Case Name: Steele v. The State, on the complaint of Graham
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1853-12-24
Citations: 4 Ind. 561
Docket Number: 
Parties: Steele v. The State, on the complaint of Graham.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 561–562

Head Matter:
Steele v. The State, on the complaint of Graham.
An affidavit for surety of the peace alleged that the complainant verily believed and actually feared, &c., that A. B. would kill him, or do him great bodily injury, or procure others to do so, &c. Held, that the charge was bad for being in the alternative.
ERROR to the Delaware Circuit Court.
Saturday, December 24.

Opinion:
Roache, J.
Graham, made complaint on oath, praying for surety of the peace against Steele.
The Circuit Court overruled a motion to quash the affidavit, and upon hearing the evidence, ordered Sleele to enter into recognizance to keep the peace, &c.
The only question arising upon the record, is as to the sufficiency of the affidavit. The language of the affidavit, so far as it is necessary to quote it to present the point in dispute, is, that the "affiant verily believes and actually fears, and has just cause to fear and apprehend, that the said Justin Steele will kill him, said affiant, or do him great bodily injury, or procure others to do so," &c.
This mode of stating the charge violates the familiar rule, well established in civil as well as criminal proceed ings, that pleadings shall not be in the alternative. 1 Chitty Pl. 272.
W. March, for the plaintiff.
D. Kilgore, R. A. Riley, N. B. Taylor and J. Coburn, for the state.
The affidavit should have been quashed.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is reversed with costs.