Lumpkin v. State

97 So. 171, 19 Ala. App. 272, 1923 Ala. App. LEXIS 138

• Court: Alabama Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 12, 1923
• Docket: 8 Div. 51.
• Status: Published

Opinion

FOSTER, J.

The defendant, appellant, was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree.

The defendant had made a contract by the terms of which he was to live ¿t the home of the deceased (Vann) during the year 1922,. as a member‘of his family, working the crops with him, and to receive one-sixth of the products grown upon the farm. On Sunday previous to the killing on Monday, April 10th, defendant used the horse of the deceased. Defendant came home after dark, and deceased complained to him about keeping- his horse out so late.

The state’s evidence tended to show that after supper defendant and deceased had a few words; that defendant left the house about 10 o’clock, went over to his lather’s house, where he spent tlie night, went back, with his brother, to the home of deceased the next .morning; that the father of defendant and one Brasseal came about a half hour later; that upon reaching deceased’s home defendant called "him, and he went into the yard; that after talking for some time defendant told deceased he had come to have a settlement with him; that a fight ensued in which defendant struck' deceased -over the head with a gun, killing him. During the difficulty the defendant was cut with .a knife.

The defendant claimed that on the Sunday night before the killing on Monday, a little •child of deceased had gone to defendant’s room and told him .that her father' had threatened to kill him; that he left the house, spent the night at his father’s house, and next morning went ’to deceased’s house, and spoke to him about a settlement with him; that he did not provoke the difficulty; that tlie deceased attacked him with a knife, cut him; and that he struck the fatal blow ih self-defense with a shot gun brought upon the seen? by one of tlie children of deceased.

1. Counsel for appellant insist tliat the trial court erred in not postponing, passing, or'contiAuing the case in order that defendant might have compulsory process for certain absent witnesses, and that compulsory process-guaranteed by section 6 of the Constitution included both the ordinary process by subpoena and the extraordinary process of attachment: The right of a defendant in a criminal prosecution “to have compulsory process tor obtaining witnesses inliis favor” was thus explained and defined in Childress v. State, 86 Ala. 77, 5 South. 775, and approved in Sanderson v. State, 168 Ala. 112, 53 South. 109:

“The object and meaning of the constitutional guaranty is that the court will exercise its powers, by- the processes usual and known to the law, to compel the attendance of witnesses on behalf of the accused. It 'does not operate to take from the court the discretion as to granting or refusing continuances, or the authority to adopt ’proper means for ascertaining -whether an application for a continuance is made with the view to obtaining a fail-trial, or for the mere purpose of. delay. The defendant had previously obtained the issuance of subpoenas for his witnesses, which is the ordinary preliminary process to secure their attendance. Extraordinary compulsory process, such as attachment, is not resorted to, until the witness has placed himself in contempt and the propriety and necessity of the process is' shown.”

The right of the extraordinary compulsory process by attachment, as well as the ordinary process by subpoena, for securing the attendance of his witnesses, is guaranteed to a defendant by the Constitution of the state. Bush v. State, 168 Ala. 81, 53 South. 266; Walker v. State, 117 Ala. 85, 23 South, 670; Thomas v. State, 15 Ala. App. 408, 73 South. 558; Childress v. State, supra; Sanderson v. State, supra.

“Before it can be said that the accused has been denied this constitutional right he must apply, to the court for the issuance of an attachment, and show * * * that the witness has been served with a subpoena a sufficient' length of time before the trial to afford an opportunity to the witness to obey its mandate, that the witness is within the jurisdiction of the court, and that his attendance can be obtained within a reasonable time by the compulsory process, that such witness is absent without' the procurement or consent of the accused, and that the testimony of the witness is material.” Thomas v. State, 15 Ala. App. 408, 73 South. 558.

In the Instant case the trial court ordered the issuance of writs of attachment for the absent witnesses upon whom subpoenas had been executed, and ordered the sheriff to execute the writs if possible. The defendant was given the benefit of the ordinary process by subpoena and the extraordinary compulsory process of attachment .guaranteed to him by section 6 of the Constitution. This constitutional guaranty does not take from the trial court the discretion as' to granting or refusing continuances, and this discretion is not revisable in the absence of a showing of abuse. Childress v. State, supra.

The court did not err in its refusal to pass or continue the case.

The showings for the absent witnesses were admitted by the solicitor, and the defendant had the benefit of the testimony on the trial. The right of a trial court to require the defendant to go to trial, on the admission by the state of what absent witnesses for defendant would testify, is a matter of discretion, the exercise of which is not revisable on appeal. Waters v. State, 117 Ala. 108, 22 South. 490.

The defendant’s counsel on cross-examination of the state’s witness Brasseal propounded the following question, “Did you not say a moment ago that they were scuffling over it?” meaning the gun. ' Objection by state’s counsel to this question was sustained by the “court. The witness had already answered this question and answered it again subsequent to the time the objection was interposed. No error can be predicated upon the action of the court in refusing to permit a repetition of the question and answer. Franklin v. State, 18 Ala. App. 374, 92 South. 526.

It is insisted that the court erred in refusing to permit the defendant to testify that the child of the deceased told him (defendant) on the night before the hilling that her father (deceased) had made threats to kill the defendant. The testimony here sought by defendant was later admitted by the court. Error committed in refusing to admit evidence which is relevant and competent is cured by subsequently admitting it. Franklin v. State, supra ; Brown v. State, 137 Ala. 99, 34 South. 822.

There is no merit in assignments 6, 7, 8, and 9. It was permissible for the state on cross-examination of the defendant to show that, in order to go from his room in the home of the deceased to a certain closet where his hat and shoes were, he had to go through the room occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Vann.

There is no merit in the tenth 'and eleventh assignments. The defendant had testified that a . short time before the difficulty occurred he and his brother and the deceased were some distance from the house of deceased, and that the defendant unlocked the door of an old house and sat down in it. The solicitor asked the defendant what was in the old house. The defendant had opened up the inquiry about the house and the state had the right to cross-examine him as to what was in the house. The evidence could neither benefit nor injure the defendant.

The defendant had testified on his direct examination that before the difficulty he went to the house of deceased to get a drink of water. It was proper on cross-examination to permit the question asked by counsel for the state, “How many minutes in your judgment would it take to walk up there ahd back?” The answer of defendant was, “I don’t really know how long it would take.” We do not regard this as an important inquiry. But 'the defendant had already put in evidence a fact about which the question on cross-examination elicited further information. He cannot complain that he was cross-examined about matters which he placed in evidence on his direct examination. The legitimate limits of cross-examination are largely within the discretion of the court. .Sanford v. State, 2 Ala. App. 81, 57 South. 134; Smiley v. Hooper, 147 Ala. 646, 41 South. 660; Treadwell v. State, 168 Ala. 96, 53 South. 290.

The defendant objected to the solicitor taking the part of deceased and having the defendant illustrate before the jury how the fight occurred.

In Gunter v. State, 111 Ala. 23, 20 South. 632, 56 Am. St. Rep. 17, the court said that a witness may locate a wound by pointing out a corresponding spot on the person of the solicitor.

In an action for the death of a person struck by a car, the motorman was permitted to illustrate with his hands the time it would take him to go through the various motions necessary to stop or check up the car, as it would give the jury a better idea of what wqs done than could be explained by mere words. Birmingham, R. L. & P. Co. v. Saxon, 179 Ala. 156, 59 South. 584.

In Linnehan v. State, 120 Ala. 298, 25 South. 6, the court said there was nothing objectionable in the solicitor’s standing up before the witness and motioning his hands in illustrating, when he asked the witness the question, “If Oakley did not tell him to go on off just before the shooting, and motion this way^”

It was not error for the court to require the defendant on cross-examination to ill lústrate the motion and actions of the parties to the encounter, with the .state’s attorney taking the part of deceased.

The defendant testified on cross-examination that his father and Brasseal walked in between Vann and defendant and “interfered” with the fight. The state’s counsel objected to the use of the word “interfered”; defendant said by “interfered” he meant they stopped the fight. The court excluded “interfered,” but did not exclude “they stopped the fight.” No error can be predicated on this action of the court.

The defendant in testifying used the expressions, “I thought the fight was over,” “I was not expecting, it” (meaning Vann’s getting his knife out). These were expres; sions of opinion merely, and clearly inadmissible.

Assignments 19, 20, and 21 involve objections to questions propounded to the defendant by the solicitor as to defendant’s conviction of certain offenses and confinement in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta. The court later excluded from the’ jury all of these questions and answers and instructed the jury not to consider this evidence in any 'event. Any error in admitting the evidence was curéd by the action of the court, later in excluding it and instructing the jury not to consider it.

The court refused to permit defendant, examined as a witness in his own behalf, to testify that he had not been convicted in Marshall county or any other county in the state, but immediately following this ruling the defendant testified that he had never been convicted in any court in the county or,state. The defendant had the benefit of the evidence on the trial, and any error in sustaining objection in the first instance was cured by the subsequent admission of the evidence.

Counsel for the state had “propounded to the defendant a number of questions as to whether he had been in the penitentiary at Atlanta or been convicted of certain offenses. After this line of questioning persisted in by the state and objected to by the defendant, defendant’s counsel moved the court to withdraw the cáse from the jury. The court overruled the motion and instructed the jury that those matters inquired about were not evidence at all, and that they were excluded from the jury, and they were not to be considered by the jury in any event. The court, having excluded from the jury the objectionable evidence, and having instructed the jury not to consider it, will not be put in error fbr .refusing defendant’s motion to withdraw the case from the jury.

There is no merit in assignments 23 and 24.

'The state, on cross-examination of defendant’s witness, Forney Bradford, ashed, “You are on Charles’ bond growing out of the same transaction?” Timely objection, was interposed by defendant, and motion to exclude the answer of witness that he was' on the bond. Charles was the brother of the defendant, went with him t.o the home of deceased on the morning of the fatal difficulty, and was there throughout the fight.

In the case of Phillips v. State, 11 Ala. App. at page 374. 65 South, at page 075,(this court, said: j

“There was no error in permitting the state’s counsel to ask the defendant’s witness. Mrs. Myers, on cross-examination, if her husband, Oscar Myers, was not also indicted for the same offense. *' * * The question was competent to identify the witness as his wife and show interest or bias, and it is always permissible to ask questions on cross-examination having a tendency to elicit testimony showing the interest or bias of the witness.” .

, In the McAlpine Case. 117 Ala. 93, 23 South. 130, cited by counsel for appellant, the witness was asked if he was not on the bond of a person indicted with the mother of one of the defendants for a similar offense, but not growing out of the transaction for which defendants were being tried.

In the instant case the question related to the bond “of the brother of the defendant," charged with an offense growing out of the same transaction. For the purpose of showing his interest or bias in the case the witness could be asked on the trial of Charles Lumpkin if he was on Charles’ bond. Likewise it was permissible in order to show interest or bias to ask the witness on cross-examination if he was not on 'defendant’s brother’s bond, his brother being charged with an offense growing out of the same transaction.

There is no merit in assignment 27 based on the court sustaining state’s objection to defendant’s question to Forney Bradford on examination in rebuttal as follows :• “If you told Mr. Street that you thought that defendant -ought to be turned loose, you honestly believed it. didn’t you?” The question called for the expression of the belief or opinion of the witness. There is no merit in assignment of error 2S. The witness had testified that the character of deceased for peace and quiet was good, and it was useless to ask if after reflection he still said it was good.

One Currier was introduced by the state as a witness and testified to the good character of the deceased for peace and quiet. The court sustained the state’s objection to the defendant’s question on cross-examination of this witness if he had not heard of a dozen fights that man (Vann, the deceased) had.

In cross-examination great liberty is allowed. This right is afforded both the state, and the defendant and “is generally the most effective instrumentality for eliciting the witness’ means of obtaining correct and certain knowledge of the facts to which he bears testimony.” It was permissible oil cross-examination, for the purpose of testing the' witness’ knowledge of the facts, the extent of his information, and the data from which he draws his conclusion, to ask if he had not heard of other difficulties in which the deceased had been engaged.

In Miller’s Case, 77 Ala. 41, our Supreme Court held that there was error in refusing to permit the defendants to ask the witness Scott, on cross-examination, if he had not heard that the deceased, shortly before he was killed, had several rows and shooting scrapes in Winston county. ,

The relevancy and competency of the evidence was expressly ruled in De Arman v. State, 71 Ala. 351; Wilson v. State, 195 Ala. 679, 71 South. 115; Martin v. State, 104 Ala. 71, 16 South. 82.

This is the only reversible error in the record. r

That portion of the argument of state’s counsel objected to by defendant does not transcend the limits of legitimate argu- inent. Mitchell v. State, 18 Ala. App. 471, 93 South. 46.

Assignments of error 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 are based on objections to questions asked state’s witness, Mrs. Vann, in rebuttal, as to whether she heard or saw her little daughter go to defendant’s room and give him the warning as claimed by defendant, and as to the room in the house occupied by the little girl. Mrs Yanii was in her room at the time it was claimed by the defendant-that the little girl told him about her father's threats. The evidence was relevant to go to the jury in contradiction of the statement of the defendant that the little girl had given him the warning.

Assignments 36, 37. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43 are based on questions to Mrs. Yann, a witness for the state, in rebuttal, relating to certain details of the transaction as given in evidence by defendant, which details were specifically denied by the witness. There was no error in the admission of the evidence; it was in contradiction of the evidence of the defendant.

Assignment 45 is without merit. The court did not err in overruling defendant’s request made after argument to withdraw the case from the jury and continue it because of the improper evidence introduced and the improper argument of counsel. The court had excluded all the improper evidence, and the argument of counsel was not improper.

Refused charge 1 asserts the same legal proxiosition- as is set out in given charge 5.

Charge 2 was properly refused. It singles out the evidence and is argumentative. 1 Mayfield’s Dig. p. 170, § 13; Id. p. 173, § 18.

Charge 3 was properly refused. It is argumentative and invades the province of the jury. 1 Mayfield’s Dig. p. 173, § 18.

Charge 4 is argumentative and singles^ out the evidence, and was properly refused. 1 Mayfield’s Dig. p. 170, § 13.

Charge 5 was properly refused. The. jury should not be told to look to this fact, or that they may consider that fact, in reaching a conclusion as to the guilt of the defendant, or as to the existence of any material element of the offense charged. 1 May-field’s Dig. i). 170; § 13.

Charge 6 is faulty in that it omits the- elements of self-defense.

Charges 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 invade the province of the jury, and were properly refused.

The very clear oral charge of the learned trial judge fully covered every proposition of law involved in the case.

For the error indicated the motion for a new trial should have been granted, and the judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.