Steele v. State ex rel. Graham
This text of 4 Ind. 561 (Steele v. State ex rel. Graham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
Graham, made complaint on oath, praying for surety of the peace against Steele.
The Circuit Court overruled a motion to quash the affidavit, and upon hearing the evidence, ordered Sleele to enter into recognizance to keep the peace, &c.
The only question arising upon the record, is as to the sufficiency of the affidavit. The language of the affidavit, so far as it is necessary to quote it to present the point in dispute, is, that the “affiant verily believes and actually fears, and has just cause to fear and apprehend, that the said Justin Steele will kill him, said affiant, or do him great bodily injury, or procure others to do so,” &c.
This mode of stating the charge violates the familiar rule, well established in civil as well as criminal proceed[562]*562ings, that pleadings shall not be in the alternative. 1 Chitty Pl. 272.
The affidavit should have been quashed.
The judgment is reversed with costs.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
4 Ind. 561, 1853 Ind. LEXIS 206, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/steele-v-state-ex-rel-graham-ind-1853.