Wilburn v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court
Wilburn v. State, 101 Miss. 392 (Miss. 1911)
58 So. 7
Smith

Wilburn v. State

Opinion of the Court

Smith, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The indictment upon which appellant was tried was drawn under section 5032 of the Code of 1906, and charged him with the sale of vinous, spirituous, alcoholic and intoxicating liquors, in less quantities than one gallon, within five miles of the University of Mississippi. This section of the Code was repealed by. chapters 113, 114 and 115 of the Laws of 1908, and consequently the indictment failed to charge appellant with any offense, and was therefore a nullity. Hughes v. State, 97 Miss. 528, 52 So. 631.

Over the objection of appellant, this indictment was amended by the striking out of the words β€œin less quantities than one gallon, within five miles of the University of Mississippi.” The indictment being wholly *397void, and charging no offense at all, the court was without power to permit an amendment thereof. The offense charged by the amended indictment was different from, and followed by a greater punishment than the one for which appellant was originally indicted.

The judgment of the court below is reversed, the indictment quashed, and appellant discharged.

Reversed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Noah Wilburn v. State
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Criminal Law. Indictment for selling liquors. Code 1906, section 1763-5032. Laws of 1908, chapters 113-114-115. Where a party was indicted under Code of 1906, section, 5032, for the sale of vinous, alcoholic and intoxicating liquors, in less-quantities than one gallon, within five miles of the University of Mississippi, such indictment was a nullity as this section of the Code was repealed by chapers 113-114-115 of the Laws of 1908. 2. Same. Where an indictment is void, charging no offense at all, the court is without power to permit an amendment thereof.