State v. Linthicum
Supreme Court of Missouri
Appeal from Harrison Circuit Court. — TIon. S. A. Richardson, Judge. Indictment for sending a threatening letter. The statute makes it a felony to send a letter “threatening therein to accuse any person of any crime or felony whatever.” The letter was as follows : “W. B. Piper — Dear Sir: To make things satisfactory between you and me there are some old matters that must be settled, as we cannot get along as we should.
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Appeal from Harrison Circuit Court. — TIon. S. A. Richardson, Judge. Indictment for sending a threatening letter. The statute makes it a felony to send a letter “threatening therein to accuse any person of any crime or felony whatever.” The letter was as follows : “W. B. Piper — Dear Sir: To make things satisfactory between you and me there are some old matters that must be settled, as we cannot get along as we should. That matter of McLay’s and that matter in which you and me had a suit once, in which you was the cause of me paying $15.75 costs, besides about $10 to start with, making $25.75…
1Opinion of the CourtHenry, J.
1.sendina threatening letter.
— The indictment specifically charges that by the letter, the defendant threatened to accuse Vm. B. Piper of the crime of selling intoxicating . ]jqUOrg without having a license. The language of the letter is ambiguous, but parol evidence is admissible to explain its contents. People v. Braman, 30 Mich. 463, and cases there cited. Whether it contained the threat alleged was a question for the jury. If it had been written in cipher, we presume that evidence to prove the signification of the characters employed would have been admissible. A contrary doctrine would…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- People v. BramanMichigan Supreme Court · 1874
3Cited by3 opinions
- State v. PattersonSupreme Court of Missouri · 1917
- State v. StewartSupreme Court of Missouri · 1886
- Scott v. Missouri Pacific Railway Co.Missouri Court of Appeals · 1889