Hawes v. State , 216 Ala. 151 ( 1927 )

The defendant was indicted under three counts — the first, for larceny of an automobile; the second, for its embezzlement; and the third, for larceny of $100 from the person of one P. L. Hudson. The state's case, briefly stated, was that Hudson, after being driven around by defendant in a Ford car, bought the car from defendant for $100, which he then and there paid to him in cash; whereupon defendant, on the pretense of going to the courthouse to get the proper papers, and, promising to return shortly, drove the car off, and did not return at all, and was shortly afterwards found by the arresting officer with the car in his possession.

It thus appears that Hudson voluntarily parted, not only with the possession of the money he paid to defendant, but also with its ownership, which was unconditionally vested in defendant. Under these circumstances defendant could not be held guilty of larceny of the money. Ex parte Economu, 211 Ala. 237,100 So. 85.

The verdict of guilty was general, as authorized by the trial court in its instructions to the jury, and it is impossible to determine from the record under what count or counts of the indictment the jury found defendant guilty. In this state of the case we see no escape from the conclusion that the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to instruct the jury, as duly requested by defendant, that they could not convict defendant under the third count for the larceny of the money. Brasher v. State, 21 Ala. App. 309, 107 So. 727; Dorsey v. State, 134 Ala. 553, 33 So. 350; Walling v. Fields, 209 Ala. 389,96 So. 471.

When the question propounded to a witness is so general, or so broad in its scope, that a responsive answer may as well be irrelevant or illegal as otherwise, the question is properly excluded if objected to by the other party. Birmingham R., L. P. Co. v. Barrett, 179 Ala. 274, 285-290, 60 So. 262, reviewing the cases.

But, when there is nothing on the face of the question, or in the statement of examining counsel, to show that the answer will be irrelevant or illegal, the opposing party has no right to have the question excluded, and the trial court's refusal to exclude is not error. Huckabee v. State, 168 Ala. 27,53 So. 251; Forrester v. May, 3 Ala. App. 281, 284, 57 So. 64.

The rule then is clearly established that the trial court may either exclude such a question, or allow it to be answered, without error either way. And the result is necessarily that the objection may and must be made to irrelevant or illegal statements as they may appear in the course of the witness' narrative, pursuant to such general question. Forrester v. May,3 Ala. App. 281, 284, 57 So. 64.

Under this principle, it must be held that the trial court erred in overruling defendant's objection to the illegal hearsay matter testified to by the witness Avant, in response to the general question, "Tell the jury what you know about the case?" The objection was properly made when the hearsay was presented, and should have been sustained.

When the issue involves the intent with which the defendant has taken and is holding possession of property, declarations explanatory of his possession, made while in possession and directly relating thereto, are competent evidence, under the verbal act doctrine, and cannot be excluded as being merely self-serving declarations. Smith v. State,103 Ala. 40, 16 So. 12; Bryant v. State, 116 Ala. 445, 23 So. 40; 1 Greenl. Ev. (16th Ed.) 188-192, § 108. The declarations of defendant, as sought to be shown by his witness Rambo, were that, when witness saw defendant, very shortly after he left the prosecutor Hudson, after the transaction with him, defendant inquired of witness "if he had seen a man named Hudson; that he was looking for Hudson, with whom he had had a deal about an automobile, and whom he was to meet at that place, but had been unable to find." These declarations are not within the rule of admissibility, because they do not relate directly to the fact of defendant's possession of the automobile, but primarily to collateral incidents, and their exclusion was, we think, without error.

The judgment of the trial court should have been reversed for the two errors above noted, and the judgment of affirmance by the Court of Appeals will be set aside, and the cause remanded to that court for further proceedings in accordance herewith.

Writ of certiorari granted.

All the Justices concur in the granting of the writ.

ANDERSON, C. J., and THOMAS and BOULDIN, JJ., concur in the opinion.

SAYRE, GARDNER, and BROWN, JJ., dissent only upon the proposition that the defendant was entitled to the general affirmative charge on count 3 of the indictment, being of the opinion that on the facts stated it was a question for the jury whether or not Hudson intended to part with the ownership of the money.