Case ID: sd_40/html/0421-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "McCOY, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE, Respondent, v. WILSON, Appellant.
    (167 N. W. 396.)
    (File No. 4322.
    Opinion filed May 1, 1918.
    Rehearing denied June 1, 1918.)
    1. Rape — Information—Time of Commission of Offense — “On Between,” Whether Definite, Certain — Demurrer, Motion to Arrest.
    An information charging defendant with commission of rape “on between the 1st day of March, 1915, and the 1st day of July, 1915,” is sufficiently certain and definite to enable defendant to adequately prepare his defense in advance of trial; and" a demurrer thereto, and a motion in arrest of judgment, were properly overruled.
    33. Evidence' — Prosecution for Rape — Fatherhood of Child — Intercourse With Another — Cross-examination of Prosecutrix, Materiality — Offer to Prove By Other Witness, Failure to Make, Effect^ ' ' '
    In a prosecution for rape, the question, put to prosecutrix on cross-examination, if at a date subsequent to that of the intercourse in question, she had not had sexual intercourse with a person other than defendant, was properly disallowed, such issue being immaterial; no offer having been made by defendant to prove the fact of such other intercourse by any other witness.
    3. Trials — Error—Refused) Instruction Covered by Those Given Without Objection — Exception.
    Where trial court refused a requested instruction, the propositions in which' were fully covered by instructions given and to which no exceptions were taken, the refused instruction will not be considered on appeal.
    -4. Evidence — Witnesses—'Prosecution for Rape — “Who is the Father?”, Whether a Conclusion Called For, Etc.
    The question, put to prosecuting witness in a prosecution for rape: “Who is the father' of your child?” to which she answered: “Defendant,” was not objectionable as calling for a conclusion, not within issues, and incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.
    Appeal from Circuit Court, Perkinis County. Hon. Raymond E. Dirrman, Judge.
    The defendant, William ■ Wilson, .was oonvilctedl of the crime ■of rape, and he appeals.
    Affirmed.
    
      Pat Morriscm. and Julius Skaug, for Appellant.
    
      C. C. Caldwell, Attorney General, C. G. Carroll, and P. J. IT s char net, for Respondent.
    
      (i)To pioirut one of the opinion, Appellant cited: Code Gnim. Free. Sacs. 225, 229, 230, 569; Stale v. Syisinger, 25 S. D'. no, 125 N. W. 879; State v. Pennington, 41 W. Va. 601, 23 S. E. 9x8; Conrad v. State, 65 Ark. 559, 47 S. W. 628; Arrington v. Co., 87 Va. 96, 12 S. E. 224, 10 L. R. A. 242.
   McCOY, J.

Appellant was convicted- of the crime of statutory naipe, and brings tire cause before this court on appeal. Tire sufficiency ictf the evidence is not questioned. The only questions presented relate to certain rulings and inistnuictions of ¡the trial court.

By demurrer and motion in arrest of judgment appellant questions the sufficiency of the information. The offense is alleged to have been committed! “on between tire 1st day of March, 1915, and! the 1st day of July, 1915.” Appellant contends that this; designation pf time is so uncertain and indefinite that he could not adequately prepare Iris defense in advance 'of (the trial. 'We are of tire opinion that >t)he demurrer and motion 'were properly overruled. State v. Otto, 38 S. D. 353, 161 N. W. 340; State v. Sysinger, 25 S. D. 110, 124 N. W. 879, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 997; Code Crim. Pr. § 225.

The prosecuting witness! testified that appellant wa's the faither of the child' she then had present 'with her on the trial On cross-examination she was asked if at a certain date, subsequent to the date of the intercourse on which the state relied' for conviction, she had molt had sexu'al intercourse with another person, other than, appellant, .arid! that the child was the result of such other intercourse. The court sustained! an objection to such question, and 'which .ruling is now urged as error. We are of the opinion that the objection’ was properly sustained. Appellant made no offer to prove the fact of such other intercourse by any other ■witness. We. are of the view that in this character of case whether or not she had intercourse with some other

person, either before or after the intecourse oni which the state relies for conviction, was an imimateritl issue. State v. Plunkett, 72 Ark. 409, 82 S. W. 845; State v. Stimpson, 78 Vt. 124, 62 Atl. 14, 1 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1153, 6 Ann. Cas. 639.

Thle appellant requested) certain instruetiiiomisi and now urges error in the- refusal thereof.. We are of the opinion that the court, by the instructions given, fully 'covered all the propiositi'Qnis indu'dadi in suicih requested- instructions-. No exceptions were taken to the instructions as given.

Bros’ecutin'g witness was a’skeidi, “Who is the father of your child?” She answered, “Defenidiaint.” The question was objected to -as -calling for -a -oonokisi'oo, not within the ¡issues-, and incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial The- 'Overruling of this objection is now urged -ais error. Wte are of the-view that such ruling did riot constitute prejudicial! error. State v. Plunkett, supra.

All assignments! -of error have been considered. It will serve no useful purpose to further refer thereto.

Piddling no prejudicial error in the record, the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed1.