Horton v. State

There were two counts in the indictment, the first count charging the manufacture of prohibited liquors and the second count charging the possession of a still.

There was ample evidence to support the verdict of guilty. However, the bill of exceptions does not purport to set out all the evidence, and this court will on appeal presume that there was testimony to justify the conviction, and all the rulings of the primary court if under any state of proof they would be free from error. Montgomery Eufaula Ry. Co. v. Kolb Hardaway,73 Ala. 396, 49 Am. Rep. 54; Sanders v. Steen, 128 Ala. 634,29 So. 586; Mobile, J. K.C.R. Co. v. Owen, 121 Ala. 513,25 So. 612.

A state's witness testified without objection that when the officers raided the still they found there a gun with a shell in it, and other shells in the pocket of one of the men at the still. The defendant objected to the question asked this witness, "Were they the same size of the one in the gun?" on the ground that it called for a conclusion of the witness. The witness replied they were the same size. This was a mere statement of a fact.

A witness may testify that other parties were "trying to fight" and "trying to get together" (Reeves v. State, 96 Ala. 33,11 So. 296); that a dog is fierce and inclined to bite (Mattison v. State, 55 Ala. 224); that this was the "commencement of the difficulty," and that another was "trying to get away" (Lewis v. State, 49 Ala. 1); that a pistol must be held very close to scorch cloth when fired, though he is not an expert (Miller v. State, 107 Ala. 40, 19 So. 37); that a small boy is a smart boy (Martin v. State, 90 Ala. 602, 8 So. 858, 24 Am. St. Rep. 844); that he heard another "cussing" (Fuller v. State, 117 Ala. 36,23 So. 688); that he had seen several sheep with the marks changed from that of the prosecutor to that of the defendant (Howard v. State, 108 Ala. 571, 18 So. 813); that he saw a place on the ground that looked like a man's shoulders had struck (Watkins v. State, 89 Ala. 82, 9 So. 134).

When a specific ground of objection to testimony is assigned all other grounds are waived. McDaniel v. State, 97 Ala. 14,12 So. 241. Objection that the testimony offered was immaterial cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.

The witness Root, having qualified as an expert, was competent to testify to the process of the manufacture of whisky.

The written charges (not numbered) requested by the defendant were properly refused. All of the charges are the equivalent of the general affirmative charge for the defendant. As the bill of exceptions does not purport to set out all the evidence it will be presumed that there was evidence to justify the court in the refusal of the charges asked.

The exception to the entire oral charge of the court on the ground that it was the affirmative charge for the state is without merit. Exceptions to the charge should point out and specify the part excepted to.

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

Affirmed.