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3 Shan. Cas. 478

State v. Martin

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided September 15, 1875

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1875-09-15

<p>1. CRIMINAL LAW. Plea, in abatement to presentment, where one juror incompetent.</p> <p>A presentment by a grand jury where one member is incompetent to join in making the same because he was the de-feirdant’s uncle, will be quashed upon the fact so appearing upon a plea in abatement. [As to indictment, see State v. Baker, 4 Hum., 12.]</p> <p>Cited with approval: State v. Duncan, 7 Yer., 271; State v. Baker, 4 Sum., 12.</p> <p>2. SAME. Same. State’s replication stricken orxt, when bad. The state’s replication to the plea in abatement that said juror</p> <p>was not present and took no part in the consideration of the charge against defendant, will, upon defendant’s motion, be stricken out, and the presentment quashed, especially where it appears the presentment and the minutes of the court show that the incompetent juror did concur in the presentment.</p>

Decided 1875-09-15

Deaderick, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court:

¶2A presentment by the grand jury was returned into the circuit court at Troy, at its November term, 1874, to which the defendant pleaded in abatement that J. A. Par-due, one of the jurors, was the uncle of the defendant, and therefore, incompetent to join in making said presentment-against defendant.

¶3To this plea the state replied that said Pardue was not *479present, and took no part in the consideration of the charge against the defendant.

¶4On motion of the defendant the replication to plea in abatement was stricken out, and presentment quashed, and the attorney-general has appealed to this court.

¶5The record shows that Pardue, with the other jurors, signed the presentment, and it has been held by this court that where a presentment is made by the grand jury where one of the number is disqualified to act, it is void [State v. Duncan], 7 Yerg., 271; [State v. Baker], 4 Hum., 12.

¶6The rule seems to be different in cases of indictment where twelve competent jurors remain and pass upon the case, 4 Hum., 12. The same thing has been held in Mississippi and other states. Whan Ain. Or. L., 226.

¶7In this case the presentment is a part of the record in the cause, and it and the minutes of the court show that Pardue did concur in the presentment, and in its return into court.

¶8The judgment of the circuit court will be affirmed.

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