Case Name: Henry Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. The State of Florida, Defendant in Error
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1914-11-10
Citations: 68 Fla. 239
Docket Number: 
Parties: Henry Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. The State of Florida, Defendant in Error.
Judges: Shackleford, C. J., and Taylor, Hocker and Whitfield, J. J., concur.
Reporter: Florida Reports
Volume: 68
Pages: 239–240

Head Matter:
Henry Williams, Plaintiff in Error, v. The State of Florida, Defendant in Error.
Opinion Filed November 10, 1914.
When the evidence wholly fails to identify the accused or the person committing the crime, a conviction will be reversed.
Writ of error to Circuit Court for Citrus County; W. S. Bullock, Judge.
Judgment reversed.
B. G-. Langston and Fred R. Eocher, for Plaintiff in Error;
T. F. West, Attorney General, and C. O. Andrews, Assistant, for the State.

Opinion:
Cockrell, J.
The indictment makes out a case of ag gravated assault and was good, therefore, as against a motion to quash based upon the sole ground that it stated no offense under the Laws of- Florida. The attack upon the supposed irregularity in its presentment should have been raised by the plea in abatement.
We shall not undertake to point out the many defects in the indictment in falling short of an indictment for attempted robbery for the reason that the State so signally failed to identify Henry Williams as the man who committed the assault. Mrs. Smith, who was alone when the robbery was committed, testifies that she does not identify Williams as the man, nor does any one else pretend to identify him. Mrs. Smith thinks she would recognize the pocket book that was taken, but when shown one taken from Williams several months after the robbery, fails to identify it. The bill of exceptions discloses no other fact or circumstance looking towards identification.
Judgment reversed.
Shackleford, C. J., and Taylor, Hocker and Whitfield, J. J., concur.