State v. Preston

107 La. 521

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: November 15, 1901
• Docket: No. 14,404
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the crart was delivered by

Blanchard, J.

The accused was -indicted for shooting with intent to -kill and murder.

Tried by jury, he was convicted of shooting with intent to kill, and sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor for twelve months. He appeals.

It is absolutely essential to the validity of a verdict of conviction that the accused should be arraigned before put upon trial.

There was no arraignment in this ease. The record shows none. And there was no waiver of arraignment, even if it could be waived. There was, therefore, no issue joined between the prisoner and the State, and the verdict and sentence cannot stand.

State vs. Epps, 27 La. Ann. 227; State vs. Revels, 31 La. Ann. 387; State vs. Ford, 30 La. Ann. 311; State vs. Christian, 30 La. Ann. 367; State vs. Chenier, 32 La. Ann. 103; State vs. Hunter, 43 La. Ann. 157; State vs. Fontenette, 45 La. Ann. 902; State vs. McMichael, 50 La. Ann. 428.

The fact that no legal verdict had ¡been found, for want of arraignment of the defendant, was called to our attention by the Attorney. General, who asked that the sentence of the lower court be set aside for that reason.

It is ordered that the verdict and sentence appealed from be set aside and annulled, and that the case be remanded to be proceeded with according to law.