Court Opinion

ID: 6521333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 19:03:44.008056+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:09.310132
License: Public Domain

PELHAM, J. —
This case is submitted on the state’s motion to dismiss the appeal, and on the merits. The record shows that the appeal was taken on April 21, 1911, during the 1910-11 term of the Supreme Court. The appeal was returnable on the first Monday of the term next after the expiration of 20 days from the date of the appeal (Code, § 2870), or on the first Monday after May 12, 1911. The appeal was not returned until April 4, 1912, after the expiration of the 1910-11 term of the court, and after the January call of the fourth division in 1912. It thus appears that the transcript was not filed, or other action taken by the appellant in the *153court of review on appeal, during the term to which the appeal was taken, and it is subject to dismissal on motion of the state. — So. Ry. Co. v. Abraham Bros., 161 Ala. 317, 49 South. 801; Porter v. Martin, 139 Ala. 318, 35 South. 1006; Martin Machine Works v. Miller, 132 Ala. 629, 32 South. 305; Winthrow & Gordon v. Woodward Co., 81 Ala. 100, 2 South. 92; Sears v. Kirksey, 81 Ala. 98, 2 South. 90.
It is made the duty of the clerk in all criminal cases to prepare and forward to the clerk of the appellate court, within 20 days after the suspension of sentence pending appeal, a full and accurate transcript of the record, or, if time is given in which to prepare and have signed a bill of exceptions, the transcript must be forwarded within 20 days from the signing of such bill.— Code, § 6255. The clerk is penalized for failure to perform this duty, but his failure to do so does not relieve the appellant from the necessity of complying with the requirements of the statutes and rules of the court. In fact, it is the appellant’s duty to see that the statutes are complied with, and his appeal perfected in accord with rules of the court. When a defendant has taken an appeal within a year after his conviction, the steps taken thereafter looking to perfecting the appeal, such as the preparation and filing of the transcript, etc., must be done under the provisions of the statutes and rules of the court, or else the appeal is not brought to this court in such a way as to authorize its consideration, and is subject to dismissal on motion. — Rule 41 of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. See amended rule set out in 2 Ala. App. v, 56 South, vi. The element of time is an essential ingredient in the proper and orderly enforcement of the criminal laws, and, although a defendant has 12 months in which to take an appeal, it will hardly be contended that a defendant can *154wait until 11 months after conviction and then take an appeal and be entitled to an additional year in which to perfect the appeal and file the transcript in this court. He must exercise his right within the year to take the appeal, and when taken the statutes and rules in reference to perfecting the appeal must be complied with.
On account of the gravity of the offense involved (the defendant having been convicted of perjury), we have carefully examined the record with a view of considering whether we would exercise our discretion in refusing the state’s motion to dismiss on account of the merit of questions raised; and considering the fact also that there seems to have been no occasion for applying these statutes and rules in criminal cases recently, there may be, on that account, some argument in favor of showing leniency at this time in their application, which, however, will no longer exist after we have called attention to the consequences for the failure to comply with them. — See, also, Lampley v. State, 6 Ala. App. —, 60 South. 415.
The questions presented, considered on their merits, do not seem to us to show error that would require a reversal of the case. If it was error to admit the original file in the civil suit in which the defendant was charged with having sworn falsely, because the record was the best evidence, it was rendered harmless by following up the admission of these papers immediately by the introduction of the original report showing identically the same things.
The plea of coverture was sufficiently identified as having been filed in the case between one J. A. Jackson and the defendant and his wife, in which it was alleged the defendant had sworn falsely. The plea of coverture was part of the record in the case and was admissible as such, although not the plea of the defend*155ant, bnt of Ms wife. Its admission, even if not proper, conld not be said to be prejudicial to the defendant. The final record of the case and the dockets of the court containing entries of the clerk relative to the case were properly admitted in connection with the testimony of the clerk. — Smith v. State, 103 Ala. 57, 15 South. 866; Hannegan v. State, infra, 59 South. 376.
The evidence offered by the state showing incriminating statements made by the defendant, in connection with the positive testimony of the witness.Jackson Avas entirely sufficient to meet the rule that one charged with perjury cannot be convicted on the evidence of one witness without strong corroborating circumstances.
The objection to that part of the court’s oral charge set out is unavailing unless the portion set out is erroneous as a whole. — Lacey v. State, 154 Ala. 65, 45 South. 680. In the part excepted to, the sentence, “The fact, if it be a fact, that in said civil trial the defendant testified that he had paid the note in question to J. A. Jackson, goes to you as evidence in the case,” is unquestionably correct. The exception taken reads: “The defendant excepted to the foregoing portion of the court’s oral charge to the jury, and to each part thereof.” This is an exception going only to the entire portion set out, including the part Ave have quoted. The court cannot consider separate parts of the charge when the assignment is made generally and “to each part thereof” without designating or distinguishing the part to which an exception is reserved. — Kirby v. State, 151 Ala. 66, 44 South. 38. The portion of the oral charge set out, Avhen construed as a whole, is not erroneous on the proposition treated.
It will not be presumed, to put the court in error, that the court in other portions of the oral charge failed *156to state the defendant’s side of the case. — See A. G. S. R. R. Co. v. Sanders, 145 Ala. 449, 457, 40 South. 402.
The written charges which were refused by the court are not argued or insisted upon in brief as error. They are manifestly incorrect and were properly refused.
We are not led by a careful consideration of the whole record, and the questions sought to be presented, to the conclusion that there is any reason why we should exercise our discretion against granting the motion to dismiss based on the ground that the transcript was not filed in time. The appellant has failed to file the transcript in the time required by law, and, on the submission of the motion to dismiss, offers no excuse and does not seek to justify' his failure to comply with the plain statutes and rules of the court in that regard. —Code, §§ 2870, 6255; Rule 41 of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
The motion is granted. Let the appeal be dismissed. — So. Ry. Co. v. Abraham Bros., supra; Porter v. Martin, supra.
Appeal dismissed.