Court Opinion

ID: 9868201
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-26 18:23:40.044259+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:47.968992
License: Public Domain

Justice Watts :
I do not concur in the opinion of Circuit Judge Gary. I am of the opinion that some Court ought to have jurisdiction to entertain motions for new trials on the ground of after-discovered testimony.
I have changed my mind since I dissented along with Circuit Judge Ernest Gary in the case of State v. Lee. My change was brought about by the case of State v. Williams, 76 S. C., 135. I tried him on Circuit; he was convicted of murder. I overruled his motion for a new trial and sentenced him to death; he appealed, and the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Court and remanded the case for the purpose of assigning a new day for the execution of the sentence. His attorneys discovered new evidence, and moved before the Circuit Court for a new trial,, which was granted by, I think, his Honor, Judge Prince, and Williams was either acquitted or case “nol prossed.” Am innocent man would have suffered if some Court had not had the power to grant a new trial on after-discovered evidence.
My opinion is that, when the Supreme Court has jurisdiction of a case on a prima facie showing, it should have the power to suspend the appeal and send it to the Circuit Court for investigation, and with power to the Circuit Court to grant a new1 trial on after-discovered testimony.
After remittitur of the Supreme Court is sent down, that Court has no further jurisdiction. After that the Circuit Court should have jurisdiction to hear a motion for a new trial at any time, on the ground of after-discovered evidence, and grant a new trial in a proper case.
I think the order appealed from should be reversed as it was not after-discovered evidence, but merely cumulative evidence, and would not have changed the former verdict. *305It is altogether different from the case of State v. Casey, 116 S. C., 280, 108 S. E., 112.
In my opinion the order appealed from should be reversed,, and the case remanded for the purpose of assigning a new day to carry out the sentence heretofore imposed.