Court Opinion

ID: 3231559
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 16:06:58.322945+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:40:14.396368
License: Public Domain

We have carefully read the testimony in this case, and, while we are convinced that the evidence is not sufficient upon which to predicate a verdict of guilty, the general charge was not requested in behalf of defendant, nor is there a motion for a new trial. The trial court cannot be put in error, unless rulings are invoked raising the questions here sought to be reviewed.
Over the objection and exception of defendant, the solicitor was permitted to inquire of the state's witness Crowder if "the neighbors and citizens, people who lived there close to Mrs. Shirey, didn't make complaint to you as an officer about the way Cleve and Mrs. Shirey acted there." This was answered in the affirmative, and defendant's motion to exclude was overruled. This was hearsay evidence, was a conclusion of the witness, and assumed an illicit relationship between the parties not shown to have existed. The ruling of the court was clearly error.
Nor can the error be said to be without injury, in view of the peculiar character of the evidence, which bears every indication of a conviction on "the hue and cry," rather than upon facts proven to establish the crime charged. This woman is charged with the serious offense of living in a state of adultery, and not with being an undesirable neighbor, or of being a woman of bad character, and as to the crime as laid in the indictment there is an entire absence of any proof of illicit relationship with Franks, the party jointly indicted.
Before the defendant had testified, or had otherwise put her character in issue, the state was permitted, over timely objection and exception of defendant, to prove defendant's general bad character. This was error. Harrison v. State,37 Ala. 154; Brown v. State, 46 Ala. 175; Forman v. State,190 Ala. 22, 67 So. 583.
There were other questions reserved, which will not probably arise on another trial; but for the errors pointed out the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.
Reversed and remanded. *Page 627