Court Opinion

ID: 6546540
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:20:01.004699+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:58.981981
License: Public Domain

Hill, C. J. Johnson was indicted for grand larceny, charged with stealing $135, and was convicted and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary, and has appealed. Only two questions are raised: First, as to the sufficiency of the evidence, and second, as to the correctness of instruction number three. 1. The evidence has been carefully examined, and the court finds it sufficient to sustain the verdict. It would serve no useful purpose to review it. 2. Instruction number three is as follows: “The confession of the defendant, accompanied with proof that the offense was committed by some one, will warrant a conviction.” A correct principle is sought to be conveyed in this instruction, in consonance with Meisenheimer v. Staste, 73 Ark. 407. The instruction is not happily phrased, and may be subject to objection as assuming facts or charging upon facts. But the question is not properly presented. The record is made up in disregard of the rules of the court, and the original bill of exceptions seems to be incorporated in the transcript. The transcript should have been rejected by the clerk of this court, but its condition was evidently overlooked by him. The motion for new trial has the following assignment of error: “The court also erred in giving to the jury, on its own motion, instruction number two',” and thereafter in dim pencil interlineation appears, “& 3.” The exception is to the instructions in gross, and would not be availing if any of them were correct. Darden v. State, 73 Ark. 315; Powell v. State, 74 Ark. 355. Instructions one and two are mere elemental statements, and unquestionably correct. But,.even if the exception was good, the motion for new trial has not preserved the exception to instruction number three, and the failure to do so is a waiver of it This pencil interlineation, which is unauthenticated and unexplained, is not to be regarded as a part of the transcript. It has been well said: “Such doubtful lead pencil interlineations do not make a record for an appellate court.” Cunningham v. Seattle Elec. Ry. Co., 3 Wash. 471. See also Heilhron v. Heinlen, 72 Cal. 376; 2 Enc. Plead. & Prac. 292. Judgment affirmed.