Court Opinion

ID: 6520184
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:30:21.490871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:07.667813
License: Public Domain

TYSON, J. —
The indictment upon which the defendant was tried and convicted, alleged his name to be Levi Noble. He interposed a plea of misnomer in Avhich he alleged his true name is Levi Nobles and that he has always been called and known by that name, and not by the name of Levi Noble. To this plea the solicitor re*92plied generally and also specially: 1st, that the defendant is and was as well known and called by the name of Levi Noble as by the name of Levi Nobles; 2d, that defendant is and was as well known and called by the name by which he is indicted as by the name alleged to be his true and real name in the jilea. Issue was joined on the replications.
It is entirely clear that the que'ston of idem so nans is not presented by these issues. Nor indeed could it have been, since the name Noble and Nobles are not as matter of law idem sonans. — Humphrey v. Wheeten, 17 Ala. 30; Jacobs v. The State, 61 Ala. 448; 21 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, (2d ed.) 313, 317. The testimony on behalf of the defendant, tended to support his plea, while that of the prosecution tended to support the special replications, thus presenting a question for the determination of the jury. It will be observed that under the issues presented by the special replications, and properly so, the question was not whether at the time of the trial the defendant was as well known and called by the name of Levi Noble as Levi Nobles, but whether at the time of preferring the indictment such- was the fact. This is necessarily so, from the nature of the plea which is one in abatement and the object sought to be accomplished by it. — Washington v. The State, 68 Ala. 88.
The first written charge given at the request of the State on these issues is not in accord with this view and was improperly given. The second charge Avas in its nature an argument but the giving of it Avould not, perhaps, be a reversible error. The general affirmative charge requested by defendant Avas properly refused, since, as Ave have said, under the issues and evidence, whether defendant was properly identified by the name alleged in the indictment Avas a question for the jury. We do not deem it necessary to revieAV the exceptions reserved during the trial upon the issue made by the defendant’s plea of not guilty.
ReArersed and remanded.