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95 Ky. 621

Shouse v. Commonwealth

Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Decided May 31, 1894

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1894-05-31

Case 106 — INDICTMENT APPEAL PROM ESTILL CIRCUIT COURT. The indictment does not charge a felony, and the court erred in instructing the jury upon the -view that appellant, could he found guilty of a felony. The indictment does not state the fact that the stabbing was done “ with intent to kill ” the wounded person. The mere stating of the offense to he wounding with intent to kill is not an allegation that it was so done.

Decided 1894-05-31

CHIEF JUSTICE BENNETT

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The appellant was convicted of the crime of malicious cutting with intent to kill.

¶3The indictment accuses the appellant “ of the offense-of cutting John Reffit with intent to kill him, committed in manner.as follows: The said Wm. Shouse did unlawfully, willfully and feloniously cut, thrust and stab John Reffit with a knife, from which cutting and stabbing said Reffit did not die.”

¶4It is contended that it is not sufficiently charged that the appellant cut Reffit with intent to kill him. The 124th section of the Criminal Code provides: “ The indictment must be direct and certain as regards — . . . 2. The offense charged. ... 4. The particular circumstances of the offense charged, if they be necessary to constitute-a complete offense.”

¶5The indictment charges that the appellant cut John Reffit with intent to kill him, committed as follows, to-wit: The appellant did said cutting unlawfully, willfully and feloniously, from which Reffit did not die. It will be seen that the indictment is direct and positive as-to the offense charged and the person upon whom it was-committed, and that it was done with intent to kill him. It then gives the particular circumstances of the offense charged so as to make it a case of-malicious cutting. It *623seems to us that the positive and direct charge that the appellant cut Reffit with intent to kill him having been once made, it was not necessary to repeat the same statement in giving the particular circumstances of the offense, for the Criminal Code expressly declares that the acts constituting the offense shall only be made in ordinary and concise language. The indictment charges a statutory offense.

¶6The judgment is affirmed.

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