Bosshard v. State
Bosshard v. State
Opinion of the Court
—The indictment is founded upon art. 419 of the Penal Code. That article provides, that “if any person shall permit any game, prohibited by the provisions of this chapter, to be played in his house, or a house under his control, he shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100.” The indictment in the case before us charges, that the appellant did permit divers persons to play with cards, at the game of euchre and at divers other games with cards, at a house then and there kept, and under his control, for retailing spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors; the same house being a public house where people resort., The indictment clearly defines the offense which art. 419 of the Penal Code prohibits. The exception, therefore, that the indictment did not describe any offense known to the law, was properly overruled by .the court.
The court did not err in permitting the indictment to be amended for a defect of form merely, such as the insertion of the word “court” after the word “district” in the first line of the indictment. Art. 488 of the Code of Criminal Procedure expressly treats that portion of the indictment which shows in what court the indictment is presented as form, and not matter of substance. Art. 508 of the Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes the amendment of an indictment, where an exception to it merely on account of form is sustained by the court.
The exception to the indictment, because it did not
The verdict of the jury was in accordance with the evidence, and the judgment of the court below is
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. N. Bosshard v. The State of Texas
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- Bosshard was indicted under the 419th article of the Penal Code, which reads as follows: “If any person shall permit any game, prohibited by the provisions of this chapter to be' played in his house, or a house under his control, he shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100.” An indictment which charged the offense of permitting the playing of euchre and other games of cards at his grocery, being a public place, in the language of the statute, 'was sufficient, without averring that money was bet. (Penal Code, art. 411; Paschal’s Dig., Arts. 2044 to 2046, Notes 640 to 642, p. 432.) An indictment may be amended, by inserting the court in which it was found, since the 488th article of the Code of Criminal Procedure regards that as mere form. (Paschal’s Dig., Art. 2955, Noté 735.) Art. 508 of the same Code authorizes the amendment of an indictment where an exception to it merely on account of form is sustained. (Paschal’s Dig., Art. 2977.) It is not necessary to state anything in an indictment which need not be proved. (Code of Criminal Procedure, art. 396; Paschal’s Dig., Art. 2864, Note 721, p. 510.)