Abrams v. State ( 1920 )

This prosecution originated in the recorder's court, and from a judgment of conviction in that court an appeal was taken to the circuit court, and was there tried by a jury. The defendant was charged with violating the prohibition law (Code 1907, §§ 7352-7377), and was finally tried upon a complaint filed by the solicitor under section 6730 of the Code of 1907.

Many exceptions were reserved to the rulings of the court upon the evidence; the exceptions involving in the main the doctrine of election. We are of the opinion it would serve no good purpose to deal specifically with each of these exceptions, as the question of election by the state has been definitely settled in the cases of Joyner v. State, 16 Ala. App. 240,77 So. 78, Ex parte Joyner, 201 Ala. 696,77 So. 1000, and Brooms v. State, 197 Ala. 419, 73 So. 35, and these authorities will be sufficient to guide the court and counsel upon another trial of this case.

Pending the trial the solicitor was permitted to prove by the defendant on cross-examination that he had formerly been convicted of the offense of violating the prohibition law, and the court, in his oral charge to the jury, said:

"Testimony with reference to other convictions, may be looked to by the jury for several purposes: First, to assist you in making up your mind in weighing the testimony of the defendant, if he takes the stand. That would go in evidence, and would be relevant as to his credibility."

This portion of the oral charge of the court was excepted to, and we are of the opinion that the exception was well taken. Only convictions of offenses involving moral turpitude may be shown as affecting the credibility of a witness. Code 1907, § 4008; Smith v. State, 129 Ala. 89, 29 So. 699, 87 Am. St. Rep. 47; Prov. L. Acc. Ins. Co. v. Black, 15 Ala. App. 437,73 So. 757; Fuller v. State, 147 Ala. 37, 41 So. 774; Moore v. State, 10 Ala. App. 179, 64 So. 520. It is true that section 4009 provides:

"A witness may be examined touching his conviction for crime, and his answers may be contradicted by other evidence."

But this section must be construed with section 4008, Code 1907, which provides:

"No objection must be allowed to the competency of a witness because of his conviction for any crime, except perjury or subornation of perjury; but if he has been convicted of a crimeinvolving moral turpitude, the objection goes to his credibility." (Italics ours.)

Other questions presented by this record need not be decided, as in all probability the same will not occur upon another trial. For the error pointed out, the judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.