Opinion ID: 1371808
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: King's appeal.

Text: The only assignment of error brought forward in King's brief is directed to the competency of King's testimony, elicited on cross-examination by counsel for Powell, to the effect that King had entered a plea of guilty to a charge of manslaughter on account of the death of plaintiff's intestate. The court overruled the objection interposed by King to the question by which this testimony was elicited and the assignment of error is based on King's exception to this ruling. In 18 A.L.R.2d 1307, many decisions are cited in support of this statement: In civil actions where one of the issues is the guilt of a person convicted of a criminal offense, or some fact necessarily involved in the determination of such guilt, the courts are agreed that it is proper to admit evidence of the person's plea of guilty to the criminal offense. For earlier decisions, see 31 A.L.R. 278. It is noted that the criminal charge of manslaughter on account of the death of plaintiff's intestate included all elements necessary to establish King's actionable negligence. It is noted further that the fact of King's plea of guilty is established by his own testimony. The court sustained King's objections to questions asked plaintiff's witnesses concerning the manslaughter charge and King's plea thereto. The question was allowed only on cross-examination of King. Unquestionably, it was competent, as bearing upon the credibility of King's testimony, for Powell's counsel to elicit the admission that King had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge. Whether competent (as an admission) as substantive evidence is not directly presented on this appeal. After full consideration of each appeal, we find no error deemed sufficiently prejudicial to justify a new trial. Hence, the verdict and judgment will not be disturbed. Powell's appeal, no error. King's appeal, no error.