Supreme Court of Arkansas January 15, 1850 (State v. Ratliff)

Mr. Justice Scott

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is not an indictment for profanely swearing, but for disturbing a congregation assembled for religious worship by profanely swearing. The contemptuous and profane swearing alleged was the instrument of disturbance — the means by which the congregation was disturbed; the disturbance itself being the gist of the offence.