Brown v. State
Brown v. State
Opinion of the Court
It is evident that the charge of having committed the crime of perjury by giving false testimony in the county court on the 7th day of October, 1892, and the charge of having committed the crime of perjury by giving false testimony in the circuit court on the 16th day of De-
The information is essentially bad. To charge the crime of perjury, the information must at least charge that the accused was sworn and testified. These facts must be alleged directly and positively, and not by way of inference or recital. They must be alleged with certainty, to a certain intent, in general. Bish. Crim. Proc. (4th ed.), §§ 325, 508, 554; State v. Divoll, 44 N. H. 140. This information does not allege that the accused was sworn at all, or that he testified at all. The only allegation relating to these facts is that, “ being lawfully required to depose the truth, on his oath legally administered, . . . and being required to testify, . . . did wilfully and corruptly commit the crime and offense of perjury, in this, to wit: That he was present,” etc. Surely to say “ being required to depose the truth, on his oath legally administered,” is not equivalent to saying that he “ was sworn and took his corporal oath,” as the old forms have it. Whart. Prec. Ind. 217-279; State v. Divoll, 44 N. H. 140. It is neither a direct nor a positive allegation that he was sworn. It may appear by uncertain inference that the pleader intended his phrase to stand in the place of such necessary allegation. Nor is it sufficient to say that he was required to testify. It should be alleged that he did testify. It is not alleged that the accused testified “ that he was present,” etc., or to any of the matters recited. It is no sufficient substitute for these necessary allegations to charge generally that he “ did commit wii
By the Court.— The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings according to law. The warden of the state prison will surrender the plaintiff in error to the sheriff of Waukesha county, who will hold him in custody until he shall be discharged or his custody changed by due course of law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Brown, in error v. The State, in error
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published