erie, is charged with criminal contempts of court. Generally it may be said that he is charged with two criminal contempts. First, that while a deputy sheriff and assigned to guard the jury in a criminal case he perpetrated an act of sexual intercourse with a woman juror. Second, that under similar circumstances he secretly purchased liquor for jurors, and himself became drunk. He is charged under subdivision 1 of section 750 of the Judiciary Law. In so far as applicable that section reads as follows: “ § 750. Power of courts of record…