Court Opinion

ID: 3945432
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:08:23.194636+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:27.994395
License: Public Domain

Under the evidence on the hearing of this habeas corpus it appears relator was an attorney for a railway company in the trial of a damage suit in the County Court of Wichita County. In presenting the case to the jury, he argued that the animal (for the value of which the railroad was being sued) having been killed at a point where the right of way was fenced, the road would only be liable in the event those in charge of the train had failed to use ordinary care to discover the animal, and guilty of gross negligence, and he assumed the court would so charge the jury. The court interrupted relator, and told him he had no right to argue the law to the jury, and in so doing he was not showing proper respect to the court. Relator stated he had shown no disrespect to the court, and insisted he had a right to argue the law as applicable to the facts in the case. The court made no reply, when relator resumed the same line of argument and was fined by the court for contempt. The judgment entered is as follows: "It is ordered by the court that O. Bullington be and he is hereby fined $10 for contempt in this, to wit: for refusing to obey orders of the court in open court, and the said O. Bullington is remanded to the custody of the sheriff until said fine is paid." Under said judgment and a writ issued thereon relator was arrested, and sued out a writ of habeas corpus which was granted by this court. Under the evidence adduced on this hearing we do not think his conduct would constitute a contempt of court. He had a right in his argument to state to the jury his theory of the law, and to argue whether or not the evidence would render his client liable for damages. In addition to this the order is rather vague and indefinite and does not state what orders he refused to obey, and is therefore insufficient.
Relator is ordered discharged.
Discharged.