Case ID: ala_55/html/0164-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BRICKELL, C. J. —", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

May v. The State.
    
      Indictment for Burglary.
    
    
      1. When error or appeal lies. — An order ot the Circuit or City Court, holding the accused to answer an indictment, if one should be preferred against him, is not such a judgment as Will support an appeal or writ of error to this court.
    2. Verdict of guilty on one count, in indictment containing several. — A verdict of guilty on one count "only, where the indictment contains several counts, operates an acquittal as to the others; and if the judgment be arrested, on account of the insufficiency of that count, a new indictment can only be preferred for the offense therein charged,
    EeoM the City Court of Mobile.
    Tried before tbe Hon. O. J". SeMMES.
    Tbe defendant in this case, Edmund May, was indicted for burglary in breaking into and entering a “ hen-house,” tbe property of Manuel Forcheimer, with intent to steal. The indictment contained three counts, in which the house broken into was described as — 1st, “a building within the curtilage of the dwelling-house2d, “a building, structure, or inclosure, commonly known and described as a hen-house, within the curtilage of the dwelling-houseand, 3d, “the hen-house of Manuel Forcheimer, in which goods, wares, merchandise, or other valuable things, to-wit, one dozen hens, of the value of fifty cents each, and one rooster, of the value of fifty cents, were at the time kept for use, sale, or deposit.” On the trial, the jury returned a verdict of “ guilty as charged in the third, count.” Afterwards, the defendant moved in arrest of judgment, “ on the ground that the third count charged no.offense and the court sustained the motion. The defendant then asked to be discharged, but tbe court refused to discharge him, and ordered him to be held in custody to answer a new indictment; to which ruling tbe defendant excepted, and he here assigns it as error.
    Auex. McKiNSTRY, for the prisoner, contended that the verdict amounted to an acquittal as to the first and second counts, and the defendant could not be held to answer a new indictment:
    citing Bell & Murray v. Tim Skate, 48 Ala. 684; Goleman & Owens v. The State, 3 Ala. 14; Nancy v. The State, 6 Ala. 483 ; Burns v. The State, 8 Ala. 313.
    Jiro. W. A. SaNRoed, Attorney-General, for the State,
    cited Eev. Code, § 4146..
   BRICKELL, C. J. —

It is only from a final judgment of conviction that an appeal or writ of error will lie to this court. E. C., chap. 12, part 4, tit. 3. The present appeal is taken from a mere order of the City Court holding the appellant to answer an indictment, if one should be preferred by the grand jury; and must be dismissed.

It is proper, however, to say, the verdict of the jury was an affirmation of the defendant’s innocence of the offenses charged in the first and second counts of the indictment, and of his guilt only of the offense charged in the third count. The arrest of the judgment, because of tbe insufficiency of the third count, did not disturb the verdict on the first and second counts, nor lessen its force as an acquittal of the defendant, final and conclusive, of the offenses therein charged. Bell & Murray v. State, 48 Ala. 684. The City Court was in error in holding the accused to answer an indictment embracing these offenses; and if such indictment should be found, a plea of former acquittal would be a full answer to it, and afford tbe appellant ample protection.

The appeal is dismissed.