Ham v. State

Supreme Court of Alabama
Ham v. State, 17 Ala. 188 (Ala. 1850)
Chilton

Ham v. State

Opinion of the Court

CHILTON, J.

The decision of this court in Williams v. The State, found reported in 15 Ala. Rep. 259-263, is an authority directly in point to show that the judgment of conviction in this case cannot be supported. It is there said'that the indictment should substantially and with particularity allege the existence of such a state of facts as constitutes the offence denounced by the statute, and that although the proof of these facts might constitute a larceny at the common law, it is not sufficient for the indictment to charge the offence in the general terms sanctioned by precedent.

Let the cause be reversed and remanded, and the prisoner be retained in custody to await a further trial, or until otherwise discharged by due course of law.

Reference

Full Case Name
HAM v. State
Cited By
7 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
t. Where a slave is stolen in another State and brought into this, the indictment should charge the offence in the same form as if it lmd been committed here. A common law indictment is not sufficient. (See 18tb and 25di sections 1st eh. Penal Code )