statute as any wilful and unlawful attempt or offer with force or violence to do a corporal hurt to another. Under some definitions the attempt must be an unlawful one. But some courts have held that it is not necessary to use the word unlawful in defining the offense.5 § 393. Acts constituting an assault-In general. As in the case of attempts generally, a mere intention to commit a battery," or State, 114 Ark. 239, 169 S. W. 773, L. R. A. 1915 B 131, Ann. Cas. 1916 D 533; Anderson v. State, 77 Ark. 37, 90 S. W. 846. California. People v. Wells, 145 Cal. 138, 78 Pac. 470; People v. Stanton, 106 Cal. 139, 39 Pac. 525; People v. Montgomery, 15 Cal. App. 315, 114 Pac. 792. Delaware. State v. Greco, 7 Boyce (30 Del.) 140, 104 Atl. 637; State v. Paxson, 6 Boyce (29 Del.) 249, 99 Atl. 46; State v. Mills 3 Pennew, 508, 52 Atl. 266. Idaho. State V. Crawford, 32 Idaho 165, 179 Pac. 511; State v. Yturaspe, 22 Idaho 360, 125 Pac. 802. Illinois. People v. Ryan, 239 Ill. 410, 88 N. E. 170. Iowa. State v. Lewis, 173 Iowa 643, 154 N. W. 432, Ann. Cas. 1918 A 403; State v. Cody, 94 Iowa 169, 62 N. W. 702. Michigan. People v. Carlson, 160 Mich. 426, 125 N. W. 361, 136 Am. St. Rep. 447. Nevada. State v. Napper, 6 Nev. 113. Oklahoma. Tyner v. United States, 2 Okla. Cr. 689, 103 Pac. 1057. Oregon. State v. Cancelmo, 86 Ore. 379, 168 Pac. 721; State v. Selby, 73 Ore. 378, 144 Pac. 657. "An inchoate violence to the person of another, with the present means of carrying the intent into effect." Luther v. State, 177 Ind. 169, 98 N. E. 640; People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982. And see the statutes of the various states. 3 State v. Gunderson, 42 N. D. 498, 173 N. W. 791; State v. Cruikshank, 13 N. D. 337, 100 N. W. 697; Parks v. State, 14 Okla. Cr. 413, 171 Pac. 1129; Clark v. State (Okla. Cr.), 106 Pac. 803; Tyner v. United States, 2 Okla. Cr. 689, 103 Pac. 1057. 4 Arkansas. Sullivan v. State, 131 Ark. 107, 198 S. W. 518; Anderson v. State, 77 Ark. 37, 90 S. W. 846. California. People v. Wells, 145 Cal. 138, 78 Pac. 470; People v. Montgomery, 15 Cal. App. 315, 114 Pac. 792. Delaware. State v. Greco, 7 Boyce (30 Del.) 140, 104 Atl. 637. Idaho. State V. Crawford, 32 Idaho 165, 179. Pac. 511; State v. Yturaspe, 22 Idaho 360, 125 Pac. 802. Texas. Robey v. State, 73 Tex. Cr. 9, 163 S. W. 713; Ward v. State, 68 Tex. Cr. 154, 151 S. W. 1073; Cromeans v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. 611, 129 S. W. 1129. And see cases cited in the preceding note. 5 State v. Cancelmo, 86 Ore. 379, 168 Pac. 721; State v. Selby, 73 Ore. 378, 144 Pac. 657. 6 See § 151, supra. 7 Alabama. Gray v. State, 63 Ala. 66. Indiana. Martin v. State, 13 Ind. App. 389, 41 N. E. 831. 8 mere preparation to commit it, is not enough to constitute an assault. Nor are mere words an assault, nor mere menaces or threats,10 nor insulting gestures.11 There must be some overt act done in pursuance of the intent, or, in other words, there must be an actual 8 Lockett v. State, 136 Ark. 473, 207 S. W. 55; Johnson v. State, 132 Ark. 128, 200 S. W. 982; Williams v. State, 88 Ark. 91, 113 S. W. 799; Anderson v. State, 77 Ark. 37, 90 S. W. 846; Brown v. State, 95 Ga. 481, 20 S. E. 495; People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982; Johnson v. State, 43 Tex. 576; Higginbotham v. State, 23 Tex. 574; Young v. State, 7 Tex. App. 75. 9 Chapman v. State, 78 Ala. 463, 56 Am. Rep. 42; Wicker v. State, 107 Miss. 690, 65 So. 885; Smith v. State, 39 Miss. 521; State v. Daniel, 136 N. C. 571, 48 S. E. 544, 103 Am. St. Rep. 970; State v. Jeffreys, 117 N. C. 743, 23 S. E. 175; Jarnigan v. State, 6 Tex. App. 465. Soliciting or attempting to persuade a woman to have sexual intercourse is not an assault. Easterling v. State, 120 Miss. 404, 82 So. 306; State v. Sullivan, 110 Mo. App. 75, 84 S. W. 105; State v. Jeffreys, 117 N. C. 743, 23 S. E. 175; Pittcock v. State, 73 Tex. Cr. 1, 163 S. W. 971. And this is true even though she is under the age of consent. People v. Dowell, 136 Mich. 306, 99 N. W. 23. This rule does not prevent the indictment as a principal of one who, by words only, incites another to commit an assault and battery. State v. Lymburn, 1 Brev. (S. C.) 397, 2 Am. Dec. 669. 10 Alabama. Chapman v. State, 78 Ala. 463, 56 Am. Rep. 42; Johnson v. State, 35 Ala. 363. California. People v. Yslas, 27 Cal. 630. Indiana. Martin v. State, 13 Ind. App. 389, 41 N. E. 831. Iowa. State v. Butler, 155 Iowa 204, 135 N. W. 628; State v. Cummings, 128 Iowa 522, 105 N. W. 57. Michigan. People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982. Mississippi. Smith v. State, 39 Miss. 521. Missouri. State v. Sears, 86 Mo. 169. North Carolina. State v. Daniel, 136 N. C. 571, 48 S. E. 544, 103 Am. St. Rep. 970; State v. Milsaps, 82 N. C. 549; State v. Church, 63 N. C. 15; State v. Mooney, 61 N. C. 434. Oklahoma. Crilley v. State, 15 Okla. Cr. 44, 181 Pac. 316. Washington. State v. McFadden, 42 Wash. 1, 84 Pac. 401. Merely approaching another and gesticulating, where there is no attempt to strike him. Berkley v. Com., 88 Va. 1017, 14 S. E. 916. By statute in Texas, any threatening gesture showing, in itself or by words accompanying it, an immediate intention, coupled with an ability to commit a battery, is an assault. Higginbotham v. State, 23 Tex. 574; Haverbekken v. State, 86 Tex. Cr. 260, 216 S. W. 397. 11 Making "kissing sign" at a woman. Fuller v. State, 44 Tex. Cr. 463, 72 S. W. 184, 100 Am. St. Rep. 871. attempt to carry the intent into immediate execution,12 and the act done must be at least the beginning or part of or part of a present attempt to injure.18 But where an unequivocal purpose of violence is accompanied by any act which, if not stopped or diverted, will be followed by personal injury, the execution of the purpose is then begun, the battery is attempted, and there is an assault.14 The question does not depend upon the degree of effort put forth, nor upon how far the defendant had gone towards to accomplishment of his purpose.15 And any overt act in partial execution of the design to make an assault completes the offense.16 An assault may be committed without actually touching the person of the one assaulted, or, in other words, without a battery," as "There must be an overt act or an attempt, or the unequivocal appearance of an attempt, with force and violence to do a corporal injurysuch an act as will convey to the mind of the other person a wellgrounded apprehension of personal injury." State v. Daniel, 136 N. C. 571, 48 S. E. 544, 103 Am. St. Rep. 970. There must be an attempt to strike, or at least an offer to do so. State v. Milsaps, 82 N. C. 549. See also the other cases cited in the preceding notes. 13 Lockett v. State, 136 Ark. 473, 207 S. W. 55; Williams v. State, 88 Ark. 91, 113 S. W. 799; Anderson v. State, 77 Ark. 37, 90 S. W. 846; Johnson v. State, 43 Tex. 576; Young v. State, 7 Tex. App. 75. "There must be the commencement of an act, which, if not prevented, would produce a battery." Chapman v. State, 78 Ala. 463, 56 Am. Rep. 42; Lawson v. State, 30 Ala. 14. "There must be violence begun to be executed." People v. Yslas, 27 Cal. 630. The act must be sufficiently proximate to the thing intended, and must have proceeded far enough towards its consummation. People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982. 14 State v. Lewis, 173 Iowa 643, 154 N. W. 432, Ann. Cas. 1918 A 403; Smith v. State, 39 Miss. 521; State v. Daniel, 136 N. C. 571, 48 S. E. 544, 103 Am. St. Rep. 970; State v. Reavis, 113 N. C. 677, 18 S. E. 388; State v. Davis, 1 Ired. (N. C.) 125, 35 Am. Dec. 735; State v. McFadden, 42 Wash. 1, 84 Pac. 401. And see State v. Dooley, 121 Mo. 591, 26 S. W. 558; State v. Vannoy, 65 N. C. 532; State v. Sims, 3 Strobh. (S. C.) 137. A person who approaches another and endeavors to strike him with a stick and who is prevented from doing so only by his retreat, is guilty of an assault. Martin v. State, 13 Ind. App. 389, 41 N. E. 831. 15 State v. McFadden, 42 Wash. 1, 84 Pac. 401. 16 Johnson v. State, 132 Ark. 128, 200 S. W. 982. 17 United States. Anderson V. Crawford, 265 Fed. 504. Arkansas. Wells v. State, 108 Ark. 312, 157 S. W. 389, 45 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1171. Delaware. State v. Paxson, 6 Boyce (29 Del.) 249, 99 Atl. 46; State v. by putting another in fear of violence,18 or by shooting at a person while near enough to hit him although the bullet does not hit him.19 And according to some of the courts, it is not even necessary that the assailant get near enough to the person assaulted to inflict a battery, although others hold to the contrary.20 According to the weight of authority an assault may be made upon a person even though he had no knowledge of the fact at the time.21 But there is also authority to the contrary.22 Davis, 9 Houst. 558, 33 Atl. 439. Florida. Lindsey v. State, 67 Fla. 111, 64 So. 501; Knight v. State, 44 Fla. 94, 32 So. 110. Iowa. State v. Myers, 19 Iowa 517. Massachusetts. Com. v. Hagenlock, 140 Mass. 125, 3 N. E. 36. Michigan. People v. Carlson, 160 Mich. 426, 125 N. W. 361, 136 Am. St. Rep. 447. Mississippi. Montgomery v. State, 85 Miss. 330, 37 So. 835. North Carolina. State v. Daniel, Pennsylvania. Com. v. Bergdoll, 55 Pa. Super. Ct. 186. South Carolina. State v. Sims, 3 Strobh. 137. Texas. Haverbekken v. State, 86 Tex. Cr. 260, 216 S. W. 397; Gann v. State (Tex. Cr.), 40 S. W. 725. Virginia. Hardy v. Com., 17 Gratt. 592. On a prosecution for an assault with intent to commit rape upon a girl ten years old, where the defendant induced her and her brother to accompany him to a secluded place, threatened to shoot her if she did not consent to his demand, dragged her brother into the bushes and threatened to shoot him, it was held that the question of assault was for the jury although the defendant did not touch the girl or exhibit a gun. People v. Carlson, 160 Mich. 426, 125 Every battery includes an assault, but an assault does not include a battery. See § 395, infra. Generally a battery or wounding is not a necessary element of aggravated assaults. See § 407, infra. 18 Malone v. State, 77 Miss. 812, 26 So. 968; State v. Rawles, 65 N. C. 334; State v. Baker, 20 R. I. 275, 38 Atl. 653, 78 Am. St. Rep. 863; State v. Smith, 2 Humph. (21 Tenn.) 457. Drawing a pistol or other weapon in a threatening manner. See § 394, infra. As to whether an intention to frighten merely is sufficient, see § 400, infra. 19 State v. Lichter, 7 Boyce (30 Del.) 119, 102 Atl. 529; State v. Baker, 20 R. I. 275, 38 Atl. 653, 78 Am. St. Rep. 863; Cowley v. State, 10 Lea (78 Tenn.) 282. It is an assault to fire a gun over the heads of a congregation of people. Malone v. State, 77 Miss. 812, 26 So. 968. 20 See § 404, infra. 21 Chapman v. State, 78 Ala. 463, 56 Am. Rep. 42; People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982; State v. Godfrey, 17 Ore. 300, 20 Pac. 625, 11 Am. St. Rep. 830; Ross v. State, 16 Wyo. 285, 93 Pac. 299, 94 Pac. 217. 22 State v. Barry, 45 Mont. 598, 124 Pac. 775, 41 L. R. A. (N. S.) 181. While according to the weight of authority it is an assault and battery to actually administer poison or noxious drugs to another,23 it has been held not to be an assault to put poison in a well,24 or broken glass into food,25 with intent that another shall partake of it and thus be killed, where such other person does not in fact drink any of the water or eat any of the food. § 394. Pointing or drawing weapons, etc. It is an assault to point or present a loaded gun or pistol at another within shooting distance.26 But the authorities are in conflict as to whether it is an assault if the gun or pistol is not loaded, or the accused is not within shooting distance.27 It has been held by some courts that merely drawing,28 or seizing or holding 29 a gun or pistol, or drawing a knife 30 or an axe,81 is not 23 See § 397, infra. 24 Peebles v. State, 101 Ga. 585, 28 S. E. 920. 25 Leary v. State, 13 Ga. App. 626, 79 S. E. 584. 26 United States. Jackson V. United States, 102 Fed. 473. Arkansas. Sullivan v. State, 131 Ark. 107, 198 S. W. 518; Keefe v. State, 19 Ark. 190. Iowa. State v. Montgomery, 65 Iowa 483, 22 N. W. 639. Kansas. State v. Coyle, 103 Kan. 750, 175 Pac. 971; State v. Taylor, 20 Kan. 643. Mississippi. Hariston v. State, 54 Miss. 689, 28 Am. Rep. 392. Missouri. State v. Dooley, 121 Mo. 591, 26 S. W. 558; State v. Llewellyn, 93 Mo. App. 469, 67 S. W. 677. Montana. State V. Kuum, 55 Mont. 436, 178 Pac. 288. Nebraska. Ford v. State, 71 Neb. 246, 98 N. W. 807, 115 Am. St. Rep. 591. New York. People v. Morehouse, 6 N. Y. Supp. 763. Rhode Island. State v. Baker, 20 R. I. 275, 38 Atl. 653, 78 Am. St. Rep. 863. South Carolina. State v. Lightsey, 43 S. C. 114, 20 S. E. 975. Texas. Myers v. State, 72 Tex. Cr. 630, 163 S. W. 432; Cato v. State, 4 Tex. App. 87. Wyoming. Bryant v. State, 7 Wyo. 311, 51 Pac. 879, 56 Pac. 596. Raising a gun to a level with another's heart and threatening to shoot him is an assault. It is not neces sary that the gun be raised to the assailant's shoulder. State v. Epperson, 27 Mo. 255. 27 See § 404, infra. 28 Clements v. State, 50 Ala. 117; Lawson v. State, 30 Ala. 14. To constitute an assault with a gun or pistol it must be presented at the party charged to be assaulted, within shooting distance. Tarver v. State, 43 Ala. 354. 29 State v. Mooney, 61 N. C. 434; Johnson v. State, 43 Tex. 576; Young v. State, 7 Tex. App. 75. Dangling of a cocked pistol at the defendant's side, accompanied by the declaration that he was now ready for the other party, was held not an assault, but a mere challenge. Warren v. State, 33 Tex. 518. 30 People v. Lilley, 43 Mich. 521, 5 N. W. 982. 31 Bailey v. State, 76 Fla. 230, 79 So. 639. |