Case ID: ala-app_20/html/0672-04.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "RICE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(103 So. 921)
    BELL v. STATE.
    (7 Div. 70.)
    (Court of Appeals of Alabama.
    March 24, 1925.)
    Appeal from Circuit Court, Calhoun County; S. W. Tate, Judge. Rufus Bell, alias Doll Bell, was convicted of embezzlement, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    Hugh Walker, of Anniston/ for appellant.
    Before one charged with crime may be convicted upon his confession, the corpus delicti must be proven by testimony independent of the confession. 12 Cyc. 483; Hunt v. State, 135 Ala. 1, 33 So. 329; Harden v. State, 109 Ala. 50, 19 So. 494; Johnson v. State, 59 Ala. 37; Matthews v. State, 55 Ala. 188.
    Harwell G. Davis, Atty. Gen., for the State.
    Brief of counsel did not reach the Reporter.
   RICE, J.

The defendant was indicted for the offense of embezzling money to the amount of $138; the indictment alleging that the defendant was an agent of the Mosaic Templars of America, a corporation under the laws of the state of Arkansas, and that the funds embezzled came into his possession by virtue of his employment as such agent. The evidence in the case failed to show in any manner the agency as alleged. The proof went no further than that defendant was secretary of Forman Light Lodge, No. 3717, Mosaic Templars of America, at, Choccolocco, Ala., a subordinate lodge of the Mosaic Templars of America, a corporation under the laws of the state of Arkansas, and that, as such secretary, certain amounts were paid to him by the members of the lodge or order. This, in our opinion, was insufficient to support a verdict under the indictment as laid. Neither was there the slightest proof of any shortage in the funds intrusted to the defendant as the secretary of his lodge, other than the bare admission or confession of the defendant, as given in testimony by the witnesses for the state. It has many times been held by this court and our Supreme Court that a conviction cannot stand upon testimony no stronger than that disclosed by the record here. Johnson v. State, 13 Ala. App. 193, 68 So. 687; Hill v. State, 297 Ala. 444, 93 So. 460; Calvert v. State, 165 Ala. 99, 51 So. 311; Harden v. State, 109 Ala. 50, 19 So. 494. Upon the evidence offered the defendant was entitled to receive the general affirmative charge which was duly requested in writing, and because of its refusal the case is reversed. Reversed and remanded.