Case ID: ark_144/html/0598-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Smith, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

McEachern v. State.
    Opinion delivered June 28, 1920.
    1. Criminal law—motion for new trial—assignment of error.'— An assignment of error that a verdict convicting defendant of arson was “against the law and evidence” in the case presents the question of the sufficiency of the testimony, but is not sufficient to raise the question that appellant was discriminated against, in that persons of her color were not allowed to serve as jurors.
    2. Arson—sufficiency of evidence.—Evidence held sufficient to support a verdict convicting defendant, a negress, of arson, as against her attempted defense of an alibi.
    Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court; W. B. Sorrells, Judge;
    affirmed.
    
      A. W. Spears, for appellant.
    The exclusion of all persons of the African race from the grand jury because of race denied appellant of the equal protection of the laws and is in violation of our Constitution. Carter v. Texas, Adv. Sheets U. S. Rep., p. 690, April 16,1900; 100 U. S. 303; 103 Id. 370-397; 162 Id. 565; 16 Sup. Ct. Rep. 904; 109 U. S. 65-7. See, also, 162 U. S. 592; 170 Id. 213. The testimony fails to establish the guilt of appellant.
    
      John D. Arbuclcle, Attorney General, and Silas W. Rogers, Assistant, for appellee.
    1. The jury commissioners testified, that.they selected the best men obtainable for jury service without discrimination as to race or color, and thus fulfilled the requirements of the constitutional provision. This question has been settled. 100 U. S. 313.
    2. The verdict is fully sustained by the evidence and is conclusive.
   Smith, J.

Appellant has prosecuted this appeal to reverse a judgment sentencing her to the penitentiary upon a conviction for arson. Appellant is a person of color, and she complains that she was discriminated against on that account in the trial of the cause in the court below, in that no member of her race was permitted to serve upon either the grand jury which indicted her, or upon the petit jury before which she was tried. She also complains that the testimony was not sufficient to support the verdict.

The only error assigned in the motion for a new trial is that' “ the verdict is against the law and evidence in said case.” This assignment of error presents the question of the sufficiency of the testimony, but does not present for review the question of discrimination on account of color.

This court has held in a very large number of cases that where the error complained of does not appear from the face of the record, but is one which can be presented only by bill of exceptions, that the error will be treated as waived unless it is raised in the motion for a new trial; and an assignment that the verdict is against the law and the evidence is not sufficient to raise the question that appellant was discriminated against in that persons of her color were not allowed to serve as jurors. Deitz v. Lensinger, 77 Ark. 274; Howcott v. Kilbourn, 44 Ark. 213; Ferguson v. Ehrenberg, 39 Ark. 420; Naylor v. McNair, 92 Ark. 345.

Upon the question of the sufficiency of the testimony it may be said that the evidence on the part of the State was to substantially the following effect. Dr. J. W. John owned a tract of land near Pine Bluff, known as the Tuttle place, on which there was a dwelling house, and there were some stacks of hay about three hundred yards from the house. This dwelling house was burned between nine a. m. and noon on a day in August. At the time of the fire title to the property was involved in litigation between appellant and John. Appellant, when arrested, stated that the building belonged to her and she had the right to do whatever she pleased with it, and that .Dr. John was trying to take the property away from her, and that no one who took it from her would have any luck with it. Appellant was seen going toward the house between 8:30 and 9 a. m. on the morning of the fire. Another witness saw appellant on the same morning raise a window and enter the house, and testified that he saw appellant in the house, and saw her start a fire, and that when he returned a few hours later the building had burned, and that the hay was burned the following night.

The defense interposed by appellant was an alibi, and, according to the testimony offered in her behalf she was either in Pine Bluff at the time of the fire, or on the way there. It was conceded by the State that appellant did go to Pine Bluff, but the testimony is conflicting as to the time when she went, and the jury has resolved the conflict in the testimony against appellant; and as the testimony offered by the State was legally sufficient to support the verdict, it follows that the judgment must be.affirmed, and it is so ordered.