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111 Ala. 66

Johnson v. State

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided November 15, 1895

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1895-11-15

Tried before the Hon. James W. Lapsley. The appellant was tried and convicted under an indictment, which charged that he, “with intent to steal, broke into and entered a railroad car, the property of the Alabama Mineral Railroad Company, a-corporation under the laws of the State of Alabama.” On the.trial of the cause, as is shown by the bill of exceptions, the evidence introduced for the State tended to show that the defendant broke into a railroad car that was standing upon…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently May 1923

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1895-11-15

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HEAD, J.

¶1Considered with reference to the evidence of Knox, the second charge requested by the defendant ought to have been given. If the testimony of Knox was accepted by the jury as true, there was a failure to establish the averment of ownership as contained in the indictment. There was, in such case, neither property, genera] or special, in, nor possession of, the car in the Alabama Mineral Railroad Company.

¶2We suggest, that in cases like this, where there is doubt as to the ownership of property, the subject of a crime, the pleader may obviate all difficulty by alleging, in the indictment, several ownerships, in the alternative, in the same count, or by introducing several counts with the varying allegations of ownership.

¶3There was conflict in the evidence, and the general charge was properly refused.

¶4Reversed and remanded’. Let the defendant remain in custody until discharged by due course of law.

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