2 Neb. 157 | Neb. | 1873
after reading the indictment and the evidence above recited, delivered the opinion of the ' Court- as follows: —
I. It was urged, upon the motion to quash, that the place where the offence was committed was not clearly stated^ The offence is charged to have been committed in the County of Cass, and State of Nebraska; and the facts which constitute the offence are clearly and distinctly stated. The indictment charges Tallant Rakes with the murder of Sarah J. Powers, in the County of Cass, and State of Nebraska, on the twenty-eighth day of June, 1870. It states facts, which, if true,,constitute the crime of murder. The county where the offence is charged to have been committed is clearly averred in the body of the indictment, and the allegation of time and place then and there is reported to every material fact which is issuable and triable. This is sufficient. See The State v. Williams, 21 Indiana, 234.
The indictment should contain a certain description ■of the crime which the defendant is accused of committing, and a statement of the facts by which it is constituted. This indictment states the facts of the crime charged with as much certainty and precision as the nature of the case will allow; and this is all that is required. 5 T. R., 586 ; 1 Leach, 249; 5 T. R., 611, 623.
II. When it appears that the deceased, at the time of the declaration which is offered in evidence, had any expectation or hope of recovery, however slight it may have been, and though death actually ensued in an
In the middle of the afternoon she expressed a belief — not a hope, but a belief — that she would recover.. Before this time, and while the prisoner was absent after a doctor, she said he, the prisoner, would bring none: he did not want any. It was clearly error to admit this declaration while she, the deceased, had strong hopes of recovery.
III. But it has been suggested that the objection to the admission of this evidence was not made in time.
The accused has a right to a legal and impartial trial;
It is not necessary to examine the record further: this disposes of the case. The judgment is reversed, ,and a new trial granted.
The evidence introduced by the prosecution as dying declarations was brought in without a proper foundation having been laid: whether objection to its introduc
Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered.