Kitts v. State , 70 Ark. 521 ( 1901 )

Battle, J.

The indictment in this case is as follows: “The grand jury of Desha county, Arkansas City district, in the name and by the authority of the state of Arkansas, accuse Jim Kitts of the crime of murder in the first degree, committed as follows, to-wit: The said Jim Kitts, in the county, district and state aforesaid, on the 25th day of November, A. D. 1901, did unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, with malice aforethought, deliberation and premeditation, kill and murder Jim Johnson by shooting the said Jim Johnson in the side and body of him, the said Jim Johnson, with a deadly weapon, to-wit, a Winchester rifle, loaded with gunpowder and leaden balls, and then and there held in the hands of him, the said Jim Kitts, from which wound so received said Jim Johnson, on the 25th day of November, 1891, die, against the peace and dignity of the state of Arkansas.” A demurrer to it was filed and overruled.

The defendant was then arraigned; pleaded not guilty; was tried by a jury, and convicted of murder in the first degree; and he appealed.

On the day of the trial he filed a motion for a continuance, and for cause said: “That Tom Watson, a witness for the defendant, is absent; that said Tom Watson is a resident of the town of Arkansas City; that immediately after the setting of this case by the court for trial upon this day defendant caused a subpoena for said witness to be issued, and placed said subpoena in the hands of the sheriff for service; that said subpoena is returned not served; that defendant believes that by said witness he will prove that the decedent, Jim Johnson, uttered threats of killing defendant; that said witness communicated said threat to defendant; that said threats were made upon the day of the killing of said Jim Johnson; that affiant believes said facts to be true; that said witness is not absent by consent, connivance, or procurement of affiant.”

The court denied the motion, and proceeded to try the defendant.

In the progress of the trial, A. Driedell, mayor of Arkansas City, testified, over the objection of the defendant, that he, as mayor, issued a warrant for the arrest of the defendant, at the instance of Jim Johnson, the deceased, and Pat Henderson; that Johnson was a witness in the case, and the defendant was fined; .and that he was tried on the same day the deceased was killed, the trial occurring about 1 o’clock in the afternoon, and the killing between 7 and 8 o’clock p. m.

The appellant insists that the judgment of the trial court should be reversed for the following reasons:

First. Because the indictment is defective.

Second. Because the court overruled his motion for a continuance.

Third. Because the court erred in’ admitting the testimony of Driedell.

The appellant contends that the indictment is defective, because the following allegation is made in it, “from which wound so received said Jim Johnson, on the 25th day of November, 1901, die.” He says it does not appear from' this allegation that he did die or will die. But when it is read in connection with what precedes it clearly appears that did die is meant.^*

The refusal to continue was not prejudicial. The evidence adduced at the trial showed that the deceased was not, at the time he was killed, threatening or making any effort to assault the appellant; and that, if the absent witness had been present at the trial, his testimony would not have been admissible.

The testimony of Driedell was competent. The contents of the warrant or judgment were not in issue. The facts testified to by the witness were collateral, and tended to show appellant’s motive for killing the deceased, and were provable by oral evidence. Long v. State, 10 Tex. App. 186; Under. Crim. Ev. § 44.

The evidence adduced at the trial was sufficient to sustain the verdict of the jury.

Judgment affirmed.

* Contra, see State v. Hagan, 164 Mo. 654 (Rep.).