Gray v. State ( 1926 )

All of the questions of any merit appearing in this record are presented in appellant's brief, and are discussed in the order of presentation.

The homicide was the result of a difficulty or altercation at a crap game in a road camp late at night, in which game the deceased, the defendant, and others participated. There were other negroes in the camp, one of whom was Will Palmer, who was a material witness for the state, and testified to facts concerning the homicide and of the res gestæ. On redirect examination this witness was asked, in substance, what had first attracted his attention and caused him to look to where the difficulty was going on. To this the witness answered: "They commenced walking about, and said Floyd was going after a gun"; that this was about 20 minutes before the shooting. Exceptions and motions were duly made and overruled. This witness had been cross-examined in such manner as to evidence an attempt to discredit the testimony that he had looked and seen the difficulty. If, therefore, there had happened anything unusual to attract his attention, such fact would be relevant in corroboration of the statement that witness had looked and at what time. Besides, even if error, upon a consideration of this record such action would not be sufficient upon which to predicate a reversal.

When the witnesses Miller Green and Joe Green were on the stand as witnesses for defendant, and had testified to his general good character, the solicitor on cross-examination asked each of them this question:

"Do you consider a man of good reputation that puts a pistol in his pocket in the daytime, conceals it about his person, and goes over to his neighboring town, Jacksonville, Ala., and spends a portion of the day, and goes back to a church with his own people with a pistol concealed on his person, and goes from there to a road camp where gambling is going on, and engages for more than two hours in what they call a skin game, the pistol still concealed on his person, would you still consider him a man of good repute?"

The foregoing questions were predicated upon facts testified to by the state's witnesses, and could have only referred to the defendant. A witness to character cannot speak of particular acts, or even the course of conduct of the person inquired about, but is confined to a statement of general reputation in the neighborhood in which he lives. And it is held that the cross-examination of a character witness must be conducted within the limits of this inquiry. In a case similar to this the Supreme Court, speaking through Dowdell, J., said:

"The question asked was as to the particular acts and conduct and could have had reference to no one (other) than defendant." "It was without the rule above laid down."

Nor was the question proper, or the evidence sought competent, on the suggestion made by counsel for the state to ascertain witness' standard of what it took to constitute good character. In the case quoted from, the overruling of defendant's objection to the question was held to be reversible error. Way v. State, 155 Ala. 52-63, 46 So. 273; Moulton v. State, 88 Ala. 118, 6 So. 758, 6 L.R.A. 301; Rogers v. State,16 Ala. App. 58, 75 So. 264.

The answers of the witnesses, while not directly responsive, were such as to indicate that, if such facts existed as detailed in the question, their testimony as to defendant's character would or might have been different. Therefore, we cannot say that the injurious error was cured by the answers.

The court in his oral charge said:

"The defendant has testified in his own behalf. He has a right to do that. The law says that he may or he may not, but he has elected in this case to testify. You are authorized to weigh the defendant's testimony in the light of his interest in this case. Of course, he is interested because he is the defendant, but it does not follow necessarily that because he is the defendant that he is not telling the truth. But, if you cannot reconcile his testimony and make it speak the truth, then you are authorized to weigh that testimony in the light of his interest in this case."

This is a correct statement of the law. Green v. State,19 Ala. App. 239, 96 So. 651.

The court in his general charge instructed the jury upon the doctrine of retreat and freedom from fault, and embraced all of the correct propositions of law stated in written charges refused to defendant.

For the error pointed out, the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.