Case ID: tenn_97/html/0635-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SNodgrass, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Canupp v. State.
    
      (Knoxville.
    
    November 13, 1896.)
    1. INDICTMENT. ' Bet-wrn and indorsements.
    
    It is a fatal objection in this Court to a conviction for felony that the record fails to show that the indictment was returned into open Court by a grand jury or indorsed “a true bill,” signed by the foreman. (Post, p. 636.)
    
    Case cited: G-unkle v. State, 6 Bax., 635.
    3. Same. Same.
    
    It is not cause for reversal of a conviction for felony that the record fails to show, that the indictment was returned into open Court by the grand jury, if the indorsement, “A true bill,” signed by the foreman, be placed thereon. (Post, p. 636.)
    
    Code construed: §7317 (S.); § 6083, Subsec. 7 (M. & V.); §5343 (T. & S.).
    3. SUPREME Court. Stiggestion of diminution m criminal case.
    
    Where, in a felony case, the defendant suggested, on the hearing, that the record failed to show that the indictment had been returned into Court or indorsed “a true bill,” the attorney-general was permitted to suggest diminution and bring up a complete record. (Post, p. 637.)
    
    EROM SEVIER.
    Appeal from Circuit Court of Sevier County. W. R. Hicks, J.
    
      E. E. HouK and Arthur TrayNOR fur Canupp.
    Attorney-general Pícele for State.
   SNodgrass, Ch. J.

Canupp was indicted and convicted in the Circuit Court of Sevier County upon an indictment charging him with larceny and receiving stolen property. He was found guilty and sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. He appealed. When the case was called, no counsel appearing for the prisoner, the Court appointed Messrs. A. Traynor and E. E. Houk. There was no bill of exceptions, but an examination of the records by his vigilant counsel • discovered that the record failed to show any return of the indictment into Court by the grand jury, and that the indictment itself was not indorsed a true bill signed by the foreman. They urged this objection to the validity of his conviction. The point was well taken and was a fatal objection to the record as presented (Gunkle v. State, 6 Bax., 625), but, on suggestion of diminution, the Attorney-general brings a more perfect record, which does show a return of the indictment into Court, in the following language: “Came the grand jury into open Court, headed by their foreman, and returned into Court the following indictment, to wit: The State v. George Canupp—indictment, larceny.” This statement does not show whether it was returned a true bill or not a true bill, but the same record contains also a certified copy of the indictment, with its indorsement, and it is indorsed ‘ ‘A true bill.' J. W. Sharp, Foreman of the Grand Jury.” This cured the objection to the former record.

It is provided in § 6083, Subsec. 7, of the Code (M. & <Y.), that “when a person indicted or presented for a criminal offense, is arraigned before a Court having jurisdiction of the matter, and pleads not guilty, and is tried upon the merits and convicted, he shall not be entitled to a new trial, or to an arrest of judgment, or to a reversal of the judgment for any of the following causes: . .

“7. Because the Clerk omitted to enter upon the minutes of the Court that the grand jury returned the indictment into open Court, if the indictment shows upon its back that it was found ‘ a true bill. ’ ’ ’ There is, therefore, no valid objection to the judgment of the Circuit Court, and it must be affirmed.