People v. Townsley
Before: Rhodes
Synopsis
Laboeny. —Itis competent for the Legislature to declare that the larceny of specific property designated shall be deemed grand larceny, without regard to the value of the property.
Indicdient under Statute of March 28, 1868.—Under the Statute of March. 28,1868, providing that feloniously stealing and tailing away of any horse, mare, or gelding, etc., shall be deemed grand larceny, itis not necessary to state in the indictment the value of the animal alleged to have been stolen.
Rhodes, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court:
The Statute of March 28, 1868 (Statutes 1867-8, p. 461), provides that “every person who shall feloniously steal, take and carry away * * "" any horse, mare, gelding, etc., * * * the property of another, shall be deemed guilty of grand larceny.” The element of value does not enter into the definition of the offense. It is competent to the Legislature to declare, that the larceny of specific property designated, shall be deemed grand larceny, -without regard to the value of the property; and this was the purpose of that statute. The indictment was found under that statute, and in describing the horse alleged to have been stolen, its value is not stated. The indictment describes the offense with which the defendant is charged, substantially in the language of the statute; and the authorities cited by the Attorney [407]General show that it is the well settled doctrine of this Court, that in such case, the indictment is sufficient.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded, with directions to overrule the demurrer.
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