Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

32 Mo. 548

State v. Edwards

Supreme Court of Missouri

Decided July 15, 1862

Supreme Court of Missouri · decided 1862-07-15

The defendants were indicted at the September term for the year 1860, of the Christian Circuit Court. The indictment contains two counts, the first charging defendants with disturbing a congregation met for religious worship, and founded on the 30th section of the 8th article of the act concerning crimes and their punishment.

Decided 1862-07-15

Bates, Judge,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The indictment contained two counts: the first for a disturbance of public worship, and the second for riotously disturbing the peace of families. The defendants demun’ed to the indictment. The circuit attorney entered a nolle prosequi as to the second count of the indictment, and the court refused to decide the demurrer, and compelled the defendant to go to trial.

¶3The court erred in refusing to decide the demurrer. The remaining count of the indictment was good, and the demurrer should have been overruled.

¶4The evidence preserved in the record shows that the acts charged as constituting the offence of disturbing a congregation or assembly of people met for religious worship, took place at a camp meeting, at night, after the congregation or assembly had dispersed, and the people had retired to their places of temporary abode. In remanding the case, it is proper to say that the acts committed at that time did not constitute the offence charged in the indictment.

¶5Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.

Judges Bay and Dryden concur.
/32/mo/548 · .json · Public domain