Attempt to commit a crime. An act, done with intent to commit a crime, and tending but failing to effect its commission, is an attempt to commit that crime."

Derivation: Penal Code, §§ 3-6, 29, 30, 34.

Crime.—McCord v. People (1871), 46 N. Y. 470, 473; People v. Adams (1879), 16 Hun, 549; People ex rel. Hislop v. Cowles (1879), 16 Hun, 577, aff'd 77 N. Y. 331; People v. Burton (1883), 1 N. Y. Cr. 297, 16 W. Dig. 195; People v. Hale (1883), 1 N. Y. Cr. 533; People v. Parr (1886), 42 Hun, 313; People ex rel. Kopp v. French (1886), 102 N. Y. 583; s. c., 4 N. Y. Cr. 447, aff'g id. 300; s. c., 39 Hun, 507; Darrow v. Family Fund Society (1886), 42 Hun, 247, 116 N. Y. 537, 542; People v. West (1887), 106 N. Y. 293, 296, aff'g 44 Hun, 162; People v. Barber (1888), 48 Hun, 198; People v. Gillson (1888), 109 N. Y. 389, 406; Lawton v. Steele (1890), 119 N. Y. 233, 16 Am. St. Rep. 813, aff'g 5 N. Y. Supp. 953; People v. Most (1891), 128 N. Y. 108, 8 N. Y. Cr. 278; People v. Meakim (1892), 133 N. Y. 214, 8 N. Y. Cr. 404, aff'g 61 Hun, 327, 8 N. Y. Cr. 308; People v. Phyfe (1892), 136 N. Y. 554, rev'g 48 N. Y. S. R. 350; Hewitt v. Newburger (1894), 141 N. Y. 538, rev'g 66 Hun, 230; People v. Stone (1895), 85 Hun, 130; People v. Girard (1895), 145 N. Y. 105, aff'g 73 Hun, 457; People ex rel. Shortell v. Markell (1897), 20 Misc. 149, 12 N. Y. Cr. 312; People ex rel. Stevenson Co. v. Lyman (1902), 67 App. Div. 446, 73 N. Y. Supp. 987; Mairs v. Baltimore, etc., R. Co. (1902), 73 App. Div. 273, 76 N. Y. Supp. 838; People ex rel. Allen v. Hagan (1902), 170 N. Y. 46, 16 N. Y. Cr. 313; People v. Martin (1902), 175 N. Y. 315, aff'g 77 App. Div. 396, 79 N. Y. Supp. 340, which reversed 38 Misc. 67, 76 N. Y. Supp. 953; People v. Abeel (1904), 45 Misc. 86, 92 N. Y. Supp. 699; see also People v. Smith, 5 Cow. 258; People v. Hays, 1 Hill, 551; People v. Reed, 47 Barb. 235; Hamilton v. People, 57 Barb. 625; Morris v. People, 3 Denio, 381; Mayor v. Eisler, 2 Civ. Proc. 125; Mogul Steamship Co. v. McGregor, 23 Q. B. Div. 606; Com. v. Weiss, 139 Pa. St. 247, 23 Am. St. Rep. 182; Matter of Wilson, 114 U. S. 417; United States v. Wynn, 9 Fed. 886; 2 Abb. Nat. Dig. 222. Division of Crimes.-Mairs v. Baltimore, etc., R. Co. (1902), 73 App. Div. 273, 76 N. Y. Supp. 838; People ex rel. Smith v. Van De Carr (1903), 86 App. Div. 10, 83 N. Y. Supp. 245, 17 N. Y. Cr. 455.

Felony.-People v. Park (1869), 41 N. Y. 21, aff'g 1 Lans. 263; People v. Cole (1883), 2 N. Y. Cr. 108; Bork v. People (1883), 91 N. Y. 5, aff'g 26 Hun, 670, 1 N. Y. Cr. 368; People v. Lyon (1885), 99 N. Y. 210, 3 N. Y. Cr. 166, rev'g 33 Hun, 623, 1 N. Y. Cr. 400, 2 N. Y. Cr. 484; People v. Richards (1887), 5 N. Y. Cr. 355, 44 Hun, 283; People v. Johnson (1887), 46 Hun, 670; People v. Johnson (1888), 110 N. Y. 141; Benedict v. Williams (1888), 48 Hun, 123; People v. Hughes (1893), 137 N. Y. 30, aff'g 46 N. Y. S. R. 413; People v. Carter (1895), 88 Hun, 304, 11 N. Y. Cr. 25; People v. Cornyn (1901), 36 Misc. 136, 72 N. Y. Supp. 1088, 16 N. Y. Cr. 102; Mairs v. Balt. & Ohio R. R. Co. (1902), 73 App. Div. 273, 76 N. Y. Supp. 838; People ex rel. Smith v. Van De Carr (1903), 86 App. Div. 10, 83 N. Y. Supp. 205, 17 N. Y. Cr. 455; People v. Stacy (1907), 119 App. Div. 747, 104 N. Y. Supp. 615, 21 N. Y. Cr. 215; People ex rel. Cosgriff v. Craig (1908), 60 Misc. 531; see also People v. Borges, 6 Abb. Pr. 132; People v. Van Steenburgh, 1 Park. 39; Crenshaw v. People, 17 Am. Dec. 791-795 (note).

Misdemeanor.-People v. Finn (1881), 26 Hun, 58, 60; People v. Faber (1883), 92 N. Y. 149, 44 Am. Rep. 357, rev’g 29 Hun, 320; People v. Lyon (1883), 99 N. Y. 219, 1 N. Y. Cr. 400; People v. Cooper (1884), 3 N. Y. Cr. 117; People v. Sweeney (1886), 41 Hun, 340; People v. Richards (1887), 5 N. Y. Cr. 355, 44 Hun, 278; People v. Upson (1894), 79 Hun, 87; People v. Carter (1895), 88 Hun, 305, 11 N. Y. Cr. 25; People v. Markell (1897), 20 Misc. 149; People ex rel. Frank v. The Keeper, etc. (1902), 38 Misc. 238, 77 N. Y. Supp. 145, aff'd 80 App. Div. 448, 80 N. Y. Supp. 872; Mairs v. Balt. & Ohio R. R. Co. (1902), 73 App. Div. 273, 76 N. Y. Supp. 838; People ex rel. Smith v. Van De Carr (1903), 86 App. Div. 10, 83 N. Y. Supp. 245, 17 N. Y. Cr. 455; People v. Stacy (1907), 119 App. Div. 748, 104 N. Y. Supp. 615, 21 N. Y. Cr. 215; see also People v. Hovey, 5 Barb. 117; People v. Bogart. 3 Abb. Pr. 193. Principal.-McCarney v. People (1880), 83 N. Y. 413; People v. Ryland (1884), 97 N. Y. 126; People v. Bassford (1885), 3 N. Y. Cr. 219, 223; People v. Fitzgerald (1887), 105 N. Y. 146, 5 N. Y. Cr. 335, 6 N. Y. St. 32, rev'g 43 Hun, 36, 6 N. Y. St. 599; People v. Sharp (1887), 107 N. Y. 427, 12 N. Y. State Rep. 217, rev'g 45 Hun, 460, 10 N. Y. State Rep. 522; People v. Batterson (1888), 50 Hun, 44, 5 N. Y. Cr. 176; People v. Brien (1889), 53 Hun, 496, 25 N. Y. St. 239, 7 N. Y. Cr. 166; Leonard v. Poole (1889), 114 N. Y. 371, aff'g 55 N. Y. Super. 213; People v. Bliven (1889), 112 N. Y. 82, 20 N. Y. St. 487; People v. Kief (1890), 58 Hun, 337, 34 N. Y. St. 533, aff'd 126 N. Y. 663, 37 N. Y. St. 479; People v. Phelps (1891), 61 Hun, 116, 39 N. Y. St. 599; People v. O'Connell (1891), 60 Hun, 109, 38 N. Y. St. 109; People v. Cotto (1892), 131 N. Y. 579; People v. Bosevorth (1892), 64 Hun, 72; People v. McKane (1894), 143 N. Y. 455, aff'g 80 Hun, 323; People v. Sebring (1895), 14 Misc. 31; Anderson v. Schlesinger (1896), 16 Miss. 535; Shad v. Security Mut. L. Assn. (1896), 11 App. Div. 487; People v. McLaughlin (1896), 150 N. Y. 365; People v. Kelly (1896), 11 App. Div. 495, 153 N. Y. 651; People v. Peckens (1897), 153 N. Y. 576, 12 N. Y. Cr. 433; People v. Knatt (1898), 156 N. Y. 305; People v. Stock (1898), 26 App. Div. 564; People v. Fitzgerald (1898), 156 N. Y. 257, 13 N. Y. Cr. 36, rev'g 20 App. Div. 139; People v. Rivello (1899), 39 App. Div. 454, 14 N. Y. Cr. 49; Marden v. Dorthy (1899), 160 N. Y. 56, aff'g 12 App. Div. 188; People v. Fielding 1899), 36 App. Div. 401; People v. Dilcher (1902), 38 Misc. 91, 77 N. Y. Supp. 108, 16 N. Y. Cr. 548; People v. Martin (1902), 77 App. Div. 396, 79 N. Y. Supp. 340, 17 N. Y. Cr. 150; People V. Mills (1903), 41 Misc. 195, 83 N. Y. Supp. 94; People V. Kent (1903), 41 Misc. 193, 83 N. Y. Supp. 948, 17 N. Y. Cr. 461; People v. Lagroppo (1904), 90 App. Div. 229, 86 N. Y. Supp. 116, 18 N. Y. Cr. 87; People v. Mills (1904), 178 N. Y. 274, 18 N. Y. Cr. 285, aff'g 91 App. Div. 331, 86 N. Y. Supp. 529; People v. Putnam (1904), 90 App. Div. 127, 85 N. Y. Supp. 1056, 18 N. Y. Cr. 105; People v. Corbalis (1904), 178 N. Y. 523; People v. Canepi (1904), 93 App. Div. 380, 87 N. Y. Supp. 773, 18 N. Y. Cr. 344; People v. Schiavi (1904), 96 App. Div. 483, 89 N. Y. Supp. 564, 18 N. Y. Cr. 469; People v. Du Veau (1905), 105 App. Div. 381, 94 N. Y. Supp. 225, 19 N. Y. Cr. 268; People v. Patrick (1905), 182 N. Y. 141; People ex rel. Stearns v. Marr (1905), 181 N. Y. 468; People v. Summerfield (1905), 48 Misc. 242, 96 N. Y. Supp. 502, 19 N. Y. Cr. 508; People v. Kellogg (1905), 105 App. Div. 505, 94 N. Y. Supp. 617; People ex rel. Perkins v.

Moss (1907), 187 N. Y. 420, 50 Misc. 198, 20 N. Y. Cr. 579; People v. Jacques (1907), 54 Misc. 8, 105 N. Y. Supp. 387; People v. Acritelli (1908), 57 Misc. 574; People v. Taylor (1908), 192 N. Y. 402; see also People v. Wyley, 48 N. Y. St. 500, 20 N. Y. Supp. 446; People v. McElroy, 37 N. Y. St. 650; People v. Hall, 57 How. Pr. 342.

Accessory.-People v. Dunn (1889), 53 Hun, 381, 25 N. Y. St. 460, 7 N. Y. Cr. 173, 6 N. Y. Supp. 805; People v. Pedro (1897), 19 Misc. 303, 12 N. Y. Cr. 499; Dever v. Hagerty (1899), 43 App. Div. 354, rev'd 169 N. Y. 481.

Attempt to Commit Crime.—Darrow v. Family Fund Society (1886), 42 Hun, 245, aff'd 116 N. Y. 542; People v. Johnson (1887), 46 Hun, 667, 7 N. Y. Cr. 398, aff'd 110 N. Y. 141; People v. Moran (1889), 123 N. Y. 254, 8 N. Y. Cr. 106, 33 N. Y. St. 398, rev'g 54 Hun, 279, 27 N. Y. St. 20, 7 N. Y. Cr. 336; People v. Gardner (1894), 144 N. Y. 124, 125, mod'f'g 73 Hun, 66; People v. Spolasco (1900), 33 Misc. 22, 15 N. Y. Cr. 184, 101 N. Y. St. 114; People v. Kane (1900), 161 N. Y. 380, 14 N. Y. Cr. 303; People v. Mosier (1902), 73 App. Div. 9, 76 N. Y. Supp. 65, 16 N. Y. Cr. 545; People v. Mills (1904), 178 N. Y. 284, 18 N. Y. Cr. 292; People v. Du Veau (1905), 105 App. Div. 381, 94 N. Y. Supp. 225, 17 N. Y. Cr. 268; People v. Conrad (1905), 182 N. Y. 529, 19 N. Y. Cr. 263, aff'g 102 App. Div. 566, 92 N. Y. Supp. 606; People v. Jaffe (1906), 185 N. Y. 503, 19 N. Y. Cr. 293, rev'g 112 Arp. Div. 519, 98 N. Y. Supp. 486; see also McDermott v. People, 5 Park, 102; Mulligan v. People, 5 Park, 105; United States v. Stephens, 8 Sawy. 116; People v. Stiles, 75 Cal. 570; State v. Gray, 19 Nev. 212; Cox v. People, 82 Ill. 191; Stabler v. Com., 95 Penn. St. 318, 40 Am. Rep. 653, 17 Cent. L. J. 404, 22 Alb. L. J. 448; Lamb v. State, 67 Md. 524; People v. Lawton, 56 Barb. 126; Reg. v. Brown, 24 Q. B. Div. 357; Com. v. McDonald, 5 Cush. 365; People v. Jones, 46 Mich. 441; Rogers v. Com., 5 S. & R. 462; State v. Wilson, 30 Conn. 500; Kunkle v. State, 32 Ind. 520; Hamilton v. State, 36 Ind. 280; State v. Beal, 37 Ohio St. 108, 41 Am. Rep. 490; People v. Bush, 4 Hill, 134; Rez. v. Banks, 12 Cox Cr. Cas. 393, 5 Eng. Rep. 471; Lamb v. State, 67 Md. 524; Whitesides v. State, 11 Lea (Tenn.), 474.

§ 3. Construction of terms.

In construing this chapter or an indictment or other pleading in a case provided for by this chapter, the following rules must be observed, except when a contrary intent is plainly declared in the provision to be construed, or plainly apparent from the context thereof:

1. Each of the terms "neglect," "negligence," "negligent," and "negligently," imports a want of such attention to the nature. or probable consequences of the act or omission as a prudent man ordinarily bestows in acting in his own concerns;

2. Each of the terms "corrupt" and "corruptly " imports a wrongful desire to acquire, or cause some pecuniary or other advantage to or by the person guilty of the act or omission referred to or some other person;

3. Each of the terms "malice" and "maliciously " imports an evil intent or wish or design to vex, annoy or injure another person, or to maltreat or injure an animal;

4. The term "knowingly " imports a knowledge that the facts exist which constitute the act or omission a crime, and does not require knowledge of the unlawfulness of the act or omission;

5. Where an intent to defraud constitutes a part of a crime, it is not necessary to aver or prove an intent to defraud any particular person;

6. The term "vessel" includes ships, steamers, canal boats, and every boat or structure adapted to navigation or movement from place to place by water, either upon the ocean, lakes, rivers, or artificial water ways;

7. The term "signature" includes any memorandum, mark or sign, written with intent to authenticate any instrument or writing, or the subscription of any person thereto;

8. The term "writing" includes both printing and writing; 9. The terms "reputed house of prostitution or assignation," "house of prostitution," "house of ill-fame or assignation," "disorderly house," include all premises which by common fame or report are used for purposes of prostitution or assignation.

Derivation: Penal Code, § 718, as amended L. 1882, ch. 384; subd. 9 added as subd. 16, L. 1886, ch. 31, § 7.

Rosenplaenter v. Roessle (1873), 54 N. Y. 262, 268; People v. Buddensieck (1886), 103 N. Y. 487, 1 N. Y. St. Rep. 450, 4 N. Y. Cr. Rep. 265; Moebus v. Hermann (1888), 108 N. Y. 349, 13 N. Y. St. 648, aff'g 38 Hun, 370; Sherman v. Transportation Co., 62 Barb. 150; New York Guaranty Co. v. Gleason, 53 How. Pr. 125; Anderson v. How (1889), 116 N. Y. 341, 26 N. Y. State Rep. 790; People v. Stark (1891), 59 Hun, 51, 57, 35 N. Y. St. Rep. 154, 12 N. Y. Supp. 691; People v. Camp (1893), 66 Hun, 531, 51 N. Y. St. Rep. 34, 20 N. Y. Supp. 744; People v. Luhrs (1908), 127 App. Div. 636; People v. Acritelli (1908), 57 Misc. 574, 110 N. Y. Supp. 430; People v. D'Argencour (1884), 95 N. Y. 624, 2 N. Y. Cr. 267, aff'g 32 Hun, 178; People v. Martin (1885), 36 Hun, 462, 3 N. Y. Cr. 122, rev'g 2 N. Y. Cr. 52; People v. Hegeman (1907), 57 Misc. 295, 107 N. Y. Supp. 261; Walsh v. N. Y. Dock Co. (1879), 77 N. Y. 448, aff'g 8 Daly, 387; Tinken v. Stillwagon, 1 City Ct. Rep. 390; Crawford v. Collins, 45 Barb. 269, 30 How. Pr. 398; People v. Herlihy (1901), 66 App. Div. 534, 73 N. Y. Supp. 236, rev'g 35 Misc. 719, 72 N. Y. Supp. 389; People v. Hart (1906), 115 App. Div. 896, 101 N. Y. Supp. 1137; People v. Hatter, 22 N. Y. Supp. 691.

ARTICLE 2.

GENERAL PROVISIONS.

SECTION 20. Objects of penal law.

21. General rules of construction of this chapter.

22. Effect of chapter.

23. Civil rights and remedies not affected.

24. Civil remedies preserved.

25. Ambassadors and foreign ministers excepted from punishment. 26. Principal and accessory.

27. All principals in misdemeanors.

28. Acts punishable under foreign law.

29. Violation of statute which imposes no penalty is a misdemeanor.

30. Jury to find the degree of a crime.

31. Conviction must precede punishment.

32. Acquittal or conviction bars indictment for another degree.

33. Foreign conviction or acquittal a defense.

34. Morbid criminal propensity no defense.

35. Omission to perform act not punishable if act is performed by

another.

36. Limit of fine where statute does not specify amount.

37. Proceedings to impeach preserved.

38. Application of this chapter to prior offenses.

39. Military punishments preserved.

40. Certain statutes continued in force.

41. Manner of prosecution and conviction.

42. Rule when act done in defense of self or another.

43. Penalty for acts for which no punishment is expressly prescribed.

§ 20. Objects of penal law.

This chapter specifies the classes of persons who are deemed capable of crimes, and liable to punishment therefor; defines the nature of the various crimes; and prescribes the kind and measure of punshment to be inflicted for each.

Derivation: Penal Code, § 7.

People v. McTameney (1883), 30 Hun, 505, 13 Abb. N. C. 56, 66 How. Pr. 75, 1 N. Y. Cr. 437; People v. Rugg (1885), 98 N. Y. 537, 551; People v. Jaehne (1886), 103 N. Y. 182, 193, 4 N. Y. Cr. 479; People v. Palmer (1888), 109 N. Y. 110; People v. Richards (1888), 108 N. Y. 137, 144, rev'g 44 Hun, 278; Fitzgerald v. Quann (1888), 109 N. Y. 441, 445; People v. Stevens (1888), 109 N. Y. 159, 162; People v. Fanshawe (1893), 137 N. Y. 68, 74, aff'g 65 Hun, 77, 19 N. Y. Supp. 865; Matter of Hallenbeck, 65 How. Pr. 401, 1 N. Y. Cr. 437 note.