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1 Grant 262

Commonwealth v. Jackson

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided July 1, 1855

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1855-07-01

Indictment for forcible entry and detainer. The defendants having been found guilty, a motion was made in arrest of judgment, on the ground that the indictment was defective; because, 1. There was no venue laid. 2. It did not appear that the grand jury were in the county, or inquiring in the county, when the presentment was made. . 3. The presentment did not appear to be made upon the oath or affirmation of each and all of the jurors. 4.

Decided 1855-07-01

¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Lewis, C. J.

¶2— After a plea of not guilty, and a trial on the merits, it is too late for the defendants to object, that their additions of degree, mystery, and residence, are omitted or misstated. 1 Ch. C. L. 202. The same maybe said of an objection, that the year in which the offence was committed is stated in figures instead of words. Jacoby v. Commonwealth, 5 S. & R. *266315. It is sufficient after plea pleaded, and trial had, that the indictment sets forth, that it was found “ on the oaths andaffirmations” of the grand jurors inquiring “for the body of the county” in which the trial was had. The word “ respectfully” being substituted for respectively, may be rejected as surplusage. If the indictment is found by the grand jurors inquiring for the body of the proper county, it will be presumed, after trial, that they were performing their duties within the county when the bill was found. The first count is defective, in concluding contrary to the form prescribed by the Constitution. But the second count is free from every substantial exception. As the term has expired, no writ of restitution is required or claimed by the Commonwealth.

¶3The judgment on the first count is affirmed, and the judgment on the second count is reversed, and a procedendo awarded.

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