Lee v. State , 20 Ala. App. 334 ( 1924 )

Defendants were jointly indicted and convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of from three to five years.

The evidence on the part of the state tended to show that one A.J. Gomillion was the owner of the money alleged to have been stolen. The evidence as to the actual commission of the offense was circumstantial; it being shown by the state that defendants were at Gomillion's store a short time before the money was missed, that they were seen in the store while the owner was asleep on the porch, that no one else but the defendants had been in the store since the money had last been seen except the owner and his clerk, and that after the money was missed both of the defendants were seen with considerable money in their possession. The evidence for the state further tended to show that one of the defendants, Johnnie Lee, was without money the day before the money was missed.

The evidence for defendants consisted chiefly of denials of material evidence for the state and of efforts to impeach witnesses for the state.

The evidence was sufficient to submit to the jury the question of guilt vel non of each of the defendants, and the general affirmative charge was properly refused. Frost v. State, 124 Ala. 85,27 So. 251; Burrage v. State, 113 Ala. 108, 21 So. 213.

Appellants' counsel earnestly insist that there was a material variance in the allegations of the indictment and the proof. The first count of the indictment was eliminated by the charge of the court. The remaining count charged the defendants with the larceny of, "to wit, $405, consisting of $20 bills, $10 bills, $5 bills, $2 bills, and $1 bills." The evidence for the state showed that the money alleged to have been stolen consisted of $20 bills, $10 bills, and $5 bills; but there were no $2 bills or $1 bills stolen.

As a general rule where a particular kind of property is specifically described in an indictment, it must be proved as laid. However, it is no valid objection that the description of the property alleged to have been stolen is broad enough to include more than the proof shows, provided the proof shows a commission of the offense charged. The evidence in the instant case showed the larceny of about $405, consisting of $20 bills, $10 bills, and $5 bills, and the failure to prove the larceny of $2 bills and $1 bills did not constitute a fatal variance between the allegations and the proof. Bates v. State, 152 Ala. 77,44 So. 695; State v. Murphy, 6 Ala. 846.

It was competent for the state to show that one of the defendants sought to borrow money from a state's witness the day before the money was stolen. Such evidence, though weak and inconclusive, was admissible to show a motive of the defendant for the commission of the offense. Woods v. State, 76 Ala. 35, 52 Am. Rep. 315; Marler v. State, 67 Ala. 55, 42 Am. Rep. 95; McAdory v. State, 62 Ala. 154.

It was competent for the state to show by the witness that the defendant Johnnie Lee had not been working for several months prior to the time the money was said to have been stolen, and that he had no property or income. This testimony in connection, with that of other witnesses that defendant was well supplied with money immediately after the larceny was said to have taken place, was relevant for the purpose of showing a need for the money, a motive for the commission of the offense, and a greater likelihood of defendant having committed the offense if he had the opportunity to do so. Martin v. State, 104 Ala. 71,16 So. 82.

On cross-examination of J.D. Curry, a witness for the state, the fact was brought out by the defendant that the witness was in the county jail. On redirect examination he was asked, "You are in jail for fighting, are you?" He answered, "Yes, I am in jail for fighting, but I am not in jail for stealing." The defendant's motion to exclude the answer was overruled and an exception reserved. The mere fact that he was in jail was not sufficient to impeach his credibility as a witness. However, this fact was brought out by the defendants, and it was competent for the state to ask the nature of the crime for which the witness was incarcerated. Williams v. State, 103 Ala. 33, 15 So. 662; Gibson v. State, 91 Ala. 64, 9 So. 171; Swope v. State, 4 Ala. App. 83,

58 So. 809. The latter part of the answer was not responsive to the question and may have been intended as an insinuative thrust at the defendants. However, the motion to exclude was directed to the entire answer, a part of which was admissible, and there was no error in refusing to exclude the whole.

Dock Odom, a witness for the defendant, was asked on cross-examination, "You have just got to be a witness since it got down here, is that right?" The witness answered, "I reckon so." No specific grounds of objection were assigned. It has been repeatedly held that the extent to which cross-examination may go for the purpose of testing the correctness, fairness, and credibility of the witness must be left largely to the sound discretion of the trial court. There was no abuse of its discretion by the trial court in permitting the question. Hall v. State, 40 Ala. 698; Sanford v. State, 2 Ala. App. 81, 57 So. 134; Treadwell v. State, 168 Ala. 96, 53 So. 290.

No exception was reserved to the ruling of the court sustaining the state's objection to the question asked Labe Odom, a witness for defendant, "They got word to you, didn't they, last night?" and no question is presented here for review. Austin v. State,145 Ala. 37, 40 So. 989; Coker v. State, 147 Ala. 701,41 So. 303.¹

It was not material to any issue in the case that the defendant Johnnie Lee was in the army during the World War and that he fought in France.

Thad Gomillion, a witness for the state, was asked, "Were you there after it was said that he was there?" He replied, "Yes sir." The answer was responsive to the question to which no objection was interposed and the court did not err in overruling the motion to exclude the answer. Dowling v. State, 151 Ala. 131,44 So. 403; Bone v. State, 8 Ala. App. 59, 62 So. 455.

The fact that defendants had not offered any evidence on their preliminary hearing was immaterial and irrelevant to any issue in the case.

Charge G singles out and gives undue prominence to particular testimony and was properly refused.

Charge H is invasive of the province of the jury.

There is no error in the record, and the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

¹ Reported in full in the Southern Reporter; notreported in full in Alabama Reports.