Blockman v. State

115 So. 399 | Miss. | 1928

^* Corpus Juris-Cyc. References: Criminal Law, 16CJ, p. 931, n. 5; Homicide, 30CJ, p. 120, n. 10 New; On necessity of stating name of person against whom offense committed, in indictment, see 14 R.C.L. 182; 4 R.C.L. Supp. 885. Appellant, John Blockman, was convicted by the circuit court of Newton county on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill and murder, and sentenced to the penitentiary for the term of three years, and from this judgment this appeal was prosecuted.

Roger Dudley, the party who was alleged to have been assaulted, was offered as a witness for the state, and his testimony, if believed, fully and clearly established the crime charged, and he was corroborated by other witnesses as to the fact of the assault and battery, but not as to the identity of his assailant. The defense offered was an alibi, several witnesses testifying that the appellant was not at the scene of the difficulty, but was, at that time, some distance away at the home of one of the witnesses for the appellant. We think it was proper to submit this conflicting testimony to the jury, and that the testimony offered by the state was sufficient to sustain the verdict.

After the verdict was returned, the appellant filed a motion in arrest of judgment, on the ground that the indictment alleged that the assault and battery was made on Roger Dudley, while the proof showed that the correct name of the injured party was Roger Roberts. This motion was overruled, and the appellant assigns as error the action of the court in so doing.

The indictment charged that the appellant committed an assault and battery upon Roger Dudley, while the testimony of Dudley and other state witnesses was to the effect that the correct name of the assaulted party was Roger Roberts, but that he was commonly and generally known as Roger Dudley in the town and community where he resided, and where the assault and battery was alleged to have been committed.

If the name of the accused or of the injured party in an indictment be that by which such person is commonly and generally known, though different from the true name, a conviction of the crime charged will be sustained. McBeth v. State, 50 Miss. 81.

None of the other assignments present reversible error, and therefore the judgment of the court below will be affirmed.

Affirmed.