Woodall v. State
Woodall v. State
Opinion of the Court
On this appeal the Assistant Attorney General, on the part of the State, confesses error. Appellant was indicted for horse theft. When the case was called for trial the State announced ready and the defendant announced not ready, because he had been in custody since his arrest and had never been served with a copy of the indictment preferred against him. He demanded a copy of the indictment and a postponement of the trial for two days after service thereof. A postponement was refused by the court, who ordered a copy of the indictment to be prepared and served instanter, which was done, and then, over objections of defendant, the court ordered him to announce and proceeded with the trial.
It is provided by statute that in every case of felony when the accused is in custody, as soon as the indictment against him is presented, a certified copy of the same shall be made out and
Because the court erred in refusing to postpone the trial for two days, after service of the indictment, at the request of defendant, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
jReversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. M. Woodall v. State
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Practice—Service oe Indictment—Postponement.—It is provided by the statutes of this State that, in felony cases, when the accused is in custody, he is entitled to service of a copy of the indictment against him as soon as the same is presented by the grand jury, and that in all cases wherein the accused is entitled to service of a copy of the indictment, he is likewise entitled to two days after service in which to file written pleadings. The action of the trial court in this case, in forcing the defendant to trial instanter upon service of a copy of the indictment was error.