50 Mo. 362 | Mo. | 1872
delivered the opinion of the court.
This was an indictment against the justices of the Cooper County Court, and charges “ that said parties, being then and there justices of the County Court of said county, duly elected, etc., did then and there, under color of their offices as such justices, unlawfully, willfully and by a gross abuse of authority in their official capacity, and under color of their said offices as justices of the said Cooper County Court, draw and order to be drawn on the treasurer of said county a warrant,” etc. The indictment was demurred to as insufficient, and the demurrer was sustained and the State appealed to this court.
The section of law under which this indictment was framed declares that “ every, person exercising or holding any office or public trust who shall be guilty of willful and malicious oppression, partiality, misconduct or abuse of authority in his official capacity, or under color of his office, shall, on conviction, be punished,” etc. (Wagn. Stat. 487, § 16.)
I think the demurrer was properly sustained, and the judgment of the Circuit Court should be affirmed.