Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

26 Mo. 515

State v. Wightman

Supreme Court of Missouri

Decided March 15, 1858

Supreme Court of Missouri · decided 1858-03-15

Louis Criminal Court. This was a prosecution before a justice of the peace, for an assault and battery. The following is the complaint upon which the proceeding was based: “ State of Missouri, county of St. Louis, ss.

Decided 1858-03-15

Richardson, Judge,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2An acquittal on an indictment for a felonious assault will not bar a prosecution for a common assault and battery before a justice of the peace, because the defendant, under the *517indictment, could not be convicted of the minor offence. But in this case the affidavit made before the justice charged an indictable offence above the grade of an assault of which he had jurisdiction ; and as the defendant was subsequently indicted and acquitted for the same felony described in the affidavit, the plea of autrefois acquit presented a bar to any further prosecution on the proceedings before the justice. The justice had no jurisdiction of the case.

¶3The other judges concurring, the judgment will be reversed.

/26/mo/515 · .json · Public domain