State v. Presley
State v. Presley
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The indictment for robbery is under Code 1906, § 1361. There was trial, conviction, and then a motion in arrest of judgment and for discharge. The grounds of the motion were because (1) the indictment is fatally defective, in that it does not charge an assault; (2) because it does not charge an intent to rob or'steal; (3) because it does not allege a larceny; (4) because it does not charge that the person robbed was “ put in fear’7; (5) because it does not charge that the taking was “ against the will. The court sustained this motion, and ordered the defendant discharged from further answering that indictment, but held him under his bond to answer another indictment if found by the grand jury.
The omission of the word “ assault ” is not fatal here, because the charge is of acts which are in fact an assault. An assault is a conclusion of law from acts done, and our statute on robbery does not make it necessary to aver it technically, nor did the common law.
The violence is sufficiently charged, if it were necessary, and according to 2 Bishop on Criminal Procedure, § 1004, an indictment without it may be good if the meaning is otherwise conveyed. The same authority in § 1005 distinctly says that “putting in fear” is essential only where there is no force; and so Mr. Bishop says in § 1006 that the term “ against his will ” is not essential. In the case before us we think the indictment charges a condition of things manifestly against the will of the party robbed. Technical law is good law under proper circumstances, but not where it shocks common sense. One cannot “ unlawfully, feloniously, forcibly, and violently ” rob and steal from the person of another, without its being against his will; and here it cannot be said that, though -that is an infallible argument that it was against the will, still it is not perfectly charged. Such a doctrine cannot be invoked where the terms of the statute are otherwise duly covered. The exact language of a statute need not be used, where what is tantamount is fully set out.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Mississippi v. James Presley
- Cited By
- 9 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Criminal Law and Procedure. Robbery. Indictment. Putting in fear. Assault. Against the will. An indictment for robbery, charging that defendant unlawfully, feloniously and violently did rob and steal and take from prosecutor’s person designated personal property, is not demurrable for failure to charge in terms:— (a) That prosecutor was put in fear; or (5) That an assault was made on him; or (c) That the property was taken against his will. 2. Same. Statutory crime. Language of statute. Synonymous words. The exact words of a statute defining an offense need not be used in an indictment under it; words tantamount to those of the statute are sufficient.