Case ID: ind_187/html/0611-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Spencer, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Duffey v. State of Indiana.
    [No. 23,383.
    Filed November 8, 1918.]
    Criminal Law. — Selection of Grand Jury. — Irregularity.—Irregularity in the selection of- the grand jury was properly presented by a plea in abatement to the indictment. (Stipp v. State, ante 211, followed.)
    From Delaware Circuit Court; S. W. Haynes, Special Judge.
    Prosecution by the State of Indiana against Patrick Duffey. From a judgment of conviction, the defendant appeals.
    
      Reversed.
    
    
      George W. Cromer and Harry Long, for appellant.
    
      Ele Stansbury, Attorney-General, Elmer E. Hastings, Dale F. Stansbury and Horace G. Murphy, for the state.
   Spencer, J.

— Appellant was tried and convicted on an indictment which charges him with a violation of §8351 Bums 1914, Acts 1907 p. 689, and has appealed from the judgment of conviction. The indictment in question was returned by the same grand jury which returned the indictment under consideration in the case of Stipp v. State (1918), ante 211, 118 N. E. 818, and the irregularity in the selection of that grand jury was properly presented in this case by the first paragraph of appellant’s plea in abatement. A demurrer to that plea was sustained, but the state, on appeal, practically concedes that this ruling was erroneous. On the authority of the Stipp case, supra, we hold that the trial court erred in sustaining appellee’s demurrer to the first paragraph of appellant’s plea.in abatement. Other questions presented need not receive particular consideration.

Judgment reversed, with instructions to overrule the demurrer to the first paragraph of appellant's plea in' abatement, and for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith.

Note. — Reported in 120 N. E. 658.