Williams v. State, 8 Div. 440

Decision Date30 March 1954
Docket Number8 Div. 440
Citation37 Ala.App. 572,72 So.2d 858
PartiesWILLIAMS v. STATE.
CourtAlabama Court of Appeals

R. B. Patton and D. U. Patton, Athens, for appellant.

Si Garrett, Atty. Gen., and Robt. P. Bradley, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

CARR, Presiding Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction for the offense of forgery.

The instrument which is alleged to have been forged is a check dated '7-27-1952.' This date was on Sunday.

The indictment does not allege or set out any circumstances extrinsic to the check itself showing it is not void.

We had this identical question before us for review in the case of Gooch v. State, 33 Ala.App. 221, 31 So.2d 779. We certified the following questions to the Supreme Court:

'1. Does a check dated on Sunday possess sufficient legal efficacy to defraud so as to be the subject of forgery where no extrinsic facts are alleged in the indictment?

'2. Does Title 9, Section 21, Code of Alabama 1940, prevent the prosecution in the name of the State for the forgery of an instrument dated on Sunday?'

The response is reported in 249 Ala. 477, 31 So.2d 776, 174 A.L.R. 1297.

The effect of the Supreme Court decision is that a check given on a Sunday is void and cannot be made the subject of forgery. To avoid this apparent defect the indictment must allege extrinsic facts which would enable the court to determine that it is valid.

Under this authority the indictment in the case at bar does not on its face charge any offense. It is the duty of this court to take note of this defect and to declare that it will not support the judgment of conviction. Mehaffey v. State, 16 Ala.App. 99, 75 So. 647; Brown v. State, 32 Ala.App. 246, 24 So.2d 450.

It may be noted the evidence in the case discloses that the forgery and the uttering of the check took place on the Sunday the instrument is dated.

Under the circumstances incident to this appeal we do not see the need or necessity of remanding the cause. It is therefore ordered that the judgment below be reversed and judgment rendered discharging defendant from further custody in this proceeding. Title 15, Sec. 390, Code 1940.

Reversed and rendered.

To continue reading

Request your trial
5 cases
  • Robinson v. City of Sylacauga
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • 20 Abril 1954
    ......37 Ala.App. 565. ROBINSON. v. CITY OF SYLACAUGA. 7 Div. 280. Court of Appeals of Alabama. April 20, 1954. Page ... Chambers v. State, 17 Ala.App. 178, 84 So. 638; Johnston v. Isley, 240 Ala. ......
  • Griffin v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 6 Octubre 1970
    ...permitted by law as set forth in the Sunday statute, would be void and not the subject of forgery.' And we quote from Williams v. State, 37 Ala.App. 572, 72 So.2d 858: 'The effect of the Supreme Court decision (in Gooch) is that a check given on a Sunday is void and cannot be made the subje......
  • Williams v. State, 8 Div. 697
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 20 Enero 1976
    ...to the paper itself showing it is not void.' This Court is bound by the Supreme Court's decision in Gooch, supra. Williams v. State, 37 Ala.App. 572, 72 So.2d 858 (1954); Griffin v. State, 47 Ala.App. 278, 253 So.2d 337 Appellant's challenge to the validity of the instrument and thus to the......
  • Life & Cas. Ins. Co. of Tenn. v. Crawford
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • 11 Mayo 1954
    ......LIFE & CASUALTY INS. CO. OF TENNESSEE. v. CRAWFORD. 7 Div". 275. Court of Appeals of Alabama. May 11, 1954.      \xC2"......
  • 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