Opinion ID: 1898492
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: did the lower court err in admitting testimony by tommy smith as to out-of-court statements made by russel jones?

Text: At trial the appellants put into evidence the deposition of Russel Jones, an eyewitness to the accident. In his deposition, Jones stated that as he approached the crossing, and while the train was approximately one hundred (100) feet away, he heard no warning device being sounded by the train. The lower court allowed Tommy Smith, an accident investigator for ICGRR, to testify in rebuttal to the deposition, that Jones had previously made a prior inconsistent statement to him, in that, although he did not hear the train's horn, it may or may not have been blowing. It must be noted here that during the course of the trial, six (6) eyewitnesses (over and above the testimony of Jones) testified that the bell was ringing and that the horn was blowing at intervals. Additionally, all six (6) of these witnesses testified that the signals were loud, and could be clearly heard for some distance. On these facts, this Court does not have to reach a conclusion as to the substantive matter of the introduction of prior inconsistent statements, because the appellant must show not only that there was error in the proceedings of the lower court, but that he was prejudiced by such error. Illinois Central Railroad Co. v. Benoit Gin Co., 248 So.2d 426 (Miss. 1971); Rector v. Shippy, Outzer & Co., 93 Miss. 254, 256, 46 So. 408 (1908). In allowing Smith to testify in rebuttal to a matter which basically was testified to by six (6) eyewitnesses, it cannot be said that Mitcham was prejudiced thereby and was deprived of a substantial right so as to warrant a reversal. Cole v. Cole, 194 Miss. 292, 298, 12 So.2d 425, 426 (1943). The assignment of error is without merit.