Case Name: The State v. Burrell
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1882-11
Citations: 86 Ind. 313
Docket Number: No. 10,602
Parties: The State v. Burrell.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 86
Pages: 313–313

Head Matter:
No. 10,602.
The State v. Burrell.
Criminal Law. — Public Indecency. — Pleading.—In a prosecution under section 1995, R. S. 1881, for using obscene language in the presence of women, an*affidavit or indictment which fails to state the language alleged to have been used by the defendant, or an excuse for not stating it, is insufficient.
From the Jackson Circuit Court.
F. T. Hord, Attorney General, W. T. JBranaman, Prosecuting Attorney, and D. A. Kochenour, for the State.

Opinion:
Elliott, J.
The affidavit upon which this prosecution is founded professes to 'charge the appellee with a violation of section 1995 of R. S. 1881, by using obscene language in the presence of women. The affidavit is defective for the reason that it does not state the language which the appellee is alleged to have used, or give any excuse for not stating it. The allegation that the accused used obscene and licentious language is the statement of a conclusion, and not the averment of a fact. The pleader ought to have given the language used by the defendant, and thus enabled the court to conclude as a matter of law whether it was within the statute.
Judgment affirmed.