Court Opinion

ID: 7030140
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:39:56.065662+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:10:55.392904
License: Public Domain

Dewey, J.
Scire facias on a recognisance, conditioned that John Gians should appear at the Circuit Court therein named, to answer “ the state on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, committed by said Gians on the body of one John F. Jones.” There was a demurrer to the scire facias which was overruled: judgment for the state.
The only objection urged against the scire facias is, that the condition of the recognisance does not describe an offence known to our laws; and, therefore, that the recognisance is void.
The inference would be correct were the premises true. The words “with intent to kill,” certainly do not aggravate the charge, which they were meant to qualify, into a penitentiary offence. To have done that, the intent must have been to “ murder.” But although these words do not add to, they *529do not destroy, the meaning of those which do actually charge a crime—an assault and battery. Legal principles require that they should be rejected as surplusage, rather than suffered to render senseless and void an instrument which is valid without them. This construction is also in the spirit of the statute, which enacts that recognisances shall not be void for want of form. R. C. 1831, p. 197. (R. S. 1838, p. 221.)
P. Sweetser, for the appellants.
W. Quarles, for the state.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed with 3 per cent,. damages and costs. To be certified, &c.