Powell v. United States

BY THE COURT.

The first error assigned in this case is, that there was no plea pleaded by, the defendant below, previous to the trial. It is not absolutely necessary in all cases, that the defendant should actually plead. He will be presumed to plead not guilty, even if he should stand mute, especially in capital cases. But it is a general rule that the total want or omission of an arraignment will be a sufficient ground for reversing a judgment — (1 Chitty’s Criminal Law, p. 418.) Had the record stated that the defendant had regularly appeared and pleaded, an arraignment would'have been…