Court Opinion

ID: 6538667
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:13:47.782589+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:44.762397
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Hanxy delivered the opinion of the Court. The appellants were indicted at the March term, 1855, of the Pope Circuit Court, under the 5th section of the 5th Article of the 51si chapter of the Digest, under the title of “ Sabbatii BREAKING.” There were two counts. The first was under the 1st clause in the 5th section ¡ and the other, under the second clause of the same section. At the September term, 1855, the defendants pleaded not guilty; were tried by a jury, convicted and fined ten dollars each. At the same term, the defendants filed a motion for a new trial, on the ground of newly discovered evidence since the trial and verdict. The motion was supported by the affidavit of one of the appellants; stating, in effect, that he was not aware of the existence of the evidence newly discovered, until since the trial; stating furthermore, what he expected to prove, but which we do not deem necessary to state, as it was only cumulative of the evidence, which it appears, from his bill of exceptions, he introduced to the jury at the trial. Neither the motion, nor the affidavit in support of it, shows any diligence on the part of the appellants, to procure the evidence newly discovered, anterior to the trial. Ve will not copy the evidence set out in the bill of exceptions, as the appellants do not question the propriety of the finding of the jury upon that evidence, but predicate their motion for a new trial wholly upon the ground of newly discovered evidence, which they set out, and which we hold, is only cumulative of that, which they offered to the jury at the trial. Ouomo-lative evidence, as understood in the sense in which we use it, in this connection, is such evidence as goes to support the facts principally controverted on the former trial, and respecting which, the party asking for a new trial, as well as the adverse party, produced testimony. See Wharton’s Amer. Grim. Law, 913. After, or newly discovered evidence, in order to afford a proper ground for tbe granting of a new trial, must possess the following qualifications: 1. It must have been discovered since the former trial. 2. It must be such as reasonable diligence, on the part of the defendant, could not have secured _ at the former trial. 3. It must be material in its object, and not merely cumulative, and corroborative or collateral. 4. It must be such as ought to produce, on another trial, an opposite result on the merits. 5.' It must go to the merits, and not rest merely on a technical defence. See Whart. Amer. Crim. Law, 908, 909; Burris vs. Wise & Hind, 2 Ark. Rep. 33. The after discovered evidence, set out in this case, wants several of the elements and features necessary, to make it available as a basis of a motion for a new trial. Por instance, the appellants show no diligence in the way of its procurement for the former trial: it is wholly cumulative of the evidence which was before the jury; and, lastly, it is not of sucha character, as ought, or would, likely, produce on another trial, an 023posite result. There are, however, other grounds, in addition to the above, deemed preliminary points of practice, which must be conformed to, before a motion on the ground of newly discovered evidence will be entertained. It is necessary, that the party should mention the witnesses by name, and what he expects to prove by them. This seems to have been done in the case before us. And, in addition to this, that either the witnesses themselves, should state, on oath, the evidence they can give, or that the party should add Iris own belief to the statement made by the witnesses. See Burriss vs. Wise, & Hind as above; Hollingsworth vs. Napier, 3 Caine’s Rep. 182; Dunn vs. Marrill et al., 1 Ham. Rep. 382; Brown vs. Swan, 1 Mass. Rep. 202; Adams vs. Ashby, 2 Bibb. 287. The rule for a new trial, in general, will not be granted in such cases, if supported only by the affidavit of the party, or one interested. The motion must be accompanied by the affidavit of the newly discovered witness. And this rule is as well applicable to criminal, as civil practice. See Whart. Amer. Crim Law, 909; Webber vs. Tres, 1 Tyler Rep. 441; Noyee vs. Huntington, Kirby 282. In the case before us, the motion was only accompanied by the affidavit of one of the appellants. "We, therefore, in view of the above principles] hold, that the court below very properly overruled the appellant’s motion for a new trial in this cause, and finding no error in the whole transcript, we consequently, affirm the judgment of the Pope Circuit Court, in this behalf. Let the judgment be affirmed, at the ap pellants costs. Absent, Mr. Justice Soott.