State v. Allen

22 Mo. 318

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: October 15, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

Scott, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

We see no error in this record. There was no necessity for a prosecutor. This was an indictment for a misdemeanor in office. The 22d section of the 3d article of the act concerning “Practice and Proceedings in Criminal Cases,” prescribes that no indictment for any trespass against the person or property of another, not amounting to felony, or for the first offence of petit larceny, shall be preferred, unless the name of a prosecutor is endorsed thereon, as such. If the offence of which the defendant is accused is a trespass, it will be difficult to specify one in the code which may not be termed a trespass. That an individual may have been unjustly oppressed by the crime, does not the less make it a misdemeanor in office ? The offence for which a prosecutor is required, is to be determined from the face of the indictment and not from the evidence on the trial.

As to the error assigned, that a new trial was refused, we may remark that there is nothing in this. Whether there was malice in the accused or not, was a question for the jury; and they having found the fact, and the court below having refused a new trial, on no ground can we interfere.

The other judges concur,

and the judgment is affirmed.