Case Name: The State of Washington, Respondent, v. F. C. Hogan, Appellant
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1923-04-30
Citations: 124 Wash. 449
Docket Number: No. 17770
Parties: The State of Washington, Respondent, v. F. C. Hogan, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 124
Pages: 449–451

Head Matter:
[No. 17770.
Department One.
April 30, 1923.]
The State of Washington, Respondent, v. F. C. Hogan, Appellant.
Criminal Law (231) — Trial—Reopening Case for Further Evidence. In a criminal case, it is discretionary for the trial court to reopen a case for further testimony; and it is not an abuse to reopen a case to allow a police officer to identify an exhibit.
Same (227) — Trial—Order of Proof. In a criminal ease, it is discretionary to allow redirect examination upon a matter not gone into on direct or on cross-examination, and not an abuse to allow a police officer to testify as to a conversation had with accused after being arrested.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court for King county, Gilliam, J,, entered June 6, 1922, upon a trial and conviction of the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors.
Affirmed.
H. S. Frye, for appellant.
Malcolm Douglas and Cordelia M. Thiel, for respondent.
Reported in 214 Pac. 634.

Opinion:
Main, C. J.
— The defendant was charged with, tried, and convicted of the crime of keeping intoxicating liquor with intent to sell the same, and appeals from the judgment entered upon the verdict.
When the state rented its case, appellant indicated a desire to make a motion for dismissal, and the trial court expressed doubt about a ruling it had made in admitting in evidence a bottle and its contents. The doubt expressed was over the question as to whether this particular exhibit had been sufficiently identified. The deputy prosecuting attorney moved to reopen the case and call a witness who could supply the identify ing evidence. The ease was reopened for the purpose of calling Captain Haag, a police officer. During the taking of the testimony of this officer, he went farther than merely identifying the bottle, and gave evidence as to a conversation which he had with appellant when the latter was brought to .the police station after he had been arrested for the crime for which he was then on trial. It is claimed that it was error for the trial court, after the state had rested, to permit the reopening of the case and the tailing' of further testimony.' This is a matter which ordinarily rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and, in thé absence of ah abuse of that discretion, does not constitute error.' Knapp v. Order of Pendo, 36 Wash. 601, 79 Pac. 209; State v. Sexton, 37 Wash. 110, 79 Pac. 634; State v. Constatine, 43 Wash. 102, 86 Pac. 384, 117 Am. St. 1043; State v. Brown, 62 Wash. 293, 113 Pac. 782; State v. Hornaday, 67 Wash. 660, 122 Pac. 322.
It is also contended that it was error for the trial court to permit Captain Haag to testify on redirect examination concerning matters that were not testified to by him on direct examination or brought out in cross-examination as to conversations had with the appellant. Whether a witness may testify on redirect examination as to matters not referred to in either the direct or cross-examination is a matter which rests largely in the discretion of the triál court, and the ruling thereon mil not be disturbed in the absence of a showing that that discretion has been abused. City of Springfield v. Dalbey, 139 Ill. 34, 29 N. E. 860; Kidd v. State, 101 Ga. 528, 28 S. E. 990; George v. State, 61 Neb. 669, 85. N. W. 840; Chesapeake & O. R. Co. v. Lynch, 28 Ky. 467, 89 S. W. 517.
There was no abuse of discretion in this case by the trial court in permitting the case to be reopéned for further- testimony, or in permitting the witness -to testify upon redirect examination to matters which were not brought out upon his direct or cross-examination. The subject-matter of the questions put to the witness on reexamination was not objectionable.
The judgment will be affirmed.
Holcomb, Mitchell, Bridges, and Mackintosh, JJ., concur.