Burroughs v. State

17 Fla. 643
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJanuary 15, 1880
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 17 Fla. 643 (Burroughs v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burroughs v. State, 17 Fla. 643 (Fla. 1880).

Opinion

Mr. Justice VanValkenburgii

delivered the opinion of the court.

As to the first assigned error, that the court overruled the plea in abatement and permitted the State Attorney to amend the indictment by filing a specification, we think the views held by the counsel for the defendant are not tenable. It was long ago held in England, under their laws, that a person could have but one Christian name, or that if he had, but one would be regarded by the law. This rule has been very generally adopted in this country, and seems to be well established in several of the States. In the case of the people vs. Cook, 14 Barbour, 259, 307, the court say: “It has been repeatedly held in this court, that the middle letter between the Christian and surname does not prejudice, even in judicial proceedings and in conveyance of estates. It is no part of the name, for the law knows only of one Christian name.”

In the case of the State vs. Manning, 14 Texas, 402, the court say: “It seems well settled that an initial letter, interposed between the Christian and surname, is no part of either. (Bratton vs. Seymour, 4 Watts, 329.) And it would seem to follow that it is immaterial whether one be introduced, which the party is not accustomed to use, or one be omitted which he is accustomed to use, or whether those used by him in writing his name be transposed. In neither case would it amount to a misnomer.”

In the case of Edmundson vs. The State, 17 Alabama, 179, the court say: “But it is contended that the improper insertion of the middle letter ‘L.' in the name constitutes a misnomer. We do not think so. There are, it is true, authorities which go to that extent, but we think the better opinion is, That the law knows only of one Christian name/ and that the middle letter forms no part of it, so that its insertion or omission makes no difference and may be disregarded.” See also Keene vs. Meade, 3 Peters, 1; Rex vs. Newman, 1 Ld. Ray, 562; Roosevelt vs. Gardiner, 2 Cowen, 463; Franklin vs. Talmadge, 5 Johnson, 84; Milk vs. Christie, et al., 1 Hill,. 102; Erskine vs. Davis, 25 Ill., 251; State vs. Martin, 10 Mo., 391.

But, had the insertion of the middle letter in the name of the defendant, as used in the indictment, been held bad, the defect was amply cured by filing, under the order of the judge, the specification making such indictment more definite, by striking out such initial letter. Such amendments are permitted in the English courts. By statute 7, Geo. 4, chap. 64, it is provided, “that no indictment or information shall be abated by reason of any dilatory plea of misnomer, or want of addition, or- of wrong addition, of the party offering such plea, if the court shall *be satisfied by the affidavit or otherwise of the truth of such plea; but in such case the court shall forthwith cause the indictment or information to be amended according to the truth, and shall call upon the party to plead thereto, and shall proceed as if no such dilatory plea had been pleaded.”

In our own State, we have a statute under which the specification in this case was filed, and the amendment made, chapter 1107, laws of 1861, approved February 2, 1861, §3 provides: “That at any time,-either before or after trial, when it shall appear to the court, on the application of the accused, that the vagueness of the indictment would expose the accused to substantial danger of a new indictment for the same offence, it shall be the duty of the said court to require the solicitor to specify in writing the details of the offence charged against the said accused with sufficient distinctness as to obviate the said objection, which specification shall constitute a part of the record in said case.” While this statute does not in express terms warrant an amendment so as to cure a misnomer, still in the language of the first section, it embraces “any defect in the form of the indictment” which, in the opinion of the court, makes it “so vague, indistinct and indefinite, as to mislead the accused and embarrass him * * * in the preparation of his * ■ * * defence, or expose him, * * * after conviction or acquittal, to substantial danger of. a new prosecution for the same offence.” The court very properly permitted the filing of the specification in abundance of caution to protect the defendant in case of [171]*171Ins acquittal or conviction from tlie clanger of a new prosecution for the same offence.

The indictment charges that the defendant “did make an,assault by placing said musket gun to his shoulder, the muzzle of said musket gun, loaded as aforesaid, pointing toward the said M. H. Wearing with intent/5 &c. We think the acts constituting the assault are sufficiently set out, and that the indictment is not in this respect “vague, indistinct or indefinite/5 and therefore that the second ground of error is not well taken.

The third assignment of error was abandoned by the counsel for the plaintiff in error on the argument.

The fourth error alleged is that the court erred in permitting the witness Cobb to testify after the defence had rested, his evidence not being in rebuttal of any matter introduced on the part of the defendant, but cumulativé on the part of the State. Courts are intrusted with a discretion in regard to the introduction of evidence and the examination of witness; this discretion should be exercised in furtherance of justice; when formal proof has been omitted they have allowed witnesses to be called, and other proof given at any time before the jury retire. When the plaintiff’s attorney by an accidental omission does not examine a witness who was present in court, and a non-suit is moved for after resting his case, the court has permitted the witness to be examined in furtherance of justice. It must be a strong case, showing that injustice has been done the party, and that a sound discretion has not been exercised, which would induce this court to interfere to disturb the judgment of the Circuit Court, by revising the exercise of that discretion with which they are entrusted in regard to the relaxation of the rules of evidence. In the case of Coker and Schiffer vs. Hayes, 16 Fla., 368, tins court said: “A party, after closing the examination of a witness, and after closing his testimony, has no absolute right to recall a witness before examined by him to establish matters not in rebuttal, or to simply repeat his testimony. * * * Whether this rule ought, or ought not to be varied, is a question for the Circuit Court; and a court of error, if it should interpose at all in such matters, should not do so except where it sees that injustice has been done through this action.55

In Brown vs. Burrus, 8 Mo., 26, the court of that State says: “Material testimony ought not to be rejected, because offered after the evidence is closed on both sides, unless it has been kept back by trick, and the opposite party would be deceived or injuriously affected by it. So, after a witness has been examined and cross-examined, the court may, at its discretion, permit either party to examine him again, even as to new matter, at any time during the trial." Freleigh vs. The State, 8 Mo., 606; Law vs. Merrills, 6 Wend., 268; Jackson et al. vs. Talmadge, 4 Cowen, 150; Edwards vs. Sherratt, 1 East, 604; Mercer vs. Sayer, 7 John., 306; Rucker vs. Eddings, 7 Mo., 115; People vs. Mather, 4 Wend., 249.

The fifth and sixth assignments or error relate to the charge of the court to the jury.

It is sufficient to say with regard to these two alleged errors that no exception was taken and noted on the trial.

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Bluebook (online)
17 Fla. 643, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burroughs-v-state-fla-1880.