Moss v. State , 152 Ala. 30 ( 1907 )

HARALSON, J.

Before the trial, the defendant moved the court for an order requiring the sheriff to have and produce at the trial, the skull of the deceased, to be used as evidence, there being a dispute in the case as to whether or not the deceased was killed by a shot fired from a 44-caliber pistol belonging to defendant, which the evidence tended to show. It was shown, that the body of deceased had been buried in a public graveyard at Antioch Church, near Notasulga, in Macon county. It was further shown that before the burial, two reputable physicians, Dr. J. C. Baldwin and Dr. W. S. Ward, carefully examined the skull of deceased, who dissected the same, and already knew as much of its condition as could be learned by exhumation and further examination, and that these physician? were accessible at the time of the trial. Both these physicians were present at the trial, and testified as to the condition of the skull and the bullet holes in the same. It was further objected by the state, that the court was without authority to direct the disinterment of the body of deceased for the purposes specified, and that the sheriff had no right or authority to do so.

In Bessemer Land & Improvement Co. v. Jenkins, 111 Aia. 135, 148, 18 South. 565, 568, 56 Am. St.. Rep. 26, it was said: “Where one is permitted to bury his dead in a public cemetery, by the express or implied consent of those in proper control of it, he acquires such a posses-3 B. sion in the spot of ground in which the bodies are buried,, as will entitle him to action against the owners of the fee or strangers, who, without his consent, negligently or wantonly disturb it. This right of possession wili continue as long as the cemetery continues to be used.” The consent of the next of kin was not shown. But, there was no necessity to produce the skull, since it had already been subjected to the examination of the two physicians, who could tell as much about the matter, as if the skull were produced. Furthermore, the court had the right, even if it had the power to cause the body to be exhumed, to exercise its discretion not to allow the motion.

There is no merit in the contention, that, on account of the absence of the skull, the court should have continued the cause. This was in the discretion of the court, it not appearing that there was any abuse of its discretion, and we will not review its ruling in that regard.

It was admitted, that the evidence of the witnesses on the preliminary trial was taken down in writing by a stenographer and that it was correct. The defendant sought, in the instance of .Will Simpson, to prove by him what he swore to, on the preliminary hearing. This evidence was in court, in the possession of defendant’s counsel. The state objected on these grounds, and that the Avitness was entitled to see the evidence or have it read to him. The court so ruled, and in this there was no error. — Kennedy v. State, 85 Ala. 326, 380, 15 South. 300; Garden v. State, 84 Ala. 417, 4 South. 823. The defendant’s counsel then read the evidence to the witness, and he stated he swore to that.

The witness Frances Simpson testified that on her way home from the depot at Chehaw, accompanied by her husband, he and she were walking “peart.” Defendant asked, “If your husband testified that yon were walking slow, he was mistaken?” The court properly sustained an objection to the question. Whether the husband of the witness was mistaken or not, was for the jury to determine under the evidence.

The witness Cogburn testified that there were tracks along a certain road from the point where the body of deceased was found. On the cross, defendant’s counsel further questioned the witness with reference to these tracks, and then moved the court to exclude scch testimony. The objection came too late. The defendant should have objected when the questions were asked.— Goppin v. State, 123 Ala. 58, 26 South. 333. Besides, the testimony as admissible. The theory of the state was, that defendant committed the crime, and took the road on which the tracks were found, on his way home, if that was true, the tracks were connected with defendant, and the weight to be given the testimony was solely for the determination of the jury. — Livingston v. State, 105 Ala. 127, 16 South. 801; Young v. State, 68 Ala. 569.

J. J. Yarbrough testified to a pistol shown him as being defendant’s, found at or near the house of defendant’s father, which had been hidden in the woods nearby. He was asked to state the surroundings when and where he saw it, to which the defendant objected, and which objection was overruled. The defendant, as he deposed, told him, the pistol was at his father’s house, and he went there to get it. He further testified, that defendant’s sister dug up the pistol where it was buried, several hundred yards from the house. The pistol was given to the sheriff, Huddleston, who testified to it having been given him by Yarbrough. As shown by him, it was a Colt’s 44-caliber, which pistol was introdced in evidence.

The evidence concerning the pistol was properly introduced. There was evidence from which the jury could find, that deceased came to his death from a 44-caliber pistol ball. There were tracks leading from the scene •of the crime to the defendant’s father’s house, where the defendant lived, and the pistol Avas found at that house, buried in the ground. It was shown that the pistol belonged to the defendant. The bullet found by the witness Rast at or under the hips of the body of deceased was also properly allowed in evidence for the consideration of the jury. — Crawford v. State, 112 Ala. 21, 21 South. 214.

The witness Taylor expressed what was a description ■of the size of the bullet, and said, he saw the hole in ■deceased’s head, and it was as large as his little finger; that the bullet came out on the other sie, was of oblong ■shape, the size of his thumb. The defendant objected to this evidence, and the objection was overruled. The fact that the witness had stated, as is alleged, that he guessed the hole was of a certain size, was no reason why he should not, afterwards, state that it was the size of his little finger. This was, stating in more accurate form, -what he had previously somewhat indefinitely ■stated. We find no reversible error in the evidence of Huddleston, the sheriff.

The general charge for defendant was properly refused. The evidence was ,for the most part, circumstantial, but if believed by the jury was such as upon which they might find the defendant guilty.

The second charge requested by him (defendant) was: “That if any of the facts proven is inconsistent with the guilt of defendant, you cannot convict him.” This charge wras properly refused, as from it the jury might have been misled to the belief that their verdict should be based upon proof of a single fact inconsistent with defendant’s guilt, although this fact, when considered in connection with other facts proved, might not have been sufficient to prevent belief beyond a'reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt. — Morris’ Case, 27 South. 336, 124 Ala. 44.-

The jury was polled, at the request of the defendant. The court asked each one of them, separately, if this was his verdict, to which each juror separately answered that it was his verdict, except the foreman, who answered, “I agreed to it,” “whereupon defendant asked the court, to ask the jury, if any one of them gave up his honest convictions in arriving at the verdict.” The judge refused to do so, or to allow it to be done. There was no error here. If the foreman desired to explain the matter further, he should have made known his wishes to the court. “We cannot assume, for the purpose of putting the court in error, that the counsel for the defendant had any authority to make a request, in behalf of the juror, to be allowed such opportunity for explanation. Non constat, but that the juror may have entertained no such desire.” — Prior v. State, 77 Ala. 56-60.

Unlike in criminal cases, generally, the defendant assigned errors in this case. The errors assigned, and such as he insists on have been examined. Others, not noticed in this opinion, deserve no consideration, as they were without merit.

Affirmed.

Dowdell Simpson, and Denson, JJ., concur.