Espy v. State

The first insistence of error is based upon the rulings of the court in permitting the state's witnesses to testify relative to the finding of the still, etc., in the smokehouse and on his premises without first showing that the officers making the search had a search warrant authorizing them to do so. In the case of Mary Banks v. State (Ala.App.) 93 So. 293,¹ this question has been expressly decided adversely to the contention of the appellant. There was no error in these rulings.

The remaining questions presented relate solely to the rulings of the court upon the testimony, and to a certain statement by the solicitor in his closing argument to the jury. As to the latter, we are of the opinion that the remarks of the solicitor were improper, bordering upon the discourteous to defendant's counsel, and in the due administration of the law and conduct of trials such occurrences should not be indulged. However, we cannot import that degree of gravity or importance to the question presented here which would necessitate or require a reversal of the judgment in this case.

The testimony was in conflict, and was for the determination of the jury. There was some evidence to sustain the charge complained of in the indictment, and this, together with the inferences to be drawn from the evidence as a whole, was sufficient upon which to predicate the verdict rendered.

The defendant undertook to show that there were bad feelings upon the part of one Arthur Wright toward the defendant, and that said Wright had uttered threats against the defendant. This evidence was clearly not competent. Arthur Wright was in no manner connected with the trial of this defendant, as a witness or otherwise. And while it is always permissible for a defendant accused of a specific crime to show that another, and not he, was the guilty party, yet it is not competent for the accused to show merely that he suspected another to be guilty, or that another was suspected of the commission of the crime. Evidence of guilty of another must relate to the res gestæ, and not to declarations, threats, or conduct of the party on whom it is attempted to cast suspicion, subsequent to and having no immediate connection with the crime. Levison v. State, 54 Ala. 520; 1 Mayfield, Dig. 335, § 23.

In our opinion no error is shown upon the trial of this case in the court below injuriously affecting the substantial rights of the defendant. The record is also free from error. It follows that the judgment appealed from must be affirmed.

Affirmed.

¹ Ante, p. 376.