State v. Odel
State v. Odel
Opinion of the Court
The defendant has been indicted and convicted of passing a counterfeit Spanish milled dollar, knowing it to be counterfeit. The act under which he is indicted, after stating what coins shall be current in this state, declares any person who shall counterfeit, or alter, .or attempt to pass, knowing them to be counterfeit, any of the aforesaid gold or silver coins, or shall make or keep in his or her possession any stamp, die or mould for coining the same, shall be adjudged guilty of felony, &c. Grimke, 314. A motion is made for a new trial, on the ground that testimony was offered to prove, that the defendant had said, some months before this transaction took place, (speaking of other dollars,) that he had made them. Also, that he had said, he had made and passed counterfeit dollars at fifty cents. It was also permitted to be proved, that implements for counterfeiting were found in his possession. A motion is also made in arrest of judgment, on the ground that the offence is not charged to have been committed with an intention to defráud the prosecutor, or any other person.
With regard to the first, I am of opinion the evidence ought not to have been received. East C. L. 123. Evidence of fact which went to prove substantive distinct offences, other than that with which the
Perhaps if it had been charged to have been done feloniously, it would have been sufficient: because that would have implied a fraudulent intention. And I take it that such a charge is indispensible in every indictment for felony.' I do not understand the indictment to say, (as is alleged in the brief,) that the counterfeit dollar which was passed, was worth a ho udred cents; but that a Spanish milled dollar,* in the similitude of which it was made, is of that value. That ground, therefore, is not entitled to consideration.
New trial granted.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.