State v. . Purdie

BoybEN, J. There is no error. This case is governed by .the case of the State v. Jesse, 2, Dev. & Bat., 297. In that case Chief Justice Ruffin says that the office of the term felonioxosly is to describe the offence. It denotes, at the instant of the. doing of an act, the disposition of the accused in doing it, which constitutes the guilty will that renders the person criminal. It is therefore one of the constituents of the offence. The Chief Justice further says, “ It is necessary for another purpose, which is distinctly and immediately to apprize the Court of the degree of punishment that may be inflicted and demanded, and thus to regulate the mode of trial.” And the books of authority lay it down that this word fdomously cannot be supplied by any periphrasis or word equivalent. The decision in the case of Jesse was since our acts curing formal defects in indictments. Pee CubiaM. Judgment affirmed.