State v. Leo

Citations

• 108 La. 496

Syllabus

<p>Syllabus.</p> <p>1. Where the alleged falsely altered instrument, with the uttering of which a party stands charged in an indictment, is not full and complete on its face, but requires the introduction of evidence of extrinsic facts to make it such, such extrinsic facts must-be set out in the indictment.</p> <p>2. It does not suffice in a criminal statute that its purpose should be manifest; to be effective, that purpose must find expression in its language as required by legal rules. Courts may be authorized sometimes to restrain the generality of the terms of a law so as to exclude from its operation exceptional cases, but not to enlarge the terms of a limited law.</p>