McCearley v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court
McCearley v. State, 97 Miss. 556 (Miss. 1910)
52 So. 796
Whitefield

McCearley v. State

Opinion of the Court

Whitefield, C.

The court manifestly erred in not sustaining the motion for .-a new. trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence. The conviction wás based solely upon the testimony of an accomplice and confessed thief, and the case on its facts is a very doubt,-ful one. In this close case the defendant made a perfectly ample case on his showing for a new trial, based on the newly •discovered evidence.

Another fatal error, is that urged in the assignment that the indictment charged no offense plainly and precisely, as it ought to do in order to inform the appellant of the nature and cause •of the accusation against him, because of the omission of the word “did.” This precise ’ point has been 'twice adjudged in this state on full consideration in the cases of Cook v. State, 72 Miss. 517, 17 South. 228, and Hall v. State, 44 South. 810. In the Cook case, the question was elaborately gone into, and *559.the opinion is supported by many citations from other states. AYe are constrained, under the authorities of these two eases, to hold this assignment well taken.

Per Curiam.

The above opinion is adopted as the opinion of the- court; and for the reasons therein stated, the judgment of the court below is reversed, the indictment quashed, and the prisoner will be held to answer such proper indictment as the grand jury may prefer against him.

Reversed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Seaborn McCearley v. State of Mississippi
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Criminal 'Law and Procedure. Burglary. Indictment. Omission of “did.” An indictment for burglary charging that defendant the storehouse of another unlawfully, wilfully, feloniously and burglariously break and enter with felonious intent, etc., is fatally, defective because of the omission of the word “did” next before the words “break and enter.” 2. Same. Newly discovered evidence. Case examined and conclusion reached that a new trial should have been granted because of newly discovered evidence.