Court Opinion

ID: 7362934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-27 23:48:49.489552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:20:41.178844
License: Public Domain

SIMPSON, J.
The defendant in this case was convicted of the crime of murder in the first degree and sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for life. The defendant moved to quash the venire, because the copy of the indictment served on him differed from the original. It is contended that the variance between the original indictment and the copy served on the defendant is that where the indictment has “whose” the copy has “whos,” and where the indictment has “shooting” the copy has “shooling.” In the first place, if there is anything in the slight variance which is not self-correctng, it would not furnish ground for quashing the venire, but only for setting aside the service. In the next place, neither the original indictment nor the copy which was served on the defendant is before tbis court; and the court has said: “Whether a copy of the indictment served on the defendant corresponded to the original was matter for the determination of the judge presiding, and was determinable only by inspection and comparison of the two papers. * * the two papers are not before us, and we cannot say there was error in the ruling.” — Brown v. State, 109 Ala. 70, 73, 74, 20 South. 103. See, also, Bodine v. State, 129 Ala. 106, 29 South. 926; Kirby v. State, 139 Ala. 87, 36 South. 721.
Tbe fact- that Bay and Stewart bad served as jurors during tbe previous week did not render them incompe*20tent to be included in the special venire. Code 1896, § 4988;; Harrison v. State, 144 Ala. 20, 27, 40 South. 568.
After the state and the defendant had announced ready for trial, and after nine jurors had been selected, but none of them sworn, the state moved the court to reexamine into the qualifications of one of the nine, named Walton, “to see if he was a resident householder or freeholder,” which motion was opposed by the defendant on the ground that said juror had been previously examined, pronounced qualified by the court, and accepted by both the state and the defendant. The court granted the motion, re-examined the juror and pronounced him qualified. The state was chen allowed, over the objection of the defendant to peremptorily challenge said juror.
This raises a point which has not been definitely settled by our decisions. In a capital case it was held that, after a juror had been accepted by the state, and put upon the prisoner and accepted by him, the right of the state to challenge was lost, even though the solicitor and the court were ignorant of the existence of the cause when the juror was accepted. — Stalls v. State, 28 Ala. 25, 27. On a trial for misdemeanor, after jury No. 1 was placed in the box, and other jurors from jury No. 2 had been called and had taken their seats, the solicitor was permitted to challenge one of the jurors for cause. This court, in sustaining such action of the court below,-said that special jurors in a capital felony case could not be challenged after being accepted and sworn, and the rule could not be applied to misdemeanors, except as to tales-men ; that as to the regular jurors, who had already been sworn, the right to challenge existed “until, by some positive act, the juror is selected,” and that “the mere calling” and the challenge of other jurors, “without the acceptance or challenge of the particular juror, mere si*21lence in regard to him,” “is not an absolute waiver.” The court goes on to state that it was not inclined to follow the Stalls Case, but, on the contrary, if the cause was discovered after the acceptance and before the juror Avas SAVorn, and the court was satisfied “that it has not been Avithheld from mere caprice, or from some improper motive, the challenge should not be disallowed,” and goes on to remark that in that case the state did not lose the right until the juror Avas sworn.- — Smith v. State, 55 Ala. 1, 7.
In the meantime, in tAVO cases, where the wording of the bills of exceptions did not clearly indicate that the defendant had “given any intelligent and intentional acceptance of his election as a juror,” the court held that in the exercise of “the great and jealous teaderness which the law indulges towards the life and liberty of the citizen,” and giving the rule its “most liberal interpretation,” the defendant’s right to challenge Avas not waived until the juror was SAVorn. — Murray and Bell v. State, 48 Ala. 675, 681, 682; Drake v. State, 51 Ala. 30. Again, in a misdemeanor case, where the solicitor sought to challenge one of the regular panel, after the jury had been accepted by both the state and defendant, this court held it Avas too late, but remarked that, if it had been for cause just discovered, etc., it would not have been too late. — Sparks v. State, 59 Ala. 82, 86, 87. Again, where the court, in a misdemeanor case, required the defendant to announce his acceptance or not of a juror called from another panel, before the state had expressed itself, and then refused to allow the defendant to challenge, after the state had accepted, this court held that he should have been allowed the privilege; the parties not having “elected them.” The court, quoting from another case, says:: “Most clearly the right of challenge may be waived; and when it is Avaived by the state, and the juror *22is put upon tbe acceptanc of tbe accused, aud be is accepted by bim as one of bis triors, tbe process of election is complete.” — Spigener v. State, 62 Ala. 383, 388.
So, also, this court lias held that “where a juror is disqualified to serve, and sucb disqualification was not known at the time of bis acceptance, or was concealed, without lack of diligence to discover it, on the part of the objector, be may challenge for cause at any time before be is sworn.” — Roberts v. State, 68 Ala. 515, 523. The right to challenge for cause after the jury bad been selected and sworn was held to have been lost, and it remained in the discretion of the court whether or not to excuse a juror at the request of the defendant. — Henry v. State, 77 Ala. 75, 77. After the solicitor (in a misdemeanor case) bad announced himself satisfied with the jury in the box, and before the defendant bad expressed bis election, it was held within the discretion of the court to allow the solicitor to revoke bis acceptance and challenge a juror. — Daniels v. State, 88 Ala. 2220, 7 South. 337. the decisions in other states seem to be in conflict on this subject. 12 Ency. PL & Pr. 491-495.
There is more reason for relaxing tbe rule in regard to a challenge for cause than as to peremptory challenge, and, as suggested in some of tbe cases, the humane principles of tbe law suggest a more liberal interpretation in favor of the defendant than against bim. We do not understand that the Stalls Oase was overruled, but only qualified, as to challenge for cause, in cases where it was discovered after acceptance, and tbe court is satisfied it was not withheld from an improper motive. In tbe light of all of the decisions, and of the safeguards which the law erects around tbe defendant, and realizing how sucb a practice might work serious wrong to tbe defendant, we bold that the court erred in allowing the state to peremptorily challenge the juror after be bad been ac*23cepted by both parties and no special reason ivas shown why the regular order of the court should be departed from.
The questions to the witness McKinney as to what he had previously testified that A. G. Andrews said, also as to Avhether James AndreAvs attempted to kill him, Avere irreleArant and properly excluded. The testimony Avith regard to the body of James Andrews, the condition of his knife, etc., Avere competent, as tending to throAV some light upon the question as to whether he could have killed his wife; there having been testimony in regard to threats made by him.
The question by the defendant to the witness Hunter as to Avhether Bama AndreAvs had her baby in her arms on a preAnous occasion when her husband was accused of offering violence to her was irrelevant and properly excluded, as were also the details of James AndreAvs’ having been bound and tied after he had been arrested for such assault. The objection by the state to the question to the witness Hunter as to what Bama AndreAvs said about James Andrews ’attempting to kill her was properly sustained, as this was clearly hearsay testimony, and at best was but the statement of the conclusion of Bama Andrews.
The witness Fuller stated that he was the telegraph operator; that he took down the message from Bob An-dreAvs ; that he had it at the last trial, when it was introduced in evidence, and had not seen it since. The clerk of the court stated that the telegram went out Avith the jury; that he had never seen it since, though he had made diligent search for it in the jury room and among the papers on file in the case. This was sufficient to authorize proof of its contents, and the objection of the defendant Avas properly overruled. — Saunders v. Tuscumbia Roofing, etc., Co. 148 Ala. 519, 41 So. 982, 983.
*24The conversation between the witness Clarence Andrews and bis brother, the defendant, was irrelevant, and the objection of the state was properly sustained. The same is true with regard to the question by the defendant to the witness McLean, “What did the woman want yon to do?” at the time they are said to have fled to his house, a week before the killing; also of the questions to Waller about drafts drawn by James Andrews, as to how much said James Andrews owed N. Waller, and the date of the mortgage; also of the questions as to whether the mother of Bama Andrews was ever married, as to what Clarence Andrews said about the check, and about the condition of James Andrews’ mind, and what Bama Andrews said to him.
The statement, in the showing of what the witness R. E. McWilliams, Jr., would testify in regard to James Andrews’ trying to send a telegram to John Andrews, was also properly excluded as irrelevant.
Charge No. 4, requested by the defendant, was properly refused. Under the indictment and the evidence in this case, even though the shooting may have been done by some other person, yet it would not follow that the defendant was entitled to acquittal. For the same reason, and because charge No. 5, requested by the defendant, was calculated to mislead, it was properly refused. —Turner v. State, 124 Ala. 59, 63, 27 South. 272.
The judgment of the court is reversed, and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Tyson, C. J., and Haralson and Denson, JJ., concur.