Source: https://casetext.com/case/watts-v-espy
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 04:24:05+00:00

Document:
Appeal from Circuit Court, Jefferson County; Richard V. Evans, Judge.
Stokeley, Scrivner, Dominick Smith, of Birmingham, for appellant.
A witness should state facts, and not opinions, inferences, or deductions drawn therefrom. 6 Michie's Ala. Dig. 426. Where argument of counsel is an appeal to race or class prejudice, it is grossly improper and highly prejudicial, and comes within that class of argument for which it may be held that neither retraction nor rebuke has not removed its sinister effect. Anderson v. State, 209 Ala. 37, 95 So. 179; Tannehill v. State, 159 Ala. 51, 48 So. 662; James v. State, 170 Ala. 72, 54 So. 494; B. R., L. P. Co. v. Drennen, 175 Ala. 338, 57 So. 876, Ann. Cas. 1914C, 1037.
John W. Altman and J. K. Taylor, both of Birmingham, for appellee.
If argument of counsel was improper, it was cured by withdrawal, and explicit and imperative instructions given immediately by the trial court. City of Huntsville v. Phillips, 191 Ala. 524, 67 So. 664; West. Ry. v. Mays, 197 Ala. 367, 72 So. 641; Lusk v. Britton, 198 Ala. 245, 73 So. 492; B. R., L. P. Co. v. Sloan, 199 Ala. 268, 74 So. 359; Clinton Min. Co. v. Bradford, 200 Ala. 308, 76 So. 74; Thompson v. So. R. R. Co., 17 Ala. App. 406, 85 So. 591; Anders v. Wallace, 17 Ala. App. 154, 82 So. 644; Bridgeforth v. State, 16 Ala. App. 584, 80 So. 158; Patterson v. Heiss (Sup.) 110 N.Y. Supp. 1042; Birmingham R., L. P. Co. v. Gonzalez, 183 Ala. 273, 61 So. 80, Ann. Cas. 1916A, 543; City of Birmingham v. Carle, 191 Ala. 539, 68 So. 22, L.R.A. 1915F, 797; N.C. St. L. v. Crosby, 183 Ala. 237, 62 So. 889; Strafford v. Northern Pac., 95 Wn. 450, 164 P. 71; Pruner v. Detroit United Ry., 173 Mich. 146, 139 N.W. 48; German-American Bank v. Camery, 189 Mo. App. 542, 176 S.W. 1076; Kennedy v. Sullivan, 136 Ill. 94, 26 N.E. 382; James Smith Woolen Mach. Co. v. Holden, 73 Vt. 396, 51 A. 2; Comm. v. Greason, 204 Pa. 64, 53 A. 539.
The trial was had on a count for simple negligence and defendant's pleas in short by consent with leave to give in evidence any special defense that might be properly pleaded. The amendment striking the wanton count and for pleading in short was effected by the pleading and agreement in writing on file of date February 14, 1923.
There was a diagram of the street crossing where the accident occurred that the witness McTyeire for plaintiff had referred to and indicated where the injury occurred, stating that it was where the sidewalk would have extended had the streets not intersected. Though the witness had stated, "She [plaintiff] was where they always go across," meaning across the street, this did not make proper the question, "Did they ever come diagonally across there," indicating the street intersection. The witness had testified positively where the injured child was on the crossing or street.
The plaintiff, as a witness, having testified that before the injury for which suit was brought she "had never had any trouble when" her "monthly sickness came on," was asked: "Since that time, I will ask you whether or not, beginning then, and since then you have had more trouble at these periods than you ever had before;" and answered: "Beginning that night I had." Defendant interposed timely objection and moved to exclude the answer and reserved exceptions to said rulings. In this there was no error. The witness was merely stating a periodic fact of her changed physical condition and the time thereof. This was for the consideration of the jury, as shedding light upon the extent and nature of the injury she had that day sustained.
"After I stopped the car I got out and Mr. Randle also got out of the car. Mr. Randle took her by one arm and assisted her over to the hospital and I got back in my car and parked it and went on over to the hospital. I mean I got my car out of the way of the traffic."
"Did you offer to take her home?"
"Do you mean at that particular time, as a part of the res gestæ"
And, defendant's counsel answering in the negative, the objection was sustained. Defendant "excepted and offered to show that defendant did offer to take plaintiff home." There was no error in the ruling and adherence thereto.
"By the time I got out there the man had stopped his car and he was out there and had hold of the girl; he tried to stop it several feet before that and couldn't. I got there practically at the same time he did."
"After I stopped the car I got out and Mr. Randle also got out of the car. Mr. Randle took her by one arm and assisted her over to the hospital, and I got back in my car and parked it and went over to the hospital. I mean I got my car out of the way of the traffic."
The defendant duly moved to discontinue the cause because of said improper argument, which was overruled.
The case should be retried. The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded.

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