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Miller v. StateMiller v. State

Indiana Supreme Court
Jun 8, 1857
Reporters:
Before:
Perkins
Perkins, J.

Indictment for the larceny of the goods of Dcmiel Whitaker.

• Affidavit for continuance to obtain the testimony of a witness, who would swear that ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‍the defendant got the goods charged to have been stolen, in good faith of said witness. To obviate the necessity of a continuance, the prosecuting attorney offered to admit that the absent witness would swear as defendant claimed that he ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‍would. Defendant insisted that such an admission was not sufficient; that it should be that the fact which the absent witness would swear to was true. The Court ruled the admission offered to be made by the prosecutor sufficient, and ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‍refused the continuance. The trial proceeded, and the defendant was convicted.

It has already been settled by this Court that the ruling below was erroneous. The admission should have been, as claimed by the defendant, that the fact which the affidavit ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‍stated the absent witness would swear to, was true. This is required by the statute, and is the rule in civil and criminal cases. McLaughlin v. The State, at the last term (1).

Per Curiam.

The judgment is reversed. Ordered that the keeper of the state prison ‍​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‍be notified to return the prisoner for a new trial.

Notes

8 Ind. R. 281. That caso follows Wheeler v. The State, id. 113, which seo.

Case Details

Case Name: Miller v. State
Court Name: Indiana Supreme Court
Date Published: Jun 8, 1857
Citation: 9 Ind. 340
Court Abbreviation: Ind.
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