Court Opinion

ID: 5649276
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 21:57:15.308318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:38:29.309464
License: Public Domain

Ruger, Ch. J.
The record brings to this court the evidence and certain exceptions taken to the rulings of the court below as to the admissibility of some of such evidence.
The only questions open to discussion here are whether any evidence was given in support of the conclusion reached by the jury, and whether the court below erred in its rulings upon the questions propounded to witnesses by the plaintiff in error.
It was a fact, established on the trial by the uncontradicted evidence of all of the witnesses in the case, that on the evening of April 15, 1880, upon or near the corner of Forty-second street and Seventh avenue, in the city of New York, the defendant fired a pistol at one Theophilus Steele, the bullet from which struck said Steele near or upon his nose and then penetrated the head inflicting a dangerous wound.
It was also a conceded fact that previous to this time complainant and defendant had been upon unfriendly terms. The question litigated upon the trial was whether at the time of the shooting the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that the complainant intended to make an assault upon him and that such assault placed his life in jeopardy. We have carefully examined the evidence, taken on the trial and found it difficult to harmonize the statements of the witnesses, but for that reason a question was presented peculiarly adapted to the judgment and *251consideration of the jury. The burden would seem to rest upon the defendant to establish to the satisfaction of the jury the existence of sufficient cause to justify him in the use of a deadly weapon, such as he concededly used on this occasion.
Upon the evidence in this case we think the jury were justified in saying that the existence of such cause was not established to their satisfaction, although if they had found the other way there would have been no ground upon which to disturb their verdict.
Wo have also carefully examined the several exceptions taken by the plaintiff in error to the rulings of the court appearing in the record. While the counsel for defendant in his printed points, questions three of such rulings, but two of them are shown by the record to have been taken by him. These relate to the exclusion by the court of answers to the following questions put to defendants’ witnesses by his counsel. “ In your association with him it has been your observation that he is a peaceable character, his disposition as to peaceableness.” Q. “ What is your judgment as to his disposition as to peacefulness or quarrelsomeness ”1
Each of the witnesses to whom these questions were put was allowed to answer all questions relating to the general character of the defendant, although they showed but slight acquaintance with it, and were allowed to, and gave favorable answers to questions referring to his character for quietness and peacefulness. While we think from these circumstances no possible injury could happen to the defendant by the exclusion of the evidence objected to, we also think the questions were objectionable as being leading and calling for the opinions of the witnesses as to the chai'acter of the accused based, upon their personal observation. It was competent for the defendant to call witnesses as to his general reputation and character, but this is as far as the rule permits him to go.
We think the questions were objectionable in form as well as substance, and were properly excluded.
The judgment should be affirmed.
All concur, except Andrews, J., not voting, and B, apallo, J., absent.