Hall v. State , 18 Ala. App. 407 ( 1922 )

We have carefully considered the exceptions shown by this record, and find none of a prejudicial nature except as shall be hereinafter shown.

G.C. Watson was shown to have been one of the jury commissioners of Monroe county, and as such was exempt from jury duty under Acts 1909, p. 305, § 13. The manner of making the proof of this fact was not objected to by the defendant, and any irregularity in making it was waived.

The manner of drawing the special venire adopted by the trial judge, while not the usual way of drawing the names of jurors from the jury box, is not reversible error. Acts 1909, p. 317, § 29; Vaughn v. State, 17 Ala. App. 383, 84 So. 879. This state has gotten away from the technical manner of drawing juries, which obtained at the time covered by the authorities cited by appellant's counsel. Garner v. State, 206 Ala. 56,89 So. 69.

As to whether the hands working on the public road where the killing occurred had selected defendant as overseer was entirely immaterial. Even if such selection had been legal, which it was not, he would have no right to enforce his authority as such vi et armis.

While it is always relevant to offer proof showing interest or bias of a witness, the fact that one man owes another money would not even be an impeaching circumstance.

As to whether Steele, the dead man, was the legally appointed overseer of the road gang, under the evidence in this case, was entirely immaterial; that he was so acting at the time was a part of the res gestæ, but the validity of his title to the position could not become a question in this prosecution. If Hall wanted to test Steele's authority, there was a legal way of doing so, and the dependant would have no right to contest the right with him in a physical rencounter.

The sixth insistence in appellant's brief has been considered and passed upon supra.

The court did not err in sustaining the state's objection to the question asked the witness Stabler by defendant's counsel: "He was a man in the habit of carrying a pistol, wasn't he?" Sims v. State, 139 Ala. 74, 36 So. 138, 101 Am. St. Rep. 17; Rodgers v. State, 144 Ala. 32, 40 So. 572; Wiley v. State,99 Ala. 146, 13 So. 424.

Defendants in giving their testimony, like other witnesses, must state facts, but will not be permitted to state their reasons for doing certain things, and hence it is apparent that the question asked by defendant's counsel of defendant, while he was being examined as a witness "Why did you jump in the road?" was objectionable.

It is insisted that the trial court committed reversible error in its oral charge in several statements now pointed out in brief, but to which exceptions were not reserved, and as authority for this we are cited Montgomery v. State, 17. Ala. App. 469, 86 So. 132, where a majority of this court held that these excerpts from the court's general charge were reviewable, without specific reservation of exception. In that case the writer of this opinion dissented, which dissent was upheld in Ex parte State ex rel. Smith, 204 Ala. 389, 85 So. 785.

The court in its general charge, in connection with general remarks seeking to impress the jury with the dignity and importance of the position they then occupied said:

"And it has been well stated you occupy a position above the Governor, and above the President, so you in entering upon your duty should take into consideration all of the evidence and look to the witnesses as they testify on the witness stand and their manner of giving their evidence and all the other facts, for, gentlemen of the jury, as has been well stated in these arguments, that crime is rampant not only in your good county but in the state of Alabama and throughout the United States, and wherever the state of Alabama makes out a case beyond a reasonable doubt then, gentlemen of the jury, it is not only your duty but should gladly render a verdict that will prevent the same kind of crime being committed under circumstances which do not justify the taking of the life of a human being, if you find that this life was taken without justification, as I will charge you later, and that the defendant is proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, then gentlemen of the jury, you should appreciate the position you occupy, for it is far above the position the court occupies."

The defendant at the conclusion of the charge excepted to that part of the charge as follows:

"For, gentlemen of the jury, as has been well stated in these arguments, that crime is rampant not only in your good county but in the state of Alabama and throughout the United States."

Whereupon the court said:

"I will exclude that part of it. You gentlemen can determine the case for yourselves, and I will exclude what I said about crime being rampant not only through the good county of Monroe and Alabama and the United States. You need not consider that as a part of my charge, and I will withdraw that from your consideration".

The statement of the court to which exception was taken was improper, and so recognized by the trial judge, who at once withdrew them. This ruling was favourable to the defendant, and hence he is left without an exception. In the absence of a motion for a new trial and on appeal from a judgment overruling that motion, we cannot review the action of the trial court further. Bean v. State (Ala.App.) 91 So. 409;¹ Birmingham Railway, Light Power Co. v. Drennen, 175 Ala. 338, 57 So. 876, Ann. Cas. 1914C, 1037; Birmingham Railway, Light Power Co. v. Gonzalez, 183 Ala. 273, 61 So. 80, Ann. Cas. 1916A, 543.

We find no error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed

¹ Ante, p. 281.