Bentley v. State , 12 Ala. App. 39 ( 1915 )

PELHAM, P. J.

The defendant was indicted for manslaughter in the second degree for killing one J. H. Moore by negligently running over or against him with an automobile.

It appeared from the evidence on the trial without conflict that immediately preceding the occurrence which resulted in the automobile operated by the defendant “skidding’ some 50 feet and running upon a pavement and crushing the said Moore, who was walking along the sidewalk, against a brick wall, and so injuring him that he died as a result of the injuries inflicted, there had been a collision at one of the street crossings in the city of Montgomery between the automobile operated by the defendant, known as the “Abraham” car, and another automobile, called the “Gay” car. It was a material inquiry in fixing criminal responsibility for the death of Moore on the defendant to show that the defendant was at fault in bringing about the collision. As having a tendency to prove this fact, different witnesses were allowed to testify for the state with respect to the condition and marks on the cars after the collision, and one witness, Doster by name, testified in behalf of the state that he examined the cars soon after the accident, and, after stating the condition of the Gay car, was allowed to give his judgment that “it was struck on the right front wheel.” This witness was shown to have had eight years’ experience with automobiles, but was not a mechanic. After the introduction of this evidence by .the state, the defendant introduced one Fred Newell as a witness in his behalf, and, after showing on the preliminary examination that he was an automobile mechanic of ten years’ experience, and that he had also examined the two cars within half an hour after the accident, the defendant’s counsel asked the witness: “Where was the Abraham car hit?” The court was in error in sustaining tbe solicitor’s objection to this question, for aside from tbe fact that tbe evidence sought to be elic-. ited by tbe question was otherwise competent, tbe ruling operated as a denial to tbe defendant, that concluded him from meeting with kind tbe evidence of an identical nature, tending to prove a material issue, that bad been previously admitted in behalf of tbe state.—Pollack v. Gunter & Gunter, 162 Ala. 317, 320, 50 South. 155.

As tbe defendant was on trial charged with second degree manslaughter, there was no issue before tbe court of an intent, and, as tbe person’s death who was alleged to have been killed as tbe result of being struck by tbe automobile operated by defendant was without conflict in tbe evidence shown to have been directly attributable to having been so struck we think tbe court should not have permitted tbe solicitor to prove against tbe defendant’s objection that after tbe pedestrian was struck, and before be died, and while still pinned between tbe car and tbe wall, “be kept on repeating, ‘God have mercy on me!’ ” and using similar expressions, prayers, or outcries. While this may have been part of tbe res gestas, as ruled by tbe trial court in admitting proof of these outcries over tbe objection of tbe defendant, yet it bad no legimate tendency to prove any issue or shed light on any matter in controversy before tbe court, and was calculated, to be highly prejudicial to tbe defendant in arousing a feeling of sympathy, passion, or prejudice in tbe minds of the jury. Tbe facts or circumstances of a transaction, to be admissible as forming part of tbe res gestae, should be evi-dentiary of tbe litigated fact. It is only those contemporaneous circumstances, facts, and declarations growing out of tbe main fact which serve to illustrate, elucidate, or explain tbe character or quality of tbe act, or show a motive for acting, that are properly admissible on the theory of being a part of the res gestae.

Other matters presented by the record are without error requiring a reversal, but, for the errors pointed out, the judgment of conviction must be reversed, and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.