Collins v. State, 7 Div. 391.

• Decision Date: 21 June 1938
• Docket Number: 7 Div. 391.
• Citation: 185 So. 779,28 Ala.App. 400
• Parties: COLLINS v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Appeals

185 So. 779

28 Ala.App. 400

COLLINS v. STATE.

7 Div. 391.

Court of Appeals of Alabama

June 21, 1938

Rehearing Stricken Jan. 10, 1939.

Appeal from DeKalb County Court; W. J. Haralson, Judge.

Julian Collins was convicted of failing or refusing to have a dog vaccinated, and he appeals.

Reversed and remanded.

Scott &amp Dawson, of Fort Payne, for appellant.

A. A Carmichael, Atty. Gen., and Clarence M. Small, Asst. Atty Gen., for the State.

BRICKEN Presiding Judge.

The prosecution in this case was commenced and trial had upon an affidavit and complaint, sworn to by one W. E. Hurt, before the judge of the DeKalb County Court. The offense charged was for the violation of an act approved by the Governor on March 2, 1937, and by its provisions became effective upon said approval, i. e., the act went into effect under its terms, on March 2, 1937, and provides for the inoculation of dogs for the prevention of rabies. General and Local Acts, Extra Session 1936-1937, page 230. The complaint reads as follows:

"Complaint

"The State of Alabama, DeKalb County

"DeKalb County Court

"Before me, W. J. Haralson, Judge of the DeKalb County Court of said County, personally appeared W. E. Hurt who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he has probable cause for believing, and does believe, that within twelve months before making this affidavit, and in said County, Julian Collins, being the owner of or in the possession of a dog which has not been vaccinated under the Act of March 2nd, 1937, did fail or refuse to have said dog vaccinated by the State Inspector, after having been warned to do so by the officer having charge of enforcing this Act, against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.

"W. E. Hurt

"Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 20th day of July, 1937.

"W. J. Haralson,

"Judge DeKalb County Court.

"Filed this 20th day of July, 1937.

"L. G. McPherson, Clerk."

Demurrers based upon numerous separate and distinct grounds were interposed to the complaint, and upon consideration by the court were overruled. As will be hereinafter stated, this decision will be rested upon the action of the court in overruling said demurrers, and will be conclusive of this appeal.

The offense attempted to be charged is a misdemeanor, and the Statute (Section 3815, Code 1923) provides that a designation by name of such an offense may be sufficient upon which to base a prosecution by complaint or affidavit. But if instead of so designating the offense charged the party undertakes to set out the facts or constituents of the offense, it must be done with sufficient definiteness and accuracy as to enable the judge to see that an offense is charged. Further, in a criminal prosecution, it is generally sufficient to follow the words of the Statute creating or declaring the offense; but this rule does not apply when the Statute fails to prescribe with definiteness the constituent elements of the offense, for this would violate the constitutional right of accused "to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him."

The complaint in this case covered a period of time twelve months anterior to its date, a larger portion of said time when the acts complained of were no offense under the law. As to this the act in question being new, the complaint should have charged that the offense complained of was committed by the accused subsequent to or since March 2, 1937. The demurrer (grounds 10 and 11) raise this point, and the court erred in holding the demurrer was not well taken. This question needs no elaboration at our hands, the following authorities being in point on ...