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2 Mich. N.P. 94

People v. Murray

Circuit Court of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Bay County · decided 1871-04-15

Demurrer to information for an assault by shooting,with the intent to kill and murder. The first count in the information charges the defendant with an assault upon one Perry, With intent to kill and murder Perry. The second charges him with an assault upon Perry with an intent to hill and murder, without naming the person he intended to kill. The third charges an assault upon Perry with intent to kill and murder one Williams.

Decided 1871-04-15

¶1By the Court,

Moore, J.

¶2It is claimed by respondent’s counsel that the second count is bad, because it does not show the person the respondent intended to kill, and that the third count cannot be sustained because it alleges an assault upon one person with intent to kill another and different person.

¶3I do not think the demurrer can he sustained as to the second count.

¶4The offense charged is an assault,aggravatéd by the intent to kill and murder. The act done is alleged with certainty as to time, place and person assaulted, and the intent with which this act was done is distinctly averred.

¶5The respondent is advised clearly of the accusation against him, and I think cannot he prejudiced by the form of pleading adopted. It is a convenient mode of pleading for the People, and cannot emharasss respondent. It is fully sustained by authority. Arch. Cr. Pr. & Plea., 270.

¶6The’demurrer to this count is therefore overruled.

¶7Jf I am right in the conclusion I have reached as to the sec*95ond count, there can be no necessity for the form of pleading adopted in the third, count.

¶8No reason has been suggested on the argument why both forms of pleading should be permitted, and I find no precedent approving of such a practice..

¶9It seems to me entirely useless, and in many respects objectionable.

¶10The demurrer to third count is sustained.

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