Lewis v. State ( 1829 )

By the Court :

The court can not be called upon to charge the jury upon abstract propositions, but only those arising upon the evidence. But to refuse such instructions as properly arise in the case is error. 1 Crunch, 309, 318; 6 Wheat. 75.

By the first exception, we understand the defendant designed to contest the fact of partnership; and, for this purpose, he relied upon the legal proposition, that property purchased for a lunatic does not vest in him. The fact of partnership was. material to be established by the state; and that it was material, is matter of law. The legal proposition,'that the property thus purchased could not vest, would go far to protect the defendant, if settled in the affirmative. Upon these legal propositions, the bill of exceptions states, the court below refused to charge, but gave an expression of their opinion upon the question of fact, as to the sufficiency of the proof. We are of opinion that the court erred in refusing to charge the jury upon the legal propositions.

It is unnecessary to notice the second exception.