Court Opinion

ID: 3968193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:27:27.842049+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:57.599790
License: Public Domain

Pertaining to a bill of exceptions, which appeared from the record as having been filed too late, the record being corrected, it now appears to have been filed in time, and the matter therein will be considered.
Over objections of defendant, the State proved by Spivey that he asked defendant why he did not dance with the Mitchell girl. He replied that the "damned bitch was too high toned to dance with him." When these remarks were made, defendant went out of the house on the gallery, and "about five minutes after," Spivey was requested by Hendren to come out. Spivey asked him what he wanted, and he said, "Come out." Spivey went just outside of the door, where Hendren and defendant were, and Hendren said to defendant, "Now make some of your big talk." Defendant said, "What talk?" Hendren replied, "What you said in the hall." Defendant replied, "By God, I said it, and I meant it." Spivey asked him what it was he had said. Defendant answered with remarks about Spivey's sister, which are too obscene to be here inserted. What was said about Miss Mitchell was clearly a part of the same transaction — res gestæ of his remarks regarding Miss Spivey. The remarks regarding Miss Mitchell tended strongly to prove that he was fatally bent on mischief; that he was determined to promote trouble, and that of the most serious character. This is made absolutely certain by what he said to Cook, to-wit, "I can't get a partner, and I am going to break up the damned party." Counsel for appellant objects to this statement in the opinion: "When struck by Spivey, appellant returned the blow with a knife instantly, thus demonstrating that he was not only prepared with an open knife, and willing, but that he was anxious to engage in a deadly conflict with Spivey, the assaulted party." If counsel for appellant will examine the opinion, he will find this statement is made with reference to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict. The opinion does not intimate that there is no evidence in the record in conflict with this statement. Nor was it necessary for this to have been the case. It is sufficient if this statement be supported by the evidence, though there may be some conflict in the evidence. Why? Because the jury settles the conflict. Is the statement supported by the evidence, the weight of the evidence? It is, most powerfully; not only by positive proof, but by all the attending circumstances.
The motion for rehearing is granted, and the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Judges all present and concurring. *Page 457