Owens v. Callaway , 42 Ala. 301 ( 1868 )

A. J. WALKER, C. J.

The only error imputed to the court below is, the charge that “if the jury believe the evidence they should find for the defendant.” All the evidence not being set out in the bill of exceptions, we can not revise the ruling of the court below.

Affirmed.

Judge, J., not sitting.

BYRD, J.

In response to the application for a re-hearing in this cause, after giving the argument in support of it a careful examination, we will say that, in our opinion, the authorities cited and relied on by counsel, are not at variance with the conclusion heretofore announced. It is evident that the bill of exceptions does not set out all the testimony and proof offered on the trial; and in several instances, instead of setting out the evidence, it states that “proof was offered” which tended to show certain things material to the issue. As such proof or evidence is not set out, we are unable to say, and cannot presume, that it established the truth of the things or matters which it tended to prove. If we were to resort to presumptions, the adjudications of this court would require us to presume that they were not proven to the satisfaction of the court. We cannot, therefore, see that the court erred in the charge given. Such a charge is authorized by the Code, when requested by the party in whose favor it is given; and we will presume that it was given upon the request of such party, where the record does not disclose whether it was so requested or not. — English v. McMair, 34 Ala. 40.

The distinction which is established by a series of decisions of this court, between a general charge, such as this, and a special one, may be thus laid down : When a general affirmative charge is given, upon the effect of evidence, where there is no conflict on any material point, and it is excepted to, the party excepting must set out all the evidence, in order to avail himself of an exception to the correctness of the charge. — Buffington v. Cook, 37 Ala. 312 ; Doe, ex dem. v. Godwin, 30 Ala. 243; Fleming v. Ussey, ib. 283.

But in the case of a special charge, all that is required is, that the party set out enough evidence to show that the charge given or refused, was not abstract, and that it was or was not erroneous when construed, with reference to such evidence ; or, if no evidence is set out, that it contains any such construction in conflict with the legal principle, or not in conflict therewith, and pertinent to the matter in controversy, as shown by the pleadings; then, in either case, it would be an error which would authorize a reversal. — Sackett et al. v. McCord, 23 Ala. 854; Moore v. Clay, 24 ib. 237; Hines et ux v. Trantham, 27 ib. 361; and other cases cited in application for a re-hearing in this case ; McLemore v. Nuckles, 37 ib. 662.

We do not intend to intimate that .a general affirmative charge given by the court might not be a reversable error, where the evidence set out shows a clear case of conflict therein, although all the evidence is not set out in the bill of exceptions.

But in this case, it does not appear that any evidence was offered on the part of the appellee, and there is no conflict on any material point.

Application overruled.