Armfield v. State
Armfield v. State
Opinion of the Court
— Appellant was indicted, tried, and convicted under §2154 Burns 1901, which is as follows: “Whoever * * * unlawfully diverts any stream of water from its natural course or state, to the injury of others, * * * shall he fined not more than $500 nor less than $10.” The indictment was in two counts; the second count was. abandoned by the State and is not here in any way involved. It is assigned as error that the trial court erred in overruling appellant’s motion to quash the indictment and that the trial court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial.
Under the first specification of the assignment of errors counsel for appellant contend that the indictment should show that the injury complained of was to more than a single individual. It is sufficient to say in this regard that the case of Paragon Paper Co. v. State, 19 Ind. App. 314, decides the question adversely to appellant.
Under the second specification of the assignment of errors, counsel for appellant contend that the trial court erred in giving to the jury instruction numbered five, as follows: “A stream of water flowing over a man’s land is a. current of water flowing in one -line or course between the banks or sides in a certain direction and by a regular channel, and there is a broad distinction between a stream and those occasional outbursts of water which in times of freshets fill up low marshy places and run over and inundate adjoining land. A stream need not be shown to flow continuously. Ib may he dry at times, but it must have a well defined and substantial existence. If therefore the proof in this case
Appellant asked that the court give to the jury instruction numbered three, viz.: “If you find from the evidence that the defendants, or either of them, have constructed an embankment or levee in such a manner that it extends a short distance into the channel of the Salamonie river; and you further find from the evidence that by reason thereof the river was not in any manner diverted from its natural channel, course, or state, the defendants, or either of them, would not be guilty as charged in the first count of the indictment.”
This instruction should have been given. It was peculiarly applicable -to the evidence and to the issue. It would also have corrected the erroneous impression conveyed to the jury by the giving of instruction numbered five as heretofore
Judgment reversed, with instruction to the trial court to sustain appellant’s motion for a new trial.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.