State v. Reese
Supreme Court of Washington, Department One
192 P. 934 (1920)
Arthur Reese (defendant), working as a porter on a train passing through Washington, stole a gold watch and other jewelry from Chas. E. Roediger, then later pawned the watch in Spokane. Reese was charged with grand larceny under a statute providing that jurisdiction for offenses on a train lay in any county the train passed through during the trip. At trial, the evidence showed Roediger fell asleep with the items and discovered them missing the next day; Reese was convicted, but his counsel's motion in arrest of judgment was granted, and the State appealed.
Whether Article 1, Section 22 of the Washington Constitution, guaranteeing the accused a speedy public trial in the county where the offense was allegedly committed, invalidates a statute allowing prosecution in any county through which a train passed during the offense.