Court Opinion

ID: 3978954
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:36:11.352436+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:18:05.327864
License: Public Domain

Conviction is for the unlawful manufacture of intoxicating liquor.
According to the State's testimony, the sheriff procured a search warrant and went to the premises of the appellant and searched his house, and finding nothing material there, he searched his barn where he found a barrel or keg of what the sheriff denominated as "beer." About three-quarters of a mile from appellant's barn was found his still, which was suitable for manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The still was in operation and appellant and others were present. Appellant fled but dropped a sack, which was on his shoulder, containing several half gallon jugs of whisky.
The defense was an alibi. Against the testimony that a search warrant was obtained, objection is urged that the warrant would be the best evidence. If the contents of the warrant were in issue, doubtless the objection would be tenable. No question is raised, however, with reference to the sufficiency of the warrant or its contents. The sheriff said that he procured one and searched the *Page 14 
premises. We think the evidence was not subject to the objection urged against it.
The conclusion of the sheriff that the keg or barrel which he found in the barn contained beer was combatted, there being evidence that it contained bran, meal, sugar and other matters, and there was also evidence introduced that it was hog feed. The sheriff admitted that it was sweet. The evidence touching the contents of the keg was not irrelevant upon the issues involved. The description of its contents was such as to leave the inference, at least, that it was suitable for use as mush antecedent to the manufacture of the liquor. The matter was res gestae.
As shown by the court's qualification to the bill of exceptions, the testimony which the appellant sought to elicit by his question to Oliver Buchanan was hearsay and properly rejected as such. As part of his alibi, he claimed to have been at the home of Buchanan. As shown by the bill, "the witness would have answered that he understood that it was the intention of the defendant to go to Oliver Buchanan's on that day and he saddled his horse early in the morning for that purpose." Qualifying it, the court said: "Witness testified that all he knew about where defendant was going that morning was what the defendant told him and this testimony was excluded because it was purely hearsay."
Appellant, on cross-examination, was asked if he had not been indicted and attended court down in Shreveport, Louisiana. The bill does not disclose that the question was answered. In passing upon appellant's objection to it, the court remarked that it was applicable to his suspended sentence, and qualified the bill with the statement that the testimony would be limited to that issue. As stated above, the bill does not disclose what testimony was given in answer to the question. We think the comment is not a violation of the statute inhibiting the comment of the judge upon the weight of the evidence. It was an indication that he would limit the evidence to the issue upon which he considered it relevant.
Appellant introduced testimony to the effect that the sheriff had made statements out of court to the effect that he could not identify the appellant as one of the persons connected with the offense. This was contradictory to the testimony of the sheriff upon the trial. We discern no error in the action of the court in limiting the testimony touching the statements out of court to the issue that they might be used only for impeachment purposes.
Bill No. 8 complains that, in argument, the State's attorney told the jury:
"It don't make any difference if the defendant is charged with making liquor on the 14th day of February, and that you believe every word that the defense witness say, he could yet be guilty, because he is charged on or about the 14th of February, and any time within the last three years would be sufficient." *Page 15 
Though objection was made to this argument, the surrounding facts sufficient to show that it was inapplicable are not embraced in the bill. In fact, there are no surrounding facts stated.
In opening the case, the State's witnesses fixed the time at which they found appellant in the act of manufacturing intoxicating liquor as the 14th day of February. Appellant testified that on the 14th day of February, he left his home at about 7:30 or 8:00 o'clock in the morning and went on horseback to the home of Oliver Buchanan; that he did not return to his home until after sundown. We do not find in his testimony any denial that he had manufactured the liquor or that he was not present at the still at the time he manufactured the liquor, but his testimony is to the effect of establishing an alibi upon a particular day — the 14th of February. In rebuttal, the State introduced testimony to the effect that the witnesses were not certain as to the exact date upon which they found the still; that it was near the 14th day of February.
Finding no error warranting a reversal, the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
                          ON REHEARING.                          May 17, 1922.