Court Opinion

ID: 7815733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:35:33.780439+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:35.741053
License: Public Domain

Carleton Harris, Chief Justice. Appellant instituted suit against appellee for libel, slander, and malicious prosecution, resulting from a charge brought by appellee against appellant of petit larceny. The jury found for appellee, and judgment was entered dismissing the complaint. From such judgment, comes this appeal. The evidence reflects that on the morning of Saturday, October 13, 1956, appellant, with her two daughters, Nadie, age 12, and Glenda, age 6, entered the Ben Franklin Store, a self-service store, located at Newport, owned and operated by appellee, and made some purchases. Four purchases were made, including a green coat sweater for the older girl, taken to the cashier’s stand, and paid for. As appellant and her daughters were leaving the store, appellee, Douglas Holmes, requested that they come to the back, where he interrogated them about a red sweater being worn by the younger daughter. Mrs. Reynolds claimed she purchased the red sweater at the store on the preceding Monday, October 8th. Employees of the store were summoned, and two, Mrs. Nettie Davidson and Jerry Lynn Bradley, stated that they had seen appellant, while standing at the sweater counter, button the red sweater on the little girl. Both witnesses stated that neither of the children was wearing, or carrying, wraps of any kind when they first observed them in the store. Martha Spears, an employee, stated that she was the cashier, and remembered a sale of a sweater to Mrs. Reynolds on Monday, but did not remember the col- or of the sweater. Appellant then left the store, returning with her husband, Lawrence Reynolds, and after some conversation with Holmes, the Reynolds went to the office of the sheriff for the purpose of instituting prosecution. The sheriff’s office was also occupied by the police department of the City of Newport. J. R. Taylor, chief of police, heard their story, and placed a telephone call to Holmes, who came to the office. After discussing the matter, an affidavit for a warrant of arrest, charging appellant with petit larceny was prepared, and was signed by appellee. Taylor kept the written charge until Monday or Tuesday, at which time he delivered it to the municipal clerk of the City of Newport. Following the signing of the affidavit, Taylor, together with a deputy sheriff, drove appellant and her family to their home. The officer testified that appellant told him she had the tag that came off the red sweater which had been purchased on Monday, but when the tag was not produced, he returned to town. Appellant was instructed to appear in municipal court in the City of Newport on Tuesday, October 16th, but the case was not tried until December 7,1956, at which time Mrs. Reynolds was acquitted of the charge. Three weeks later, complaint was filed against appellee seeking $10,000 actual damages for libel and slander, $10,000 actual damages for malicious prosecution, and punitive damages in the sum of $5,000, or a total amount of $25,-000. The case was tried on December 4, 1957, and resulted in a hung jury. The second trial was held on July 11, 1959, and resulted in a verdict for appellee. Numerous alleged errors are urged by appellant, and we proceed to a discussion of these points. Appellant first asserts that the verdict of the jury amounted to a finding that appellant stole the sweater in question, and there is no substantial evidence to support such a finding. Under the court’s instructions, it would appear that the jury may have taken such a view. Of course, we have no way of knowing the factual basis upon which the jury reached its conclusions. The fact that she had been acquitted of the charge in criminal court, did not necessarily preclude the civil jury from reaching an opposite conclusion. It must likewise be remembered that a criminal conviction requires proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while an action for damages only requires a preponderance of the evidence; here, on appeal, we are only concerned with whether there was substantial evidence to support the verdict. Proof offered by appellee included the testimony of the two ladies, heretofore mentioned, that they had observed Mrs. Beynolds buttoning the red sweater on the little girl; that she was in the store for an hour and a half to two hours; that the little girls were neither wearing sweaters, nor carrying sweaters, when first observed in the store, and a price tag was found by one of the employees on the floor near the sweater counter. Admittedly, the red sweater was not paid for on October 13th. Holmes also testified that he watched the mother and two daughters in the store for approximately thirty minutes, and neither of the children had any kind of wrap. Appellant denied taking the sweater, and testified that the red sweater had been purchased on the previous Monday; however, another employee of the store (Mrs. Warren) testified that the sweater purchased at that time was blue. The price tag found was for a size 8 sweater, and the record reflects that, following the filing of the charge of petit larceny against Mrs. Beynolds, a friend of appellant, Sarah Miller, purchased a size 8 sweater from the Ben Franklin Store, for the purpose of showing that that size sweater was too large for the child to wear. Mrs. Miller testified that the size 8 sweater purchased ‘ ‘ * * * come way down on her ”. The witness also testified that she had observed Glenda wearing a red sweater on Tuesday before the alleged theft on Saturday. Lawrence Beynolds, husband of appellant, Billy Beynolds, son of appellant, and Nadie Beynolds, daughter, also testified that the red sweater was purchased on the Monday prior to the accusation, and had been worn for several days during the week. Appellant points out that certain evidence offered by appellee was contradictory — but the jury heard each witness, and was in a position to evaluate the testimony; also, appellant urges that no asportation was proved, i.e., no one actually saw Mrs. Reynolds take the sweater from the counter. No citation of authority is required to the effect that circumstantial evidence is entirely competent and affords a valid basis upon which to render a verdict. As this Court has many times. stated, it is within the province of the jury to believe or disbelieve witnesses, and weigh the facts and circumstances. Though appellant’s evidence, if accepted by the jury, would likely have supported a verdict, we are likewise of the opinion that appellee offered evidence of a substantial nature upon which the jury could properly base its verdict. Error is claimed because of the refusal of the court to permit appellant to testify on direct examination about a question asked Holmes at the criminal trial by the presiding judge, Vernon Ridley, and to relate the answer given by appellee. Appellant states that this evidence was competent to show Holmes was guilty of express malice in the prosecution, and that he attempted to obtain a conviction by giving false testimony. Upon refusal of the court to permit the evidence, counsel for appellant stated: “Note our exceptions, and the witness, if permitted to answer would have stated that at the conclusion of the argument Judge Ridley hesitated, then said, ‘I know this is unusual, but I want to ask Mr. Holmes a question and I am going to ask it; Mr. Holmes, did you see Mrs. Reynolds and the two little girls enter the store?’ His answer was, ‘No, sir, I did not know about it until it was reported to me.’"1  In the first place, we do not see how the refusal to admit this evidence was prejudicial to the cause of appellant. Mrs. Reynolds had just testified that Mr. Holmes stated in the criminal trial that he saw her and the children when they first came in, and they were not wearing wraps. According to appellant’s brief, in the previous civil trial, Mr. Holmes had stated, in effect, that he did not see the family when they first came in, and this evidence was evidently desired by appellant in contemplation that appellee would testify in a like manner. In fact, when Holmes subsequently took the stand, he did state that he did not recall when he first saw the family. Appellant contends that the desired evidence “* * * went to the very heart of the principal issue: Who was lying? Who started off lying? Can there be absence of express malice when the prosecution attempts to obtain conviction by false testimony?” As stated, the jury heard Mrs. Reynolds relate the version given by Holmes at the criminal trial. Subsequently, in the case now before us, Holmes testified that he did not know when he first observed appellant and her daughters. Accordingly, before submission, the jury was well aware of the fact that Holmes had, according to appellant, made contradictory statements. Therefore, if the testimony was relevant, Mrs. Reynolds was not prejudiced, for the damaging part of Holmes ’ alleged evidence before the municipal court was admitted, and the alleged conflict in his testimony was brought to the attention of the jury. It would seem that the only fact that could have been shown by this evidence was that Holmes gave two versions in the criminal trial, which was entirely collateral to the matter at hand. At any rate, we do not consider the evidence relating to whether Holmes observed appellant coming into the store as being material. Coming into the store did not directly relate to the stealing, nor did it tend to show lack of probable cause, since the charge against her was based, not upon her coming into the store, but upon observation of her actions after she arrived; malice is not shown by proving inconsistent statements regarding immaterial matters. We find no merit in this contention. It is next contended that the court erred in permitting witnesses to testify, over objections of appellant, that they had suspected appellant of shoplifting. There are divergent views as to whether testimony, wherein witnesses state inferences or opinions, formed as a result of their observations, is admissible.2 Here, there is no necessity for discussion of this question, for this point can be disposed of without such a determination. Jerry Lynn Bradley testified that appellant was in the store for close to two hours, and that she watched her. When interrogated as to why she watched her, she replied: “A. Because we had suspicioned her before. She was looking around, and when you ask a customer, and they are looking, and that was such a period of time, that gives you, as a sales clerk, room for suspicion. Q. How long did you watch her, Jerry Lynn?” At this point, counsel for appellant objected, stating that “suspicion is a conclusion drawn by the witnesses and not based upon any facts that are in evidence. We think it is prejudicial, immaterial, and it is inadmissible. ’ ’ The court overruled the objection. Subsequently, Mrs. Dorothy Warren was asked why she noticed appellant, and the witness likewise replied, “Because we had suspected her of shoplifting, and we had been watching her. ” The witness further testified with reference to two dresses, which had been tried on by the daughters of Mrs. Reynolds on a previous date when appellant was present, and which, according to her testimony, subsequently “disappeared”. This testimony was objected to, and the objection at first overruled. Within a few minutes, however, the court ordered all the testimony about the dresses stricken from the record, told the jury that such evidence was being withdrawn from its consideration, and instructed the jury specifically to not consider the testimony in any manner. “You must treat it as though this testimony had never been introduced during this trial.” Shortly thereafter, after proceedings in chambers, and at the request of appellant, the court instructed the jury to disregard the answer of the witness, “* * * because we suspected her of shoplifting, and we had been watching her.” The court further stated: “You are instructed you are to disregard that testimony and give it no consideration; that you are to treat it as though you never heard it because it, too, is being stricken from the record and you are specifically and cautiously instructed to use care and caution and to wipe it completely out of your mind.” It does not appear from the record that the court specifically told the jury to disregard the similar statement made by the first witness, Jerry Lynn Bradley, though there is an inference during the examination of Holmes that all of this testimony had been excluded. Holmes, the last witness on behalf of appellee, was asked: ‘ ‘ Q. What was the first thing that called her to your attention? A. Well, it has been brought out in testimony we had suspected her before. BY MR. ERWIN: If Your Honor please, it is not brought out in testimony; it was excluded from the consideration of the jury.3  BY THE COURT: Sustained.” At any rate, it was apparent that the court had changed its mind since first admitting this evidence, and if appellant desired that the specific statement of Miss Bradley be stricken, she should have made such a request to the court. However, appellant’s principal argument on this point is not directed to the fact that the Bradley testimony was not specifically excluded, but rather to the fact that the court’s admonition to disregard the testimony “ * * * . did not remove and could not remove prejudice created in the minds of the jury.” This contention relates principally to the testimony of Mrs. Warren. In Horton, Guardian v. Smith, 219 Ark. 918, 245 S. W. 2d 386, a witness was asked whether' one Charles Sherman “* * * is a careful or reckless driver? A. I know that he is a reckless driver.” On appeal, this Court said: “The first assignment in the motion for new trial is that the court erred in permitting appellee to answer the question, in refusing to exclude the answer, and in failing to instruct the jury not to consider it. The record reflects an objection by appellant after the question was answered. In sustaining appellant’s objection, the trial court said: ‘Yes, gentlemen, that is incompetent, and you will not consider the last answer of the witness. It is taken from you. ’ There was no further objection nor was a mistrial requested. In these circumstances, any prejudice arising from the excluded testimony was removed by the action of the trial court.” Here, the court went even further, and made a rather lengthy statement admonishing the jury that the evidence should not be considered. If it were felt that the court’s statement to the jury would not remove any possible prejudice, a motion for mistrial should have been made in the first instance. This was not done. Holmes testified, from his own knowledge, that his annual average loss from shoplifting was $2,000. This evidence was based upon records in appellee’s possession. Appellant states that this evidence was immaterial and irrelevant, but highly prejudicial. We think the evidence was competent to show appellee’s state of mind, and probable cause for instituting the criminal action, as well as tending to show a lack of malice. Of course, one who had suffered losses from theft would be much more concerned than one who had not. As stated in Richter v. Neilson, 11 Cal. App. 2d 503, 54 Pac. 2d 54: “As the authorities point out, malice being the main indispensable element of an action of this kind, not only is a plaintiff given a very wide range in proving facts and circumstances tending to establish such element, but likewise the defendant is given the same full opportunity to disprove it. 16 Cal. Jur. 748. As said in Griswold v. Griswold, supra, and again in Burke v. Watts, 188 Cal. 118, 204 P. 578, whatever tends to prove good faith tends to disprove malice and must be admitted. ’ ’ Nor are we able to see where this testimony was prejudicial, since there was no evidence submitted to the jury to connect appellant with the $2,000 loss. Appellant complains that the size 8 pin tag found on the floor near the sweater counter was never offered in evidence, and she calls attention to the fact that though Martha Spears and Gene Warren testified about the finding of the tag, neither Jerry Lynn Bradley nor Holmes were asked any questions with reference to it. Of course, there was nothing to prevent appellant from interrogating Miss Bradley, Holmes, or any other witness at length with reference to the tag, or why it was not introduced. In addition, no objection was made to the evidence of witnesses Spears and Warren concerning the tag. Appellant alleges error in the refusal of the court to permit the clerk to read to the jury the pre-trial order made by the court following a pre-trial conference on November 29, 1957. This request was based on the fact that the original answer of appellee stated that the prosecution was instituted in good faith upon the advice of the deputy prosecuting attorney of Jackson County; at the pre-trial conference appellee obtained leave to amend his answer so as to allege that he consulted Taylor, the chief of police, and had acted upon the advice of Taylor in commencing the prosecution. Appellant desired to introduce the order as indicating “ever-shifting” defenses of Holmes. The statute relating to pre-trial conferences (Ark. Stats., § 27-2402, 1959 Supp.) provides: “Actions taken at the conference, amendments allowed to the pleadings, rulings of the court, stipulations to be considered in evidence, and, agreements made by the parties on any of the matters considered, will be made a part of the record in the case. ’ ’ Though the pre-trial order is a part of the record, we think this point is immaterial. The original answer was read to the jury. While the testimony of Holmes reflected that some discussion was held with the chief of police, no mention was ever made by appellee that he consulted the deputy prosecuting attorney. Appellee also admitted on cross-examination that at the previous trial, he had testified' the charge had been filed at the suggestion of Taylor. Accordingly, this conflict was called to the attention of the jury, and no prejudice could have resulted from the court’s ruling. Appellant complains about the giving of the court’s instruction No. 6 and the failure to give appellant’s requested instruction No. 20. As to the first, there was no objection to the instruction; as to the second, the contents of the requested instruction were covered by other instructions given. Finally, it is urged that the court erred in not excusing venireman David Paul Burton for cause. Burton stated on voir dire that he had heard about the occurrence at the Ben Franklin Store through relatives of appellee, and had formed an opinion; the relatives were not witnesses. However, he said that he had no bias, and in response to interrogation by the court, stated that he could go into the jury box, lay aside any opinion, and base his decision solely on the evidence introduced during the trial, and the law as given by the court. We have several times held that the facts relied upon by appellant are not sufficient grounds for challenge. See St. Louis 1. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Stamps, 84 Ark. 241, 104 S. W. 1114, Rowe v. State, 224 Ark. 671, 275 S. W. 2d 887. Finding no reversible error, the judgment is affirmed. Johnson, J., dissents.   Lawrence Reynolds, husband of appellant, testified that this question was asked by the Judge, and the answer given by Holmes. The parties stipulated that Judge Vernon Ridley, if present, would testify that he did not recall the details of the testimonv-    For instance, in Corpus Juris Secundum, Vol. 32, § 459, p. 101, we find: “The modern tendency is to regard it as more important to get to the truth of the matter than to quibble over distinctions which are in many cases impracticable, and a witness is permitted to state a fact known to or observed by him, even though his statement involves a certain element of inference.”    Emphasis supplied.