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38 Iowa 375

State v. Merchant

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided June 9, 1874

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1874-06-09

■ On the llth day of April, 1873, an information was filed in the office of D. W. Crouse, a justice of the peace of Olay county, charging that the defendant did feloniously steal property of Elsie Gr. Danow, of the value of $15.00. The information is in all respects formal, except that the name of the person, making it is not signed thereto. The defendant pleaded not guilty, was tried and convicted. Afterward he appealed to the District Court.

Decided 1874-06-09

Day, J.

¶1— We can conceive of no substantial reason for refusing to allow, under the circumstances of this case, the prosecuting witness to sign the information. The affidavits show clearly that the information was in fact sworn to; and that the omisssion of the signature occurred through mere inad*377vertence. The amendment would in no -way prejudice the defendant or compromise his rights.

¶2An information stands upon different grounds from an indictment, and is amendable. Bishop’s Criminal Procedure, Yol. 1, § 6,11, and cases cited; State v. Weare, 38 N. Y., 319, and cases cited.

¶3The court erred we think, in refusing the amendment, and in dismissing the action.

¶4Beversed.

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