87 Md. 124 | Md. | 1898
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The appellant was indicted, tried and convicted of the crime of perjury, in the Circuit Court for Allegany County, The questions presented on the appeal arise upon a demurrer to the indictment which was overruled by the Court.
The assignment of errors as set forth in the indictment are: First, that the allegation in the indictment that in the trial of Martha Poole, it became material to enquire as to her general reputation for chastity, she being an inmate of said alleged bawdy house, was not a material allegation, because she being the defendant in said case and on trial in a criminal prosecution, it was not competent to submit evidence to the jury of her bad reputation until she undertook to offer evidence of her good character, and that the State’s, case could offer no evidence of her bad character in that trial, notwithstanding she was an inmate of said bawdy house, unless she first offered evidence of her good character.
Second, that the allegation in the indictment that in the trial of the said Martha Poole, it became material to enquire into the reputation of the house alleged to be a bawdy house, was a defective allegation because it was not competent under the statutes of Maryland admitting evidence of reputation of the house in such cases for the State to show the reputation of the house unless the State undertook to show the general reputation of the house.
This indictment sufficiently alleges the materiality of the testimony, as under some'circumstances it would be material and competent. We have carefully examined the indictment and find it contains all the averments of a good and sufficient indictment for the perjury assigned. The assignment of errors speaks of the house as a bawdy house, but the indictment clearly shows that Martha Poole was tried
The law, however, is settled in this State, that upon the trial of a person for keeping a disorderly house, evidence of the general reputation of the house is inadmissible, but the general reputation of those who frequent it was admissible for the purpose of characterizing the house and showing the object of their visits. Henson v. State, 62 Md. 231; Herzinger v. State, 70 Md. 278; Beard v. State, 71 Md. 275. But since the Act of 1892, chapter 522, upon the trial of any person charged with keeping a bawdy house or house of ill-fame, it is competent for the prosecution to offer in evidence the general reputation of the house kept by the person on trial in support of the charge.
We find no error in the rulings of the Court and the judgment will be affirmed with costs.
Judgment affirmed with costs.