Case Brief

1. HaroldSowardsII
CJ 322, Tu/Th 9:30
10/8/15
State v. Schleifer
121 A. 805 (Conn. 1923)
1. Facts
 ErnestSchleiferstoodinfrontof a crowdand toldthemto: “breakthe foreman’s
windows,beattheminadark alleywithaleadpipe,getreimbursedforthe last5
monthsand to ripout things”
 Chargedinan informationwithsolicitationtocommitcrimes
 Filesmotiontoquash,trial courtsustains
 Filesagaintoquashsayingthat solicitationaloneisn’tacrime underthe commonlaw
 Trial court grants the motionto dismissthe charge
 State appealsthe dismissal
 ConnecticutSupreme Courtof Errorsreversed
2. Issue
Is theirlawremedilesstopunishthe individualwho,withwantondisregardof life andproperty,
incitesandcommandsnotone,but many,to the commissionof gravestcrimes?
3. Holdings
Yes,judgmentsetaside andcause remanded
4. Reasoning
Theyuse Kingv. Higginstostate the offense isserious.The accusedconvincesthe hearersto
commitfelonieswithdangerousweapons.In1828, State v.Averytheydeterminedthat
solicitationtoanotherisacrime sufficientunderourcommonlaw.The law of criminal pleading
tacklesthe issue of solicitationtoeachone present.Itstatesthatwhensomeone makesa
speechtoa crowd,itdoesn’tmake an individual speechforeachperson,itmakesone speech
for the crowdas a whole.Whenthe intentionisinthe formof a solicitationisforanothercrime,
it isa crime underour commonlaw.