Hampton v. State

28 N.W.2d 322, 148 Neb. 574, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 82
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJune 27, 1947
DocketNo. 32230
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 28 N.W.2d 322 (Hampton v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hampton v. State, 28 N.W.2d 322, 148 Neb. 574, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 82 (Neb. 1947).

Opinion

Simmons, C. J.

The defendant, plaintiff in error, was informed against, tried and found guilty of maliciously shooting one Loretta Hampton with intent to kill, wound and maim her. He brings the cause here assigning error in several particulars. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Defendant and Loretta Hampton were formerly husband and wife, they having been separated by divorce. The shooting occurred outdoors in the yard of the home of Mrs. Hampton about 12:15 or 12:30 a. m., May 30, 1946. That Mrs. Hampton was shot by a repeating shotgun in the hands of defendant is not disputed. The defense was that the shooting was accidental and not intentional.

It appears that some days prior to the shooting, the defendant took the shotgun, some shells, and shirts to Mrs. Hampton’s home, and with her consent placed them in the basement. On the night of May 29, the defendant went to the home about midnight and entered it. Mrs. Hampton was not there. She came in shortly. Mrs. Hampton testified that defendant asked her who brought her home; she told him. He went to the basement; she followed. She testified that he got the gun’ and told her it had to end. Mrs. Hampton turned, ran upstairs and outdoors, and tried to hide in a hedge. He followed her with the gun in his hand. [576]*576She testified he said she had it coming and was going to get it; she screamed, begged him not to shoot, and the shot followed, resulting in her serious wounds. He testified the gun went off accidentally.

Parties in the house next door were permitted, over objection, to testify that they heard the voices, the screaming, the shot, and were also permitted to testify as to what was said by a man’s voice and a woman’s voice. Their testimony corroborated Mrs. Hampton. They did not identify the voices as those of Mrs. Hampton and of defendant. Defendant assigns as prejudicial error the admission of the testimony as to what they heard said that night. This evidence was not offered until the state had produced Mrs. Hampton’s evidence placing the defendant and Mrs. Hampton in the yard at the time involved, and also her testimony of conversations directly connecting defendant with them. There is no one else shown to have been present. We think this evidence falls within the classification of circumstantial evidence, the admission of which was within the sound discretion of the trial court. Under these circumstances its admission was not error.

The evidence showed that the main charge of the shot struck Mrs. Hampton in her right arm between the elbow and wrist. The trial court admitted in evidence an X-ray picture taken some time after the injury, showing the arm with a part of one bone gone and the presence of several shot and particles of shot in the flesh of the arm. In MacAvoy v. State, 144 Neb. 827, 15 N. W. 2d 45, we held: “Where a photograph illustrates or makes clear some controverted issue in the case, a proper foundation having otherwise been laid for its reception in evidence, it may properly be received, even though it may present a gruesome spectacle.” The evidence was admissible and the assignment is without merit.

Just before the close of the state’s case-in-chief, the state requested that the jury be given an opportunity [577]*577to examine the outside of the premises where the shooting occurred. The defendant stated he had no objection. The court instructed the jury to proceed in a body to the premises and that they might inspect the outside, but not to discuss the case nor form an opinion, and that after they made the inspection they could be excused until 9 a. m. the next morning. The sheriff was called to escort the jury and instructed not to permit anyone to discuss the case with them. Defendant assigns as error that the court permitted the jury to view the scene of the crime without the presence of the defendant. The record is silent as to whether or not the defendant accompanied the jury to view the premises. In fact, the bill of exceptions does not show that the jury actually did view the premises. Be that as it may, in Fillion v. State, 5 Neb. 351, we held that to obtain a review, error must affirmatively appear in the record; and that whenever the facts stated in the record are consistent with the duty of the court, and nothing is shown to establish a contrary theory, it will be assumed that the court acted properly and all things were rightly done. In that case the facts were remarkably similar to the facts in the instant case. Under the above rule we held that error was not shown. We reach the same conclusion here.

There was evidence offered by the state and the defense as to the gun, its operation and condition, and as to whether or not it was left in a loaded condition prior to the shooting. Mrs. Hampton on cross-examination testified, without objection or motion to strike, that a few days before the shooting their son had found the gun loaded and had told her he had unloaded it. The defendant testified that he never left shells in the barrel, but did in the magazine. On rebuttal the state offered the testimony of the son who stated, over objection, that on May 27 preceding the shooting here involved, he found the gun loaded and unloaded it.

[578]*578As a part of the state’s case-in-chief there were admitted in evidence a photograph of a lawn chair in which shot were found, and also an empty cartridge and evidence as to where it was found. On rebuttal the state offered, and there was received in evidence, a picture showing the place where the shell was found, the chair, and a tree in which shot • markings were found. Defendant assigns the admission of this evidence in rebuttal as prejudicial error. Defendant offered no evidence to contradict the evidence received and does not claim to have any.

Section 29-2016, R. S. 1943, provides that after defendant has produced his evidence, the state will be confined to rebutting evidence, unless the court for good reason in furtherance of justice shall permit it to offer evidence in chief. Such would be the rule in the absence of statute. While it would have been better practice for the state to have introduced this evidence in its case-in-chief, it is within the discretion of the court to permit in rebuttal the introduction of evidence not strictly rebutting. Neither abuse of discretion nor prejudice is shown.

The record shows that the defendant, on cross-examination of Mrs. Hampton, went into quarrels about other men between Mrs. Hampton and the defendant over a period of time preceding the shooting here involved, and developed that at least one of the quarrels resulted in personal violence between the defendant and another man. On cross-examination of the defendant, the state also went into some of these quarrels. Mrs. Hampton’s birthday was on May 23. Defendant was present at a birthday party that evening at a club. Defendant’s birthday was on May 25. Defendant testified on direct examination that he and Mrs. Hampton exchanged birthday gifts. The state, on cross-examination of defendant, brought out that on May 25 (defendant’s birthday) a party including defendant and Mrs. Hampton and a Mr. and Mrs. Dun[579]*579can went to a number of places and finally to the Duncan home. Some of the parties had been drinking and according to the defendant, “We was all in pretty good shape.” An argument occurred involving Mrs. Duncan. Defendant testified that he left the Duncan home, went to Mrs. Hampton’s home, saw his son, and told him of his mother’s actions. He said he went there to talk to his son, and that he was pretty drunk that night.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
28 N.W.2d 322, 148 Neb. 574, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 82, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hampton-v-state-neb-1947.