foreman in their presence to the court, and must be filed with the clerk, and remain in his office as a public record, but it must not be shown to any person other than a public officer, until the defendant has been arrested or has appeared.

People v. Winner (1894), 80 Hun 134, 30 N. Y. Supp. 54; Smith v. Town of Greenwich (1894), 61 St. Rep. 786, 30 N. Y. Supp. 56; People v. Petrea (1883), 1 Crim. Rep. 203, 30 Hun 101; People v. Menken (1885), 3 Crim. Rep. 239, 36 Hun 94; People v. Scannell (1901), 36 Misc. 43, 72 N. Y. Supp. 449; People v. Mills (1904), 178 N. Y. 283, 287, 293, aff'g 91 App. Div. 333, 86 N. Y. Supp. 529; People ex rel. Hummel v. Davy (1905), 105 App. Div. 598, 606, 94 N. Y. Supp. 1037; Matter of Jones (1905), 101 App. Div. 59, 92 N. Y. Supp. 275; People v Klaw (1907), 53 Misc. 160, 104 N. Y. Supp. 482; People v. Rathbun (1904), 44 Misc. 350, 89 N. Y. Supp. 746; People v. Scannell (1902), 37 Misc. 345, 347, 75 N. Y. Supp. 500.

CHAPTER II.

FORM OF THE INDICTMENT.

SECTION 273. Forms of pleading heretofore existing, abolished. 274. First pleading for the people, is indictment.

275. Indictment, what to contain.

276. Form of indictment..

277. When defendant is indicted by fictitious or erroneous name, his true name may be inserted in subsequent proceedings.

278. 279. Indictment must charge but one crime and in one form, except where it may be committed by different means.

280. Statement as to time when crime was committed.

281. Statement as to person injured or intended to be injured.

282. Construction of words used in indictment.

283. Words used in a statute need not be strictly pursued.

284. Indictment when sufficient.

285. Indictment not sufficient for defect of form, not tending to prejudice defendant.

286. Presumption of law and matters of which judicial notice is taken, need not be stated.

287. Pleading a judgment or determination of, or proceeding before a court or officer of special jurisdiction.

288. Private statute, how pleaded.

289. Pleading in indictment for libel.

290. Pleading in indictment for forgery, where the instrument has been
destroyed or withheld by defendant.

291. Pleading in indictment for perjury or subornation of perjury.
292. Upon indictment against several, one or more may be convicted

or acquitted.

292a. Two indictments against same defendant for same offense.

§ 273. Forms of pleading heretofore existing abolished.

All the forms of pleading in criminal actions, heretofore existing, are abolished; and hereafter, the forms of pleading, and the rules by which the sufficiency of pleadings is to be determined, are those prescribed by this Code.

People v. Conroy (1884), 97 N. Y. 62, 2 Crim. Rep. 573; People v. Rugg (1885), 98 N. Y. 537, 3 Crim. Rep. 179; People v. Johnson (1886), 104 N. Y. 213; People v. Wilson (1888), 109 N. Y. 345; People v. Peckens (1897), 153 N. Y. 586; People v. Sumner (1898), 33 App. Div. 347; 53 N. Y. Supp. 817; People v. Petrea (1883), 30 Hun 101, 1 Crim. Rep. 203: People v. Richards (1887), 44 Hun 286, 5 Crim. Rep. 367; People v. Gregg (1891), 59 Hun 109, 13 N. Y. Supp. 115; People v. Dumar (1887), 11 St. Rep. 19, 8 Crim. Rep. 269; People v. Grigg (1891), 35 St. Rep. 758; 13 N. Y. Supp. 114; People v. Laurence (1893), 51 St. Rep. 288;

People v. Menken (1885), 3 Crim. Rep. 237; Matter of Jones (1905), 101 App Div. 63, 92 N. Y. Supp. 275; People v. Wheeler (1901), 66 App. Div. 187, 192, 73 N. Y. Supp. 130; People v. Tatum (1908), 60 Misc. 312; People v. Herzog (1905), 47 Misc. 50, 55, 93 N. Y. Supp. 357; People v. Scannell (1901), 36 Misc. 483; 485, 73 N. Y. Supp. 1067.

§ 274. First pleading for the people, is indictment.

The first pleading on the part of the people is the indictment. Stedeker v. Bernard (1886), 102 N. Y. 327; People v. Dumar (1887), 11 St. Rep. 19, 8 Crim. Rep. 269.

§ 275. Indictment, what to contain.

The indictment must contain.

1. The title of the action, specifying the name of the court to which the indictment is presented, and the names of the parties; 2. A plain and concise statement of the act constituting the crime, without unnecessary repetition.

People v. Conroy (1884), 97 N. Y. 62, 2 Crim. Rep. 565, 570, 573; People v. Rugg (1885), 98 N. Y. 537, 3 Crim. Rep. 179; People v. Dumar (1887), 106 N. Y. 502, 42 Hun 83, 11 St. Rep. 19; People v. Willson (1888), 109 N. Y. 345; People v. Harris (1890), 123 N. Y. 71, 28 St. Rep. 298; People v. Stark (1893), 136 N. Y. 533, 35 St. Rep. 153; People v. Perkins (1897), 153 N. Y. 586; People v. Klipfel (1899), 160 N. Y. 374; People v. Kane (1900), 161 N. Y. 383; People v. Flaherty (1900), 162 N. Y. 540; People v. Lammerts (1900), 164 N. Y. 144: People v. Polhamus (1896), 8 App. Div. 137, 40 N. Y. Supp. 491; People v. Willis (1898), 34 App. Div. 206, 54 N. Y. Supp. 642, 158 N. Y. 396, 24 Misc. 538, 54 N. Y. Supp. 521; People v. Lovejoy (1899), 37 App. Div. 55, 55 N. Y. Supp. 543; People v. Huffman (1897), 24 App. Div. 234; 48 N. Y. Supp. 482; People v. Bates (1901), 61 App. Div. 560, 71 N. Y. Supp. 123; People v. Miller (1901), 64 App. Div. 453, 72 N. Y. Supp. 253, rev'd 169 N. Y. 344; People v. Moore (1885), 37 Hun 87, 3 Crim. Rep. 462; People v. Dimick (1886), 41 Hun 621, 107 N. Y. 29, 11 St. Rep. 739, People v. Everest (1889), 51 Hun 19, 3 N. Y. Supp. 612; People v. Stark (1891), 59 Hun 56, 12 N. Y. Supp. 688; People v. Gregg (1891), 59 Hun 109, 35 St. Rep. 758, 13 N. Y. Supp. 114; People v. Ostrander (1892), 64 Hun 336, 45 St. Rep. 556, 19 N. Y. Supp. 324; People v. Evans (1893), 69 Hun 226; 23 N. Y. Supp. 717; People v. Rockhill (1893), 74 Hun 243, 26 N. Y. Supp. 222; People v. Flaherty (1894), 79 Hun 50, 29 N. Y. Supp. 641; People v. Stone (1895), 85 Hun 132, 32 N. Y. Supp. 519; People v. Barker (1888), 15 St. Rep. 601; People v. Klock (1888), 16 St. Rep. 565; People v. Farrel (1889), 28 St. Rep. 41, 8 N. Y. Supp. 231; Schneider v. U. S. Life Ins. Co. (1890), 33 St. Rep. 170; People v. Rice (1891), 35 St. Rep. 186, 13 N. Y. Supp. 161; People v. Quinn (1892), 44 St. Rep. 921; 18 N. Y. Supp. 569; In re Barnes Estate (1896), 74 St. Rep. 933, 40 N. Y. Supp. 494; People v. Thorn (1897), 21 Misc. 131, 47 N. Y. Supp. 46, 56 N. Y. 286; People v. Spencer (1899), 27 Misc. 493, 58 N. Y. Supp. 1127; People v. McLaughlin (1901) 33 Misc. 692, 68 N. Y. Supp. 1108; People v. Hertz (1901), 35 Misc. 179; 71 N. Y. Supp. 489; People v. Bellows (1884), 2 Crim. Rep. 14; People v. Peck (1884), 2 Crim. Rep. 315; People v. Menken (1885), 8 Crim. Rep. 237; People v. Wise (1885), 3 Crim, Rep. 305, 310; Matter of

Corbalis (1904), 178 N. Y. 519; People v. Murray (1903), 175 N. Y. 479, rev'g 76 App. Div. 118, 125, 78 N. Y. Supp. 721, and aff'g 37 Misc. 687, 688, 76 N. Y. Supp. 373; People v. Schlessel (1908), 127 App. Div. 512; People v. Gillette (1908), 126 App. Div. 670; People v. Alderdice (1907), 120 App. Div. 369; People v. Seeley (1905), 105 App. Div. 149, 151, 93 N. Y. Supp. 982; Matter of Jones (1905), 101 App. Div. 63, 92 N. Y. Supp. 275; People v. Adams (1903), 85 App. Div. 392, 83 N. Y. Supp. 481, aff'd 176 N. Y. 352; People v. Goslin (1901), 67 App. Div. 16, 18, 73 N. Y. Supp. 520; People v. Wheeler (1901), 66 App. Div. 187, 192, 73 N. Y. Supp. 130; People v. Smith (1907), 56 Misc. 6; People v. Jackson (1905), 47 Misc. 60, 65; People v. Herzog (1905), 47 Misc. 50, 56, 93 N. Y. Supp. 357; People v. Quimby (1906), 113 App. Div. 794, 99 N. Y. Supp. 330; People v. Foster (1908), 60 Misc. 4; People v. Geyer (1909), 132 App. Div. 790, 794, 117 N. Y. Supp. 662; People v. Rouss (1909), 63 Misc. 135, 137, 118 N. Y. Supp. 433; People v. Tillman (1909), 63 Misc. 461, 118 N. Y. Supp. 442; People v. Richardson (1909), 64 Misc. 684.

§ 276. Form of indictment.

The indictment should be signed by the district attorney, and may be substantially in the following form:

Supreme court, county of

county]. or

[stating the proper

[stating the proper

Supreme court, city and county of New York. or

County court of the county of

county]. or

Court of general sessions of the city and county of New York.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

against
A. B.

The grand jury of the

[here insert the name of the county, or of the city, or of the city and county, in which the indictment is found], by this indictment, accuse A. B. of the crime of [here insert the name of the crime, if it have one, such as treason, murder, arson, manslaughter, or the like, or if it be a misdemeanor, having no general name, such as libel, assault, or the like, insert a brief description of it, as is given by statute], committed as follows:

The said A. B., on the

day of

18,

at

in

the town [or city or village, as the case may be] of
this county [here set forth the act charged as an offense].

A.B.

District Attorney of the county of

(Amended by L. 1895, ch. 880. In effect Jan. 1, 1896.)

(1887), 107 N. Y. 13, 11 Hun 621, 11 St. Rep. 739, 5 Crim. Rep. 187; People v. Wilson (1888), 109 N. Y. 345; People v. Harris (1890), 123 N. Y. 71, 11 St. Rep. 298; People v. Lytle (1896), 7 App. Div. 569, 74 St. Rep. 724, 40 N. Y. Supp. 153; People v. Seldner (1875), 62 N. Y. 360; People v. Grimshaw (1884), 33 Hun 507; People v. Reavey (1886), 38 Hun 422, 4 Crim. Rep. 14; People v. Maxon (1890), 57 Hun 370, 10 N. Y. Supp. 593; People v. Gregg (1891), 59 Hun 109, 13 N. Y. Supp. 114; People v. Ostrander (1892), 64 Hun 336, 19 N. Y. Supp. 325; People v. Rockhill (1893), 74 Hun 243, 55 St. Rep. 683, 26 N. Y. Supp. 222; People v. Flaherty (1894), 79 Hun 51, 29 N. Y. Supp. 641; People v. Stone (1895), 85 Hun 132, 134, 65 St. Rep. 675, 32 N. Y. Supp. 519; People v. Dumar (1887), 11 St. Rep. 19, 8 Crim. Rep. 269; People v. Barber (1888), 15 St. Rep. 601; Blacker v. Guild (1889), 28 St. Rep. 14; 7 N. Y. Supp. 651; Stelz v. Schrack (1890), 32 St. Rep. 133, 10 N. Y. Supp. 790; People v. Rice (1891), 13 N. Y. Supp. 162; People v. Quinn (1892), 18 N. Y. Supp. 569; People v. Thorn (1897), 21 Misc. 131; 47 N. Y. Supp. 46; People v. Bellows (1884), 2 Crim. Rep. 14; People v. Peck (1884), 2 Crim. Rep. 315; People v. Burns (1884), 2 Crim. Rep. 392; People v. Menken (1885), 3 Crim. Rep. 237; People v. Corbalis (1904), 178 N. Y. 519; People v. Gillette (1908), 126 App. Div. 665; People v. Seeley, (1905), 105 App. Div. 149, 151, 93 N. Y. Supp. 982; Matter of Jones (1905), 101 App. Div. 63, 92 N. Y. Supp. 275; People v. Bissert (1902), 71 App. Div. 118, 121, '75 N. Y. Supp, 630; People v. Goslin (1901), 67 App. Div. 16, 18, 73 N. Y. Supp. 520; People v. Wheeler (1901), 66 App. Div. 187, 192, 73 N. Y. Supp. 130; People v. Rathbun (1904), 44 Misc. 89, 89 N. Y. Supp. 746; People v. Murray (1902), 37 Misc. 687, 688, 76 N. Y. Supp. 373, rev'd 76 App. Div. 125, aff'd 175 N. Y. 479; People v. Rouss (1909), 63 Misc. 135, 137, 118 N. Y. Supp. 433; People v. Tillman (1909), 63 Misc. 461, 118 N. Y. Supp. 442; People v. Richardson (1909), 64 Misc. 684.

§ 277. When defendant is indicted by fictitious or erroneous name, his true name may be inserted in subsequent proceedings.

If a defendant is indicted by a fictitious or erroneous name, and in any stage of the proceedings his true name is discovered, it may be inserted in the subsequent proceedings, referring to the fact of his being indicted by the name mentioned in the indictment.

People v. Everhardt (1887), 6 Crim. Rep. 235; People v. Goslin (1901), 67 App. Div. 16, 18, 73 N. Y. Supp. 520; Matter of Osborne (1909), 62 Misc. 575, 585, 117 N. Y. Supp. 169.

§ 278. Indictment must charge but one crime and in one form except where it may be committed by different means.

The indictment must charge but one crime and in one form, except as in the next section provided.

People v. Dumar (1887), 106 N. Y. 502, 8 Crim. Rep. 270; People v. Dimick (1887), 107 N. Y. 13; People v. Charbineau (1889), 115 N. Y. 433; People v. Adler (1893), 140 N. Y. 331; People v. Wilson (1897), 151 N. Y. 403, 12 Crim. Rep. 116, 7 App. Div. 335; People v. Kane (1900), 161 N. Y. 384, 43 App. Div.