Case ID: ark_181/html/0813-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mehaeey, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Reeder v. State.
    Opinion delivered May 19, 1930.
    
      Pryor, Miles & Pryor, for appellant.
    
      Hal L. Norwood, Attorney General, and Pat Mehaffy, Assistant, for appellee.
   Mehaeey, J.

The grand jury of Sebastian County returned four indictments against appellant, charging him with, (1), unlawfully and feloniously setting up a distillery for the purpose of manufacturing distilled spirits for beverage purposes; (2), keeping in his possession a. still; (3), making mash; and (4), manufacturing and being interested in the manufacture of liquor. Each of the indictments contained all the necessary allegations required by statute to charge the crime mentioned. The indictments also charged Earnest Reeder, son of appellant, with the same offenses. Appellant entered a plea of not guilty in each ease, the cases were consolidated by agreement, a trial was bad resulting in a conviction in eaeb case. Tbe punishment was fixed at imprisonment in tbe penitentiary for one year in each case, tbe sentences to run concurrently. This appeal is prosecuted to reverse tbe judgments of conviction.

Appellant contends that tbe evidence was not sufficient to justify tbe jury in finding bim guilty. He admits, however, that tbe evidence of two witnesses introduced by tbe. State connected appellant with tbe crimes charged, but be argues that their testimony is highly unsatisfactory, unreasonable and contradictory. These were questions, however, for tbe jury, and not for this court. The credibility of tbe witnesses, and tbe weight to be given their testimony, are for tbe jury, and there was substantial evidence to support the verdict. If tbe jury believed tbe two witnesses whose testimony connected the appellant with tbe crimes charged, they were justified in finding him guilty. Appellant earnestly insists that bis motion for a new trial should have been granted on tbe ground of newly discovered evidence, and that tbe case should toe reversed because tbe trial court refused to grant bis motion on this ground. Mr. Houck and Mrs. Finley both testified, in substance, that tbe appellant who lived about one-half a mile from Houck’s home, rented a stone potato bouse from Houck in which tbe still, equipment, etc., was found. Tbe potato house was about sixty yards from.Houck’s dwelling house, and fifty or sixty yards from tbe bog pen. That appellant agreed to pay tbe rent of $10 a month in groceries, and that be did deliver tbe groceries. That appellant put two hogs in tbe pen on Houck’s place, and that be brought feed for tbe bogs each day. After tbe time when witnesses say appellant rented tbe potato bouse, it was kept looked. Appellant denies renting the potato bouse, but admits that he put bis son’s bogs in tbe pen and fed them, and admits that be delivered groceries to Houck, but says the groceries were delivered for bis son Earnest Reeder. In appellant’s motion for new trial, be says that be discovered after tlie trial that Ms son, Earnest Reeder, who was at that time confined in the county jail at Muskogee, Oklahoma, had stated in an affidavit that appellant had nothing to do, and knew nothing about the still and equipment for which he was convicted; that the still and equipment belonged to J. H. Houck and Earnest Reeder; that he had talked with his son about the case, and asked his son if he knew anything about the facts, and his son refused before the trial to disclose the facts which were in his knowledge; that appellant knew of no other witness 'by which he could establish his innocence; that these facts were only obtained from the son after his conviction; that he used all diligence in preparing his defense; that he did not know his son would testify to any of these facts until after his conviction, and that, if a new trial is granted, he -will have his son present to testify. The affidavit of his son, Earnest Reeder, was attached to his motion for new trial.

Evidence to be newly discovered must be found out since the trial, and it must appear that it could not have been .known at the time of the trial by the exercise of reasonable diligence. Johnson v. Johnson, 169 Ark. 1151, 277 S. W. 535. Appellant in this case knew that his son was charged jointly with him. He knew that his son knew'all the facts about the hogs, the feed and the delivery of the groceries, and he knew his son was an important witness to establish the facts about whose hogs were in the pen, and who sent the groceries to Houck, if appellant delivered them for his son as he testified. Appellant cites and relies on Huckabee v. State, 174 Ark. 859, 296 S. W. 716. The facts in this case do not bring it within the rule announced in that case. The court in that case, however, said: “And it is also true that this court has held in numerous cases that a motion for a new trial for newly discovered evidence should show diligence in getting such evidence on the trial of the case, and must ordinarily show an excuse why such evidence was not produced at the trial.” Tt is within the discretion of the.trial court to grant a new trial or not. Carter v. State, 174 Ark. 871, 298 S. W. 7; Jewel Coal Mining Company v. Whitner, 170 Ark. 393, 279 S. W. 1031; Houston v. State, 130 Ark. 591, 197 S. W. 576; Brown v. State, 143 Ark. 523, 222 S. W. 377.

In criminal, as in civil cases, the grant or refusal of a new trial is generally said to rest in the sound discretion of the trial court, and the appellate court has no right to review the exercise of such discretion, unless it appears that it has been abused to the prejudice of the defendant. 16 C. J. 1119.

Of course, this discretion is founded on established legal principles, and is to be exercised for the promotion of justice and the protection of the innocent. We do not think the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to grant a new trial in this case, and the judgment is therefore affirmed.