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State v. LeavittState v. Leavitt

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
May 31, 1877
Reporters:
,
Before:
Appleton
Appleton, C. J.

The indictment alleges that the defendant “feloniously did steal, take and carry away, against the peace of ‍​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‍the state, and contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided,” certain described property “of the goods and chattels of one Charles P. Jordan, jr.,” &c., and the defendant by his demurrer admits he ‍​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‍did so. This is precisely what is Forbidden by R. S., c. 120, § 1, the language of which is followed in the indictment. I think the indictment good. 1 should regret the giving a sanction to what ‍​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‍the defendant has done, by declaring it no offense. Wharton’s Precedents, 417. 2 Archbold’s Crim. Pr. & Pl. 343. The indictment is alike good at common law and by statute. Exceptions overruled.

VirgiN, J.

The original taking must in any event be ‍​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‍wrongful ; and the wrongful possession either when taken, or at some *442time during its continuance, must be accompanied by felonious intent. Tbe allegations in tbe indictment deny the possession of tbe defendant to be rightful. If the evidence ‍​​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‍does not so show, be will be entitled to acquittal. I concur therefore.

Walton, Barrows, DaNporth and Peters, JJ., concurred.

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Leavitt
Court Name: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
Date Published: May 31, 1877
Citations: 66 Me. 440; 1877 Me. LEXIS 164
Court Abbreviation: Me.
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