People v. Lynch

The defendant was tried in the circuit court for Bay county upon an information charging him with having, on the 7th May, 1873, at Bay City, in said county, with force and arms, “in and upon one Mary Carney, a female child of the age of ten years and upwards, to-wit: of the age of fourteen years,” feloniously made an assault, “with intent, her, the said Mary Carney, by force, and against her will, feloniously to ravish and carnally know, contrary to the statute,” etc.

TJpon being called upon to plead to the information the defendant first put in a plea in abatement, setting forth,…