State v. Bentz

Decided October 15, 1847

Supreme Court of Missouri · decided 1847-10-15

Louis Criminal Court. No pretence of objection can be had to the mere form of this indictment. 2 Ch. Cr. Law, 39. Two persons may be jointly indicted for a misdemeanor, and the wife may be indicted as well as the husband for this offence. 2 Ch. Cr. Law, 39, and notes; 9 Mo. R., State vs. Harrison and others. That where several keep a common bawdy house, they may be jointly or severally indicted.— 1 Chitty’s Cr. Law, 268; Thatcher’s Cr.

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently October 1915

4 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1847-10-15

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Napton, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2This was an indictment against John Bentz and Catharine Bentz for keeping a bawdy house. The indictment was quashed, on motion of the defendants, because they were jointly indicted. It was held, -in Queen vs. Williams, (1 Salk., 384) that a wife, as well as her husband, could be indicted for keeping a bawdy house — because the wife, as well as the husband, might have a share in the management or government of a disorderly house. They may he indicted jointly. 2 Ch. Cr. L., 39; State vs. Harrison, et al., 9 Mo. R. Judgment reversed.