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23 Ark. 198

Ross v. State

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Decided January 15, 1861

Supreme Court of Arkansas · decided 1861-01-15

jError to Sebastian Circuit Court. Hon. Felix I. Batson, .Circuit Judge. Where there is no indictment in the record sent to this court, the conclusion is that none was found against the defendant, much less presented in open court; and the proceedings against him are a nullity, sec. 14, art. 2, Const.

Relies on Arnold v. McNeill

Decided 1861-01-15

Mr. Chief Justice English

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2This case was brought here by writ of error to the circuit court of Sebastian county.

¶3From the transcript returned with the writ, it appeared that Daniel Ross, the plaintiff in error, had been convicted by the verdict of a jury, of robbery, and sentenced to the penitentiary for twelve years. But there being no indictment in the transcript, and no showing that the grand jury had returned into court any indictment against Ross, a certiorari was awarded to perfect the transcript, in accordance with the principles settled in Green vs. The State, 17 Ark. 183, and other cases there cited.

¶4In the transcript brought up by certiorari, as in that returned with the writ of error, there is no indictment, and no entry that the grand jury returned into court any indictment against Ross.

¶5' The clerk states that the indictment, and a motion in arrest of judgment, had been lost, destroyed, or purloined from his office, etc.

¶6In the first record entry, the cause is entitled thus:

“ State .of Arkansas, Plaintiff,
vs. y Indictment for assault to murder and rob.
Daniel Ross and A. Koo-wee, Defendants.'1'1
In the second entry, thus:
“ State of Arkansas, Plaintiff,
vs. y Assault with intent to kill and rob.
Daniel Ross and A. Koo-wee, Defendants.”

¶7Under this caption it is shown that the defendants severed, and that Ross was tried and found, by the jury, guilty of robbery.

¶8In the final entry, the cause is entitled thus:

“ State of Arkansas, Plaintiff,
vs. y Indictment for robbery.
Daniel Ross, Defendant.

¶9Under this caption it is shown that Ross moved in arrest of judgment, that the motion was overruled, and he was sentenced to the penitentiary for twelve years in accordance with the verdict.

¶10Under the principles settled in the cases above referred to, we cannot affirm a conviction for felony upon a record so defective as the one before us, but the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings.

¶11And it appearing that the plaintiff in error is confined in the penitentiary, a mandate must be issued to the sheriff of Pulaski county, to receive the prisoner of the keeper of the penitentiary^ and convey and deliver him into the custody of the sheriff and jailor of Sebastian county, to abide such further proceedings as may legally be taken against him in the court to which the cause is remanded.

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