Strickland v. State, 4 Div. 244
| Decision Date | 16 October 1973 |
| Docket Number | 4 Div. 244 |
| Citation | 285 So.2d 492,51 Ala.App. 328 |
| Parties | Charles M. STRICKLAND v. STATE. |
| Court | Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals |
Smith & Smith, Dothan, for appellant.
William J. Baxley, Atty. Gen., and George M. Van Tassel, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
Second-degree burglary: sentence, ten years imprisonment.
The general way to accuse a man of a felony is by indictment, Amendment XXXVII, Constitution, which replaced Section 8 thereof. To be an indictment, the accusation must be a writing 'presented' by a grand jury. Code 1940, T. 15, § 228, McGee, Alabama Criminal Practice, p. 93. Being formulary its mode of presentment and its indorsement as a true bill as prescribed by law (Code 1940, T. 15, § 250, and T. 30, § 89) are mandatory, McMullen v. State, 17 Ala.App. 504, 86 So. 175; Roan v. State, 225 Ala. 428, 143 So. 454 (dictum).
The purported indictment in the record here is only an accusation subscribed by the solicitor without the indorsement 'a true bill,' and for the want thereof does not support the judgment, Thorn v. State, 39 Ala.App. 227, 98 So.2d 825(3); Kennedy v. State, 39 Ala.App. 676, 107 So.2d 913(26); Gould v. State, 29 Ala.App. 57, 191 So. 402. See also Dowdy v. State, 24 Ala.App. 333, 134 So. 896, for a list of other cases.
The record was filed here July 11, 1973 and was submitted on September 20, 1973. In Smiley v. State, 11 Ala.App. 67, 65 So. 916, we find:
* * *'
Further, Supreme Court Rule 18 puts the burden on the parties, not the court, to perfect the record.
The judgment below is reversed and the cause is remanded for new trial.
Reversed and remanded.
All the Judges concur.
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