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Criminal Law And Procedure - Conspiracy To Commit A Misdemeanor As A Felony, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was indicted for conspiring to destroy the poles and wires of an electric public utility, the destruction of such property being a statutory misdemeanor. The indictment was prosecuted under the provision of the Michigan statutes which states that all crimes indictable at common law are punishable as felonies unless specifically declared otherwise by the statute. The crime of conspiracy comes under this "common-law offense" provision. Upon denial of his motion to dismiss, defendant sought mandamus to review the ruling. Held, an agreement to do an act made a misdemeanor by statute is a common-law conspiracy, and such …