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88 Miss. 410

State v. Shanks

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided April 15, 1906

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1906-04-15

From the circuit court of Pearl River county. Hon. William H. Hardy, Judge. The appellee, Shanks, was indicted for profanely swearing in a public place, under Code 1892, § 1219, but the indictment did not specify or designate any particular place at which it was averred he swore or cursed. Shanks demurred to the indictment, the trial court sustained the demurrer and dismissed the prosecution, and the state appealed to the supreme court.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1906-04-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently October 1953

3 state decisions

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Mayes, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2Shanks was indicted under Code 1892, § 1219, and the indictment charged that he did “unlawfully, willfully, and profanely *412curse and swear in a public place,” setting out the profane language used, “contrary to the form of'the statute in such cases made and provided,” etc. A demurrer was interposed by Shanks to the indictment on the ground that the indictment should have stated the particular public place where he did the cursing and swearing. The court sustained the demurrer, and the state appeals.

¶3We think that the court’s action was correct. The indictment should not only have alleged that Shanks profanely cursed and swore in a public place, but it should also have stated what public place. It is not sufficient simply to state that it was done “in a public place,” without stating the particular place. In order to properly defend, it was necessary for the defendant to know in what place he vras accused of violating the law.

¶4Affirmed.

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