State v. Shanks

Mississippi Supreme Court
State v. Shanks, 88 Miss. 410 (Miss. 1906)
40 So. 1005
Mayes

State v. Shanks

Opinion of the Court

Mayes, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

Shanks was indicted under Code 1892, § 1219, and the indictment charged that he did “unlawfully, willfully, and profanely *412curse and swear in a public place,” setting out the profane language used, “contrary to the form of'the statute in such cases made and provided,” etc. A demurrer was interposed by Shanks to the indictment on the ground that the indictment should have stated the particular public place where he did the cursing and swearing. The court sustained the demurrer, and the state appeals.

We think that the court’s action was correct. The indictment should not only have alleged that Shanks profanely cursed and swore in a public place, but it should also have stated what public place. It is not sufficient simply to state that it was done “in a public place,” without stating the particular place. In order to properly defend, it was necessary for the defendant to know in what place he vras accused of violating the law.

Affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
State of Mississippi v. John Wesley Shanks
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Geiminai, Law. Blasphemy. Indictment. Code 1892, § 1219. An indictment for blasphemy, under Code 1892, § 1219, making it a misdemeanor to profanely swear or curse in a public place, is demurrable if it fail to designate the particular public place where defendant profanely swore or cursed.