Case ID: nc_133/html/0672-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Montgomery, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE v. CROOK.
    [two cases.]
    (Filed October 27, 1903.)
    1. EVIDENCE — Witnesses—Declarations.
    Where a prosecuting witness is asked as to a conversation and denies it, the answer to which would be calculated to show the temper and disposition of the witness, the defendant is entitled to show that the declaration was made, though the the time was not the same as that stated to the witness.
    2. ASSAULT — Fmeessive Force — Trespass.
    While excessive force may not be used in removing a trespasser, the owner of the premises may use sufficient force under all the circumstances to remove him.
    INDICTMENTS against Jeff Crook and Prank Grook, heard by Judge G. M. Goolce and a jury, at August Term, 1903, of the Superior Court of Union County. From verdicts of guilty and judgments thereon the defendants appealed.
    
      Robert D. Gilmer, Attorney-General, for the State.
    
      Adams, Jerome & Armfield, for Jeff Crook.
    
      Redwine & Stack, for Frank Crook.
   Montgomery, J.

Jeff Cook was indicted for an assault and battery on Frank Crook, and Frank Crook and Sallie Crook were separately indicted for an assault and battery on Jeff Cook, in the Superior Court of Union County, and tbe two cases were by consent consolidated and tried together at the August Term, 1903, of that Court. Jeff and Frank both were convicted and both appealed to this Court. We will treat the two appeals in one case.

JEFE CROOKA APPEAL.

Frank Cook, as a witness for the prosecution, was asked on his cross-examination if he did not tell Jim Cook, the father of John (John being present when the affray occurred), that if John did not testify on the trial that Jeff Cook used the knucks and pistol in the fight, and did not testify as Frank wanted him- to, that he would have John indicted; and if this conversation did not occur about two or three weeks after the fight. Frank denied that any such conversation occurred there or at any other time or place. Jim Cook was then introduced as a witness for Jeff, and it was proposed to prove by the witness that about two or three weeks after the fight Frank Cook had the conversation with him as above narrated. The witness stated that the conversation occurred at Eachel Crook’s, but that it was only about four days after the fight. Frank Crook objected to the testimony offered, and the objection was sustained by the Court, and the testimony rejected on the ground that the time fixed by the witness was not the time asked about in the question to Frank Crook. That is the only exception appearing in Jeff Crook’s appeal.

Assimilating the matter sought to be proved, to-wit, the bias or temper of the witness Frank Crook toward the defendant Jeff to that of the contradiction of a witness, it was necessary, generally speaking, to prove tbe time when and tbe place where tbe conversation was alleged to bave occurred and tbe person with whom it was bad; but tbe rule must not be ironclad; State v. Glynn, 51 Vt., 579 ; South R. Co. v. Williams, 113 Ala., 620; and must not be reduced to a petty technicality. Tbe question concerned a collateral matter, it is true, but it was calculated to show tbe temper and disposition of tbe witness, and was therefore competent and tbe subject of contradiction. State v. Patterson, 24 N. C., 346, 38 Am. Dec., 699; Kramer v. Electric Light Co., 95 N. C., 277. His Honor took that view of tbe question, but be thought that tbe witness in contradiction should prove tbe exact time designated by Frank Crook of the occurrence of tbe conversation. We think be was in error. In Nelson v. Iverson, 24 Ala., 9, 60 Am. Dec., 442, the time fixed in the question to tbe witness was whether be heard tbe conversation in the spring of 1830, and tbe witness was allowed to be impeached by proving that tbe statement denied was made in February, 1830. The Court in that case said: “To suppose that with a recollection of the conversation she was shielding herself under tbe letter of tbe inquiry as to time, disregarding the other concurrent circumstances of place, person and subject matter, all which pointed her to tbe true answer, would tend more strongly to discredit her testimony than tbe proven contradiction ; for as to tbe latter she ma,y bave forgotten, or tbe discrediting witness himself may be mistaken, while under tbe former hypothesis her testimony would amount to an artful evasion of tbe true answer. We think tbe proof was properly admitted.”

In tbe editor’s note on section 462 of Greenleaf on Evidence it is said on this subject: “Tbe inquiry of tbe witness to be discredited must specify, it is usually said, tbe time, place and person (addressee) of the supposed inconsistent statement; but tbe fixing of this specified form is to be deprecated, for it leads to innumerable petty technicalities; in principle and policy the inquiry need merely state enough fairly to recall the statement to the witness’ mind if he has made it.”

New trial.

FRANK CROOKS APPEAL.

There was evidence to the effect that Jeff Crook came to the home of the defendant Frank very drunk and profane; that he cursed Frank’s sister and others on the premises, and that Frank took hold of him to put him in his buggy that he might get him to his home; that Jeff resisted and made an assault upon Frank with iron knucks and a pistol, inflicting severe injuries on him, and that a desperate fight took place. His Honor instructed the jury that “If Jeff Crook, after he reached Frank Crook’s place, conducted himself in such a way as to make himself objectionable, as testified by some of the witnesses, Frank had the right to direct him to go away, and if he did not go away he ha,d the right to try to gently remove him, but if he became angered in consequence of what Jeff said and assaulted him, that is, laid violent hands on him, then he would be guilty.” We think there was error in that instruction. We think the true rule which should have controlled the conduct of Frank upon the evidence on the point was that he had the right in the first place to direct Jeff to leave his premises; that in case of refusal he might have laid his hands on him gently, for the purpose of removing him from his premises; and if that course did not bring about the desired result, then he might have used sufficient force under all the circumstances to put him off. The law would not authorize one to use excessive force in removing a trespasser from one’s premises, but the jury should not weigh in golden scales the amount of force used for such a purpose. In following such a course it would malee no difference that the owner of the premises should become angered at such an invasion of his home. It was but natural that such a feeling should be aroused. State v. Taylor, 82 N. C., 554.

New trial.