State v. Smith

Decision Date31 October 1860
Citation31 Mo. 120
PartiesTHE STATE, Respondent, v. SMITH, Appellant.
CourtMissouri Supreme Court

1. In an indictment for the fraudulent and felonious uttering, publishing and selling of a counterfeit bank note, it is not necessary to describe said note specifically; (R. C. 1855, p. 1178, § 31;) where, however, the said note is described specifically, the proof must conform to the allegations.

Appeal from Iron Circuit Court.

This was an indictment for the fraudulent, felonious and false uttering, publishing and selling of a counterfeit bank note purporting to have been issued by the Southern Bank of St. Louis. The note was set forth in the indictment. In the description in the indictment the president of the bank was Jas. T. Watson. According to the proof made the president's name was Jas. J. Watson.

Fox, for appellant.

Gale, for respondent.

EWING, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court.

On the trial of this cause the circuit attorney read in evidence, in support of the charge, a bank bill which differed from that set out in the indictment in the initial letter of the middle name of the president of the bank, and this is one of the errors assigned.

It was unnecessary for the pleader to have described the bill so minutely in the indictment as he did; (R. C. 1855, p. 1178, art. 6, § 31;) but having done so, and professing as he does to set it out according to its tenor, he will be held to strict proof. Where the matter of a written instrument is introduced in the pleading, so as to imply that a correct recital is intended, very slight discrepancies between the instrument set out and that produced in evidence are fatal. (2 Rus. on Cr. 797; 2 East P. C. ___.) And especially when the variance relates to an allegation descriptive of that which is material, as was the middle name or the initial letter of the middle name of the officer of the bank. (King v. Clark, 7 Mo. 271; Izetters v. State, 7 Ind. 660.)

As for this reason the judgment will be reversed, it is unnecessary to notice other points in the bill of exceptions.

Judgment reversed;

the other judges concurring.

To continue reading

Request your trial
35 cases
  • State v. Golden
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 5 Septiembre 1944
    ...v. Washington, 259 Mo. 335, 168 S.W. 695; State v. Meysenburg, 171 Mo. 1, 71 S.W. 229; State v. Leonard, 171 Mo. 622, 71 S.W. 1017; State v. Smith, 31 Mo. 120; State McConnell, 240 Mo. 269, 144 S.W. 836; State v. Scovill, 15 S.W. 931; State v. Stewart, 63 S.W.2d l.c. 213; State v. Meek, 70 ......
  • State v. Starr
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 20 Junio 1912
    ...v. State, 27 Tex.App. 608; Early v. State, 56 Tex. Cr. 61; Snelling v. State, 57 Tex. Cr. 416; State v. Phillips, 27 Wash. 364; State v. Smith, 31 Mo. 120; State Samuels, 144 Mo. 68; State v. Shapiro, 216 Mo. 359; State v. Roswell, 153 Mo.App. 338. (6) Instruction 2 was also erroneous becau......
  • State v. Quinn
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 21 Febrero 1940
    ... ... amendment was as to the "Substance" and not as to ... the "Form" of the Information, which is not ... permissible under the law; and, Fifth, because the amended ... information was not sworn to, and was not supported, as ... amended, by the complaint. State v. Smith, 264 S.W ... 52; State v. Fox, 300 S.W. 820; State v ... Horn, 93 Mo. 190; Sec. 3554, R. S. 1929; State v ... Clark, 223 Mo. 48, 122 S.W. 665; State v ... Roswell, 153 Mo.App. 338, 133 S.W. 99; State v ... Jenkins, 92 Mo.App. 439; State v. Walton, 255 ... Mo. 232, 164 S.W. 211. (6) The ... ...
  • State v. Londe
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 31 Octubre 1939
    ...State v. Crabtree, 170 Mo. 642. (3) The verdict of the jury is against the law. It is necessary to prove the charge as laid. State v. Smith, 31 Mo. 120; State Chamberlin, 75 Mo. 382; State v. Baker, 144 Mo. 323; State v. Warner, 74 Mo. 83; State v. Schafer, 116 Mo. 107; State v. Crabtree, 1......
  • 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