Shelby v. State

97 Ala. 87

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: July 1, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

STONE, C. J.

— This record presents but a single question— the refusal of the court to give a charge requested by the defendant. We suppose the intention was to have the jury instructed that it was no part of the law’s purpose to punish any one of whose guilt the jury, weighing the testimony, entertained a reasonable doubt. The idea, however is not clearly expressed in the charge asked. Charges should be simple and unambiguous; and if so worded as to be likely to mislead the jury, and create doubt or confusion, in their interpretation, the court commits no error in their refusal. Callan v. McDaniel, 72 Ala. 96; Dorgan v. State, Ib. 173; Ala. Gr. So. R. R. Co. v. Hill, 76 Ala. 303; Garlick v. State, 79 Ala. 265; Ala. Gr. So. R. R. Co. v. Heddleston, 82 Ala. 218; Ward, v. State, 78 Ala. 441; 3 Brick. Dig., 113, §110.

The City Court did not err in refusing to give the charge ' asked.

Affirmed.