Tripp v. State ( 1953 )

89 Ga. App. 335 (1953) 79 S.E.2d 591

TRIPP
v.
THE STATE.

34906.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Decided November 10, 1953. Rehearing Denied November 24, 1953.

Bloch, Hall, Groover & Hawkins, Will Ed. Smith, for plaintiff in error.

Roger H. Lawson, Solicitor-General, A. R. Ross, contra.

CARLISLE, J.

1. An assignment of error in a direct bill of exceptions to the overruling of demurrers to an indictment is such a final judgment, within the meaning of Code § 6-701, as to be reviewable by this court; but an assignment of error in the same bill on exceptions pendente lite to the trial court's action in striking a plea in abatement to the indictment is not. The ruling striking the plea is interlocutory, leaving the case pending in the trial court, and is reviewable only after a final determination of the case. Mechanics' & Traders' Bank v. Harrison, 68 Ga. 463; Harper v. Atlanta Milling Co., 203 Ga. 608 (48 S. E. 2d 89), and citations.

2. While it is elementary that the ownership of the funds alleged to have been embezzled must be alleged in an indictment for embezzlement (Scarboro v. State, 207 Ga. 449, 62 S. E. 2d 168), the special presentment is not defective in that regard, as it is alleged therein that the monies embezzled were the "public school funds of the said County of Dodge," which is an allegation of ownership in the County of Dodge and properly lays the ownership of the funds. Bridges v. State, 103 Ga. 21 (29 S. E. 859). The allegation that the control and management of the funds is vested in the County Board of Education is quite proper (Code §§ 32-942, 32-1105, 32-1106, 32-1113), and is not contradictory of the allegation of ownership in the county.

3. It is alleged that the defendant is County Superintendent of Schools of the County of Dodge. The superintendent of schools is by law made the treasurer of the county board of education (Code § 32-941); and it is alleged that the defendant as County Superintendent of Schools came into possession, custody, and control of the funds, alleged to have been embezzled, by virtue of his office, and that on October 28, 1950, and divers other dates thereafter, he embezzled, stole, secreted, and fraudulently took and carried away, and converted to his own use $18,262.50 in money, of the value of $18,262.50, and other sums to the grand jurors unknown. These allegations, substantially in the language of Code § 26-2801, sufficiently specify the acts of embezzlement. Bridges v. State, supra; Camp v. State, 31 Ga. App. 737 (122 S. E. 249); Jackson v. State, 76 Ga. 551, 571.

4. The property alleged to have been embezzled is money, and the allegation that it was of the value of $18,262.50, and other sums to the grand jurors unknown, sufficiently describes that property. Cody v. State, 100 Ga. 105 (28 S. E. 106); Humphries v. State, 100 Ga. 260 (28 S. E. 25); Cannon v. State, 125 Ga. 785 (54 S. E. 692).

The trial court did not err, for any reason assigned, in overruling the demurrers to the special presentment.

Judgment affirmed. Gardner, P. J., and Townsend, J., concur.