Case Name: Cowart v. The State
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1924-11-15
Citations: 33 Ga. App. 122
Docket Number: 15741
Parties: Cowart v. The State.
Judges: Lulce and Bloodworth, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 33
Pages: 122–122

Head Matter:
15741.
Cowart v. The State.
Decided November 15, 1924.
Rehearing denied December 9, 1924.
Conviction of possessing liquor; from city court of Dublin— Judge Sturgis. May 27, 1924.
In his statement to the jury the defendant said: “I have never fooled with whisky . . I have tried to live right.”
W. A. D ampler, for plaintiff in error.
William Brunson, solicitor, contra.

Opinion:
Broyles, O. J.
1. Although in a criminal ease the accused alone can put his general character in issue, yet he can do so as effectively by his statement to the jury as by introducing sworn testimony on that subject. Barnes v. State, 24 Ga. App. 372 (3), (4). Under this ruling and the facts of the instant case, this court can not hold, as a matter of law, that the trial judge erred in ruling that the accused, by his statement to the jury, had put his general character in issue, and in permitting the State thereafter to introduce evidence as to his bad character.
2.' The other grounds of the motion for a new trial, not being referred to in the brief of counsel for the plaintiff in error, are treated as abandoned.
Judgment affirmed.
Lulce and Bloodworth, JJ., concur.