1 Shan. Cas. 593 | Tenn. | 1876
delivered the opinion of the court.
Travis was indicted for a felony, pleaded not guilty, and was put upon trial, but the jury failing to agree, a mistrial was entered. Subsequently he was again put upon trial, and during its progress he obtained leave of the court and presented a plea in abatement, setting forth that the prosecutrix was a married woman. The attorney-general replied, admitting that "she was a married woman, but averring that her husband had deserted his family, and had wholly neglected for several years to support them. The court sustained a demurrer to this replication and discharged the defendant, and the attorney-general appealed in behalf of the state.
It is first argued that the court erred in permitting tbe plea to be filed at that stage of the proceedings, although, in general, it is not denied that the court has discretion to allow a plea in abatement in a criminal case after a plea of “not guilty.”
If the court has the discretion, we could hardly control
Reverse the judgment, and remand the cause for a new trial.