Leonard v. State

The undisputed evidence in this case shows that the store of Harris Bros., a partnership, in the city of Bessemer, was broken into and entered, and the large amount of merchandise enumerated in the indictment was stolen therefrom.

The indictment against this defendant contained two counts. The first count charged burglary and grand larceny; the second, with buying, receiving, or concealing stolen property. Burglary and grand larceny may be charged in the alternative in the same count. Orr v. State, 107 Ala. 35, 18 So. 142; Bowen v. State, 106 Ala. 178, 17 So. 335.

The demurrers to this indictment were properly overruled. Moreover, the defendant having been convicted under the second count of the indictment, this operated as an acquittal of the offense charged in the first count; therefore the ruling of the court on demurrers to the first count need not be considered.

The demurrers to defendant's plea as to the jurisdiction of the court to try this case were properly sustained, as it is not necessary to allege specifically in an indictment where the offense complained of was committed; but it must be proven upon the trial of the case to have been committed within the jurisdiction of the court in which the indictment is preferred. Code 1907, § 7140.

After a consideration of all the testimony, we are of the opinion that the jury would have been authorized to have found the defendant guilty of either of the counts contained in the indictment, as there was ample evidence, if believed by the jury beyond a reasonable doubt, to sustain either one of the two counts. An indictment receives its legal efficacy from the finding and return of the grand jury, and the legal evidence of its verity is the return "a true bill," apparent upon some part of it, bearing the signature of the foreman. It is not essential to the validity of the indictment that the solicitor should have prepared or signed it, and the objection urged here to this indictment that Ben G. Perry signed the indictment as "Solicitor Tenth Judicial Circuit," instead of signing it as deputy solicitor, is without merit and cannot avail the defendant. He need not have signed the indictment at all, and the signature affixed thereto could in no manner affect its validity.

The rulings of the court upon the testimony were without error. The witness Brown was clearly qualified to testify as to the finger prints of defendant. His testimony in this connection was positive, direct, and intelligent, and impresses this court that the objections interposed thereto were without merit.

No exception was reserved to the oral charge of the court, nor were there any special charges refused to the defendant. The indeterminate sentence of 5 to 10 years' imprisonment, imposed by the court, was authorized by statute, and the objection thereto is not well taken. Acts 1919, p. 148; sections 7324, 7329, Code 1907.

The motion of defendant to set aside the verdict and grant a new trial is not presented. Crawley v. State, 16 Ala. App. 545,79 So. 804. The record proper is without error; therefore the judgment of the circuit court must be affirmed.

Affirmed.