State v. Cooper

Decision Date06 March 1884
Citation3 P. 429,31 Kan. 505
PartiesTHE STATE OF KANSAS v. THOMAS COOPER
CourtKansas Supreme Court

Appeal from Dickinson District Court.

AT the October Term, 1883, Thomas Cooper was convicted of assaulting and beating one Arthur Shadinger, and fined $ 50 and costs. He appeals. The opinion states the case.

Judgment affirmed.

J. R Burton, and J. H. Mahan, for appellant.

W. A Johnston, attorney general, and Edwin A. Austin, for The State.

BREWER J. All the Justices concurring.

OPINION

BREWER, J.:

On February 27, 1883, an information was filed charging defendant with the crime of assaulting and beating one Arthur Shadinger with intent to kill. On the trial the defendant was convicted of a simple assault and battery, fined $ 50 and costs, and therefrom he brings this appeal to this court.

Two questions only require notice:

I. The information, filed as stated February 27, 1883, charged in the past tense that defendant did assault; but further stated that such assault was on the 27th of December, 1883; that is, it alleged in February, 1883, an assault committed in December, 1883, long after the filing of the information, and after the case was called for trial. After the jury had been impaneled and sworn, defendant objected to the admission of any testimony, on the ground that the time stated was after the filing of the information and the time of trial. Thereupon, on motion of the county attorney, the court permitted an amendment of the information so as to charge the offense as committed in December, 1882, instead of December, 1883. The information thus amended was reverified and refiled, and the case proceeded to trial over the objection of defendant. He now contends that the amendment was one in matter of substance, and therefore could not have been made after the impaneling of the jury, and cites many authorities in support of this proposition. Without stopping to inquire what would have been the rule under the old common-law practice, we think under our code the amendment was proper. The practice in this state is governed by a code of criminal procedure, and in many respects varies largely from that which obtained at the common law. (Madden v. The State, 1 Kan. 340.) Under the code, the information must contain the title of the action, specifying the name of the court to which the information is presented, the names of the parties, and a statement of the facts constituting the offense in plain and concise language, without repetition. (Comp. Laws 1879, ch. 82, § 103.) It must be direct and certain as regards the party and the offense charged, but the precise time of the commission of an offense need not be stated therein. It is sufficient if shown to be within the statute of limitations, except where the time is an indispensable ingredient in the offense. (Comp. Laws 1879, ch. 82, §§ 104, 105.) The information is sufficient, if it appear therefrom that it was presented by the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the court is held; that the defendant is named therein, or described as a person whose name is unknown to the prosecuting attorney; that the offense was committed within the jurisdiction of the court, or is triable there; that the offense is clearly set forth in clear and concise language, without repetition, with such a degree of certainty that the court may pronounce judgment, upon conviction, according to the right of the case. (Comp. Laws 1879, ch. 82, § 109.)

No information may be quashed or set aside for any of the following defects, among others:

"Sixth, For any surplusage or repugnant allegation, when there is sufficient matter alleged to indicate the crime and person charged; nor, seventh, for any other defect or imperfection which does not tend to the prejudice of the substantial rights of the defendant upon the merits." (Comp. Laws 1879, ch. 82, § 110.)

Under this provision, where the information charges in a past tense that an offense has been committed, but names a. date subsequent to the date of the information, we think ...

To continue reading

Request your trial
12 cases
  • State v. Gonzales
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • June 27, 1933
    ... ... unlawful homicide, and a conviction if warranted by the ... evidence, will be sustained for murder, manslaughter, assault ... with intent to murder, aggravated assault, or simple assault ... Turner v. State, 126 P. 452; 31 C. J. 866; State ... v. Schreiber, (Kan.) 21 P. 263; State v. Cooper, ... (Kan.) 3 P. 429; Parks v. State. (Okla.) 171 P ... 1129. Courts have repeatedly, in cases like the one at bar, ... held that under a charge of assault and battery with intent ... to kill, defendant may be convicted of simple assault and ... battery. Territory v. Dooley, (Mont.) 1 P. 747; ... ...
  • Hansen v. Edwards
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • May 1, 1922
    ...452, 458, 147 S. W. 1154; State v. Fields, 262 Mo. 158, 163, 170 S. W. 1132; State v. Barnett, 3 Kan. 250, 87 Am. Dec. 471; State v. Cooper, 31 Kan. 505, 3 Pac. 429. Of course time is not material in the crime of which the petitioner herein is Under the petitioner's trial in the state of Ka......
  • Hansen v. Edwards
    • United States
    • Kansas Court of Appeals
    • May 1, 1922
    ...Hurley, 242 Mo. 452, 458, 146 S.W. 1154; State v. Fields, 262 Mo. 158, 163, 170 S.W. 1132; State v. Barnett, 3 Kan. 244, 250; State v. Cooper, 31 Kan. 505, 3 P. 429.] Of time is not material in the crime of which the petitioner herein is charged. Under the petitioner's trial in the State of......
  • Elkins v. State
    • United States
    • United States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
    • February 14, 1925
    ...Brooks, 85 Iowa, 366, 52 N.W. 240; State v. Anderson, 125 La. 779, 51 So. 846; Newsome v. State, 2 Ga.App. 392, 58 S.E. 672; State v. Cooper, 31 Kan. 505, 3 P. 429. In examination of the Juror Schunaman, the juror stated that on the next day after the homicide he had heard the case talked a......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT