Case ID: okla-crim_14/html/0160-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DOYLE, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STEVE TALKINGTON v. STATE.
    No. A-3107.
    Opinion Filed November 20, 1917.
    (168 Pac. 667.)
    ABATEMENT OF PROSECUTION — Death of Defendant. In a criminal prosecution, the purpose of the proceeding being to punish the defendant in person, the action must necessarily abate upon - his death; and where it is made to appear to the court that a plaintiff in error has died, pending the determination of his appeal, the cause will be abated.
    
      
      Appeal from District Court, Carter County; W. F. Freeman, Judge.
    
    Steve Talkington was convicted of feloniously maintaining a place for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and he appeals.
    Prosecution abated.
    
      James H. Mathers and William Pfeiffer, for plaintiff in error.
    
      S. P. Freeling,.Atty. Gen., R. McMillan, Asst. Atty. Gen., and A. J. Hardy, Co. Atty., for the State.
   DOYLE, P. J.

Plaintiff in error, Steve Talkington, was convicted in the district court of Carter county upon an information charging that he did. feloniously keep and maintain a place for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town of Wirt, Carter county, March 1, 1917, and in accordance with the verdict of the jury, he was sentenced to be imprisoned in the state penitentiary at McAlester for the term of two years and to pay a fine of $500, from which judgment he appealed by filing in this court on August 8, 1917, a petitiion in error with case-made.

On October 24, 1917, the Attorney General filed a motion that the proceeding abate by reason of the death of the plaintiff in error, Steve Talkington. Attached to said motion was the affidavit of the sheriff of Carter county as follows:

“I, Buck Garrett, being first sworn, depose and say that I am sheriff of Carter county, Oklahoma, and have been for several years, and that I knew Steve Talkington well during his lifetime, and I know the Sunday that he was shot and killed by Bud Ballew in the town of Wirt, Carter county. I saw Steve Talkington after he was shot, and-1 know that he is now dead. ■ .
“Buck Garrett,
“Sheriff of Carter Co., Oída.”

Also the affidavit of Dr. W. Hardy, as follows:

“I, Dr. W. Hardy, being first sworn, depose and say that I knew Steve Talkington, during his lifetime, and I waited on him during his last illness, and I know him to be dead. I was with him at the time he died coming from Wirt, Carter county, to Ardmore, Oklahoma. The cause of his death was gunshot wounds and he died from said wounds. W. Hardy, M. D.”

. Which .affidavits were duly subscribed and sworn to on the 22d day of September, 1917. In a criminal action the purpose of the proceeding being to punish the defendant in person, the action must necessarily abate upon his death. It is therefore adjudged and ordered that all proceedings in this prosecution be abated by reason of the death of plaintiff in error, Steve Talkington.

The district court of Carter county is directed to enter its appropriate order to that effect.

ARMSTRONG and MATSON, JJ., concur.