State v. Murray

1. Criminal Law: information: what it must state. An information must contain a statement of the facts constituting the offense charged. It is insufficient if it merely charge the commission of a crime by its technical name.

Appeal from Dubuque Dist/rict Court. On the 23d day of June, 1873, the following information was filed before H. Tuttle, a justice of the peace of Dubuque county: “ State of Iowa, Dubuque county, ss: The State oe Iowa' v. James Murray, and Patrick Murray. -Before H. Tuttle, justice of the peace. • The defendants are accused of the crime of assault, for that the defendants on the 2d day of June,-A. D., 1873, at the county of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, did willfully and maliciously assault one Bridget McCoy, contrary to the statute in such cases made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of said state. (Signed;) Her Bridget ¡xj McCoy.” mark. On this information the defendants were tried and convicted, and they appealed to the District Court of Dubuque county. In the District Court, the defendants demurred to the information for the reason that it did not state the acts constituting the offense charged. This demurrer was overruled, and upon a trial before the court and a jury, a verdict of guilty was rendered, which the defendants moved to arrest upon the same ground as assigned for the demurrer. The motion was overruled and judgment rendered on the verdict, from which defendants appeal to this court.