Martin v. State

The defendant was indicted, tried, and convicted of the offense denounced by section 7700 of the Code of 1907, as amended by an act approved March 17, 1915. Acts 1915, p. 137.

The evidence introduced by the state tended to show that he had intercourse with the girl named in the indictment in 1916, and in March, 1917, and that she was born in October, 1901. Defendant denied having intercourse with his alleged victim, and the evidence introduced on his behalf tended to show that she was born in the year 1899.

The purpose of the statute above referred to is to protect girls who are over the age of 12 years and under 16, by absolutely prohibiting intercourse with them, and this without regard to their reputation for chastity or their status in society. (This law, however, does not apply to boys under sixteen years of age.) Therefore the trial court was not in error in sustaining the objections to the line of questions seeking to show that the girl in question associated with men, or had intercourse with men, in 1916. What Mrs. Andrews' little girl had said to defendant was manifestly hearsay evidence, and was therefore inadmissible, and the court did not err in declining to allow the conversation (whatever it was does not here appear) to be introduced in evidence.

The statement of a deceased parent in reference to a child's age may be received in evidence, though given by a third party, as tending to establish the age of the child. Rowland v. Ladiga's Heirs, 21 Ala. 9, 32; Rogers v. De Bardeleben Coal Iron Co., 97 Ala. 154, 12 So. 81.

The defendant brought out, on cross-examination of the girl in question, that she had given birth to a child some time after the alleged commission of the carnal act charged. It was therefore permissible for the state to ask her if the defendant was the father of the child. The physical fact that a child had been born was proof positive that some one had violated the law, if the girl in question was within the prohibited ages; and if the defendant was its father his denial of having had intercourse with her could not be sustained.

It was permissible for the state to show that the victim, or the girl in question, and the defendant, were frequently in each other's company, at or about the time of the commission of the alleged intercourse. It at least tended to show defendant probably had the opportunity, if there was no other obstacle in the way, to commit the crime charged.

The weight and sufficiency of the evidence was for the jury. There is sufficient evidence, if believed, to sustain the verdict, and there was no error committed in overruling defendant's motion for a new trial.

There being no error in the record, the judgment of conviction appealed from must be affirmed.

Affirmed.