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1 Smith & H. 408

Bouser v. State

Indiana Supreme Court

Decided November 15, 1849

Indiana Supreme Court · decided 1849-11-15

The following indictment was found against the defendant in this case. “ The grand jurors for the said State of Indiana, upon their oath present, that Michael Bouscr, late of said county, on the 20th day o Angus.t, 1847, at said comity of Madison, a certain collection of a portion of the citizens of the said State of Indiana, then and there being collected together for public worship, did then and there within less than two miles of said collection, to wit, within one half…

Decided 1849-11-15

Per Curiam.

¶1— •“ The indictment should have been quashed. It charges no offence. It is founded on the first section of the ‘Act for the better protection of religious assemblies,’ passed in 1837. Acts of 1837, p. 58. But by that act, the selling to constitute an offence, must be at a ‘ booth, tent, wagon, huckster shop, or other place erected, brought, kept, continued, or maintained within the distance aforesaid.’ It is said the indictment is also bad because it does not negative the exception contained in the second section of said act. We think not. The indictment need only negative exceptions contained in the section upon which it is based. See 1 Chit. Cr. Law, 283.”

¶2Judgment reversed, &c.

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