Case Name: STATE v. WILSON
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1902-06-16
Citations: 109 La. 74
Docket Number: No. 14,499
Parties: STATE v. WILSON.
Judges: BREAUX, J., dissents.
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 109
Pages: 73–77

Head Matter:
(33 South. 85.)
No. 14,499.
STATE v. WILSON.
(June 16, 1902.)
CRIMINAL LAW — APPEAL—BILL OP EXCEPTIONS — COMPETENCY OP WITNESS — INPANT.
1. When there appears no error on the face of the record, this court cannot review the proceedings in the lower court in the absence of a bill of exceptions.
2. A bill-of exceptions cannot be taken in a criminal case, as in a civil case, by merely having a memorandum made by the clerk on the notes of evidence.
On Rehearing.
3. Considering the great gravity of the case, and the exceptional circumstances it presents, the court deemed it proper not to pass unnoticed a bill of exception not at first entirely drawn, in form (which informality was subsequently cured), although such a bill would not have been noticed under other circumstances, and in a case not involving the infliction of the extreme penalty of the law.
4. The little girl was of tender year's," totally ignorant, and did not know the nature of an oath.
(a) “A child under three or even four years should not be sworn and examined as a witness, and its testimony received, unless it is made evident that it has due sense of the obligation of an oath.” Whart. Cr. Ev. (9th Ed.) p. 366.
(Syllabus by the Court.)
Appeal from judicial district court, parish of Tensas; J. L. Dagg, Judge.
Edgar Wilson was convicted of crime, and appeals.
Reversed.
Robert Henry Snyder, for appellant. Walter Guión. Atty. Gen., and Hugh Tullis, Dist. Atty. (Lewis Guión, of counsel), for the State.

Opinion:
PROYOSTY, J.
The defendant was convicted of rape, and" sentenced to be hanged. The record contains no bill of exception or assignment of error, and we find no error on the face of the record. T ; complaint is that incompetent evidence was admitted.. In the absence of a bill, we are powerless to review' the ruling. We find in the transcript the testimony of the witness, together with the following: "Upon the court ruling that the witness was competent, the defendant excepts thereto, and reserves this, his bill of exceptions." Under a special statute, this would suffice for a bill in a civil case, but it does not in a criminal case. State v. Jessie, 30 La. Ann. 1170; State v. Dufour, 31 La. Ann. 804; State v. Comstock, 36 La. Ann. 308.
(Dec. 15, 1902.)
It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the judgment appealed from be affirmed.
BREAUX, J., dissents.
See dissenting opinion of BLANCHARD, J., 33 South. 86.