Case Name: Nelson Burch v. The Republic
Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1846-12
Citations: 1 Tex. 608
Docket Number: 
Parties: Nelson Burch v. The Republic
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: (426)–(428)

Head Matter:
Nelson Burch v. The Republic
Case Reserved and Certified from Bastrop County.
The facts constituting the offense should he averred in the indictment with all convenient and reasonable certainty. . [Ante, 455.]
It will generally be sufficient if the indictment follows the exact words of the statute in describing the offense, and it is never safe to depart from them. But where the statute uses a general term, it is not enough to employ that term only, but the pleader must also state the species, according to the truth of the case — or where general expressions are used in the statute, it is not enough to employ those general words only, but the facts intended to be included and forbidden by them should be specified.
The appellant was indicted at the fall term, 1845, of Bastrop district court for vending spirituous liquors in a quantity of a quart and over without license first had and obtained.
There was a general demurrer to the indictment which was overruled and judgment entered against the defendant for $50 fine, but the judge conceiving that questions of law, novel and difficult, were presented in the case, had the same certified to the appellate court for revision.
Gillespie, for appellant.
The indictment is too general in its character, not alleging how or to whom the sale was made, so as to apprise the accused of what he was to answer or how to make his defense.
There was error in overruling the demurrer. It is too well settled to require argument or authority to prove that when a particular and special mode is pointed out for the enforcement of a penal statute, it must be strictly and literally pursued.
The act of 1843 (page 40) changed the remedy from a prosecution to a qui tarn action. The act of 1845 (p. 95, sec. 3) provides that upon an indictment by a grand jury and a conviction by a petit jury the party shall be fined, etc. No such conviction was had in the case ¡a,t bar.
Attorney General, contra.
No brief filed.

Opinion:
"Wheeleb, J.
Burch was indicted under the statute for a violation of the law requiring the payment of license tax. 9 Stat. 95, 96,107.
The offense is charged in the indictment in these words: "That Nelson Burch, of the county of Bastrop, in the county aforesaid, a retailer of merchandise, who vends spirituous liquors in quantities of a quart and over, did, on the first day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-five, in the county afore said, vend spirituous liquors in a quantity of a quart and over without license first had and obtained."
There was a demurrer to the indictment overruled, and the defendant "failing to mate any further plea," judgment final was pronounced against him. But the judge, doubting as to the law of the case, reserved and certified it to this court for revision.
It is never necessary in an indictment to aver all the facts and circumstances attending the transaction with the greatest possible certainty, for that might render the law nugatory by requiring a, particularity of proof which could seldom or never be attained. Yet the facts constituting the offense ought to be averred with all convenient and reasonable certainty. The extent and reason of the rule were considered briefly in Bush v. The Republic, lately decided, and need not be repeated. It will generally be sufficient if the indictment follow the exact words of the statute in describing the offense, and it is never safe to depart from them. But where the statute uses a generic term, it is not enough to employ that term only, but the pleader must also state the species according to the truth of the case. Arch. Cr. Pl. 48. Or where general expressions are used in the statute, it is not enough to employ those general words only, but the facts intended to be included and forbidden by them must also be specified. Where a statute, for instance, makes the malicious killing of eattle a felony, it is not enough in an indictment on the statute to charge the defendant with killing " cattle " generally, but the particular species of cattle must be stated. And where a statute makes it a crime for any person by any false pretense to obtain from another any money, etc., with intent to cheat or defraud any person, it is not sufficient to charge the offender with being guilty of " false pi'etenses " generally, but the particular pretenses must be set forth, according to the truth of the case, and also that the money, etc., obtained was the property of the person whom it was intended to defraud; who that person was, and from whom the money was so obtained. Id. 48, 275, 279, and authorities cited. We think the present indictment comes within reason of the rule, and the facts relied on, as constituting a violation of the law, ought to be specially averred; but it is not sufficient to aver generally that the defendant " did vend spirituous liquors in a quantity of a quart and over " without stating at what house or establishment or to whom the vending took place, or some other fact tending to identify the transaction; and that, though the objection may not have been available in arrest of judgment, yet it was fatal to the indictment on demurrer. Id. 49.
As the defendant cannot again be put upon trial or indicted for this offense, it having been barred by lapse of time, it is not essential to consider the other questions presented by the record. "We are of opinion that the case reserved be remanded, with instructions that the judgment be set aside and the demurrer sustained.