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13 S.C.L. 257

State v. Montague

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided November 15, 1822

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1822-11-15

IN this ease, the defendant was indicted for trading With negroes, without the permission of their owners, and for receiving stolen goods. His name was Montacue, ánd not Montague, as was written in the indictment. — - The,plea of not guilty was filed ; but after the jury were, cbargedj amotion was.made in behalf of the prisoner to plead a misnomer, which was refused. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. A motion was now made for a new trial.

Decided 1822-11-15

Mr. Justice Huger

¶1delivered the opinion of the court:

¶2It is thought unnecessary to notice the several grounds taken in this case, on which the opinion of the court was delivered a few days since in the case of the State vs. Williams.

¶3The grounds peculiar to this case, are,

¶41st. The refusal of the judge to permit the misnomer to be pleaded, and,

¶52ndly. The uncertainty of the verdict.

¶6The defendant having pleaded the general issue, ■ and put himself upon his trial, it was too late (when the jury was charged) to interpose a new plea. On this ground, therefore,, the motion cannot succeed.

¶7On the second ground, however, the motion must pretail. There are two distinct counts in the indictment, each charging the prisoner with a different and distinct offence. • For each of which offences, the law has provided a different and distinct punishment. A general verT diet of guilty, does not shew of which offence he was guilty. The judgment of the court, therefore, cannot be pronounced;

¶8A new trial is ordered.

Justices Richardson, Johnson* Gantt, Colcock and Nott, concurred.
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