Case Name: Howard vs. The State of Georgia
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1884-04-26
Citations: 73 Ga. 83
Docket Number: 
Parties: Howard vs. The State of Georgia.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 73
Pages: 83–85

Head Matter:
Howard vs. The State of Georgia.
1. In a prosecution for using obscene and vulgar language in the ■ presence of a female, the husband of such female being the prosecutor, it was not admissible to ask the woman, when on the stand. as a witness, if the prosecutor had not offered to stop the prosecution if the accused would pay a sum of money for that purpose. Unless such proposition was connected with her, it did not tend to impeach her; and the person who made it not having been sworn as a witness, it was immaterial. 66 Ga., 310; Contrast 55 Id., 303.
2. Nor was there error in refusing to allow the accused to state, in his statement, “ that the prosecutor offered to stop the prosecution, if he would pay a sum of money for that purpose, and that he had a letter in his pocket showing this.” The accused has the right to state any fact going to show his innocence, although it has not been testified to by any witness; but he will not be allowed to ramble from the issues in the case by stating or alluding to immaterial matters. 72 Ga., 261.
.3. In deciding upon the credibility of witnesses, the jury may consider their manner of testifying, their interest or bias, their character for veracity, if they know it, and the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the facts they relate. A request to charge to this effect having been made and refused, and the judge having given no charge as to the credibility of the witnesses, a reversal must result.
Judgment reversed.
April 25, 1884.

Opinion:
Blandford, Justice.
[Howard was indicted for using obscene and vulgar language in the presence of a female. The husband of the female was the prosecutor. On the trial, she testified that, while driving in a buggy with defendant, who was a cousin -of hers, near dusk in the evening, he made improper proposals, and- sought to take improper liberties with her? which she indignantly rejected.- On cross-examination, she stated that during a portion of the time when this impropriety was goi'ng on, another buggy was behind them containing one Weaver; that she made no outcry, or call on him for assistance; that she did not tell her husband of the insult on arriving at home; told her uncle next day, and her husband- some time afterwards-; that defendant stayed at her home that night, and had been there once since; and that it was some months after this before the prosecution began. She stated that she became indignant and threatened to leave the buggy; that she was frightened; that she had started home riding with her uncle; that Weaver and defendant came up, riding in defendant's buggy together; that Weaver stated that he desired to talk to her uncle, and proposed that she ride in the buggy with defendant and let him ride with her uncle; that she at first declined, on account of the muddy condition of the road, to make any exchange, but after some urging, did so; that after her uncle and Weaver separated, the latter came on in his buggy, which had before that been driven by a colored man; that she had always heard Weaver spoken of as a bad character, and did not expect anything good of him; that her husband was afflicted with a disease which affected his mind, and was in a very precarious condition, and she was afraid to excite him by telling him of the occurrence ; that she endeavored to do so on the next day, but he became so excited that she desisted until he had sufficiently recovered to permit of her telling him. She also stated that, when she rejected the improper proposal of defendant in the buggy, he asked if she would not consent that night, to which she replied, " no;" that he asked her if a Miss Howe, who was a visitor at her house, would not stay with him, and she said no; that at the house that night, the young lady asked to be introduced to defendant, and witness did introduce her.
Defendant denied in his statement all improper conversation with Mrs. Graham, the wife of the prosecutor.
The jury found defendant guilty, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of $500.00, or serve twelve months in the chain-gang. He moved for a new trial, which was refused, and he excepted.]