People v. Langford

Appellant contends that his indictment was insufficient in law. At first impression it does seem anomalous that a homicide indictment can be sufficient without mentioning the name of the victim. This indictment is set forth in full at page 4 of appellant’s brief, and simply charges “ Murder in the Second Degree ” in that “ Defendant on or about the 25th day of January, 1961, at Bay Shore, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, committed the crime of Murder in the Second Degree, contrary to Penal Law, Section 1046.”

This indictment was drafted in the short-form method purporting to be…