Commonwealth v. Pentz

This is an indictment charging that the defendant at a specified time and place upon a way “ did operate an automobile so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered.” It follows the essential words of G. L. c. 90, § 24. The defendant seasonably filed a motion to quash the indictment on the grounds that it did not define any crime with the certainty and precision required by the Constitution either of this Commonwealth or of the United States.

The indictment embodies in substance the words of the statute. Commonly that is sufficient as matter of criminal pleading. Commonwealth…