Opinion
4 Div. 153.
November 22, 1940. Rehearing Denied January 16, 1941.
Appeal from Circuit Court, Houston County; D.C. Halstead, Judge.
John W. Rish, W. L. Lee, and Alto V. Lee, III, all of Dothan, for appellant.
The separation of the jury as shown in this case was an illegal separation and constituted ground for setting aside the verdict and granting a new trial on defendant's motion. Williams v. State, 45 Ala. 56; Croker v. State, 47 Ala. 53; Franklin v. State, 29 Ala. 14; Brister v. State, 26 Ala. 107; Payne v. State, 226 Ala. 69, 145 So. 650; Nabors v. State, 120 Ala. 323, 25 So. 529; Arnett v. State, 225 Ala. 8, 141 So. 699; Melton v. State, 26 Ala. App. 265, 158 So. 196. For an officer, a witness for the State who gave testimony against defendant, and who wagered on the result of the trial, that defendant would be found guilty, to be in a room with two of the jurors all night, with four of the jurors in a different room and four jurors in another different room, none of the rooms being connected, is a flagrant violation of all legal rules for a fair and just trial. Atlantic C. L. R. Co. v. Hardwick, 239 Ala. 58, 193 So. 730; Arrington v. State, 23 Ala. App. 201, 123 So. 99; Oliver v. State, 232 Ala. 5, 166 So. 615; Buxton v. State, 89 Tenn. 216, 14 S.W. 480.
Thos. S. Lawson, Atty. Gen., and Prime F. Osborn, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
All that was said by those present at the place of the difficulty immediately before the killing is a part of the res gestæ, and admissible in evidence. Rector v. State, 11 Ala. App. 333, 66 So. 857; Tittle v. State, 15 Ala. App. 306, 73 So. 142; Baker v. State, 18 Ala. App. 48, 88 So. 370; Haney v. State, 20 Ala. App. 236, 101 So. 533; Id., 211 Ala. 614, 101 So. 537; Shirley v. State, 144 Ala. 35, 40 So. 269. Error is not shown where questions objected to were answered favorably to the defendant. 7 Ala.Dig., Criminal Law, 1170 1/2 (3). It is not error to refuse special charges, the substance of which has been given in the oral charge or other special charge. 6 Ala.Dig., Criminal Law, 829. In lodging a jury where such is necessary it is not essential that they be kept all in one room, or that the officers in charge lodge within the apartment or room with them. There is no separation where they are placed in adjoining and connecting rooms or apartments, and the officers remain in such situation as to obscure and prevent any irregularity or misconduct. Arnett v. State, 225 Ala. 8, 141 So. 699; Nabors v. State, 120 Ala. 323, 25 So. 529; Rials v. State, 20 Ala. App. 228, 101 So. 629; Minor v. Com., 5 Ky.Law Rep. 176; Adkins v. Com., 197 Ky. 385, 247 S.W. 26; Com. v. Shields, 2 Bush, Ky., 81; State v. Garig, 43 La. Ann. 365, 8 So. 934; State v. Deball, 51 La. Ann. 497, 25 So. 384; State v. Spears, 134 La. 483, 64 So. 385; Kennedy v. Com., 2 Va.Cas. 510; State v. Robinson, 20 W. Va. 713, 43 Am.Rep. 799. Each case is to be judged by its particular facts when the question of improper influence on the jury is concerned. Bell v. State, 227 Ala. 254, 149 So. 687; Oliver v. State, 232 Ala. 5, 166 So. 615. Any presumption of improper influence possibly arising is overcome by the testimony of jurors and officers. Harris v. State, 233 Ala. 196, 172 So. 347. The officer not having been a witness in the case and it appearing that he had never talked with any of the jurors concerning the case, even though he had a wager on the outcome of the case, such would not of itself constitute improper influence on the jury. Locklear v. State, 17 Ala. App. 597, 87 So. 708; Id., 205 Ala. 236, 87 So. 712; Waldorf v. State, 24 Ala. App. 152, 132 So. 63; Combs v. Com., 160 Ky. 386, 169 S.W. 879; 16 C.J. 1074; Ann.Cas. 1912C, 880, note; 16 R.C.L. 325.
The appeal is from a conviction of murder in the second degree with penalty fixed at thirty-five years' imprisonment. Defendant confessedly shot J. T. Trawick, Jr., with a pistol, two bullets striking Trawick, the shot in the breast proving fatal.
Upon the trial Davis rested upon the doctrine of self defense. The wife of Davis operated the Radio Sandwich Shop in Dothan and Trawick worked in the shop. Defendant had been away from Dothan several weeks, and there was proof tending to show his wife did not desire his return, but had changed her affections to Trawick.
Defendant rented a car in Montgomery and drove to the sandwich shop in Dothan. He was armed and the jury may well infer from the proof he anticipated that he might make use of his pistol. Upon the trial there was no proof that Trawick was armed, but defendant testifies that while he and his wife were in the kitchen Trawick came in and was advancing on him with his hand in his left hip pocket when the fatal shot was fired.
The evidence tends to show defendant, in fact, fired six shots and in his pistol, found in the alley, there were found six empty shells. Likewise the proof justified the inference that he made some effort at flight immediately following the shooting, though arrested a few minutes thereafter. There was proof also justifying the inference that immediately preceding the shooting, defendant and his wife, in the kitchen, were having some words or trouble of some character. The wife made some remark about not fearing a pistol and the witness Danzey, who was sitting with Trawick at the time, states he heard a noise or commotion in the kitchen, "sounded like somebody was falling or shoving the table around or something".
Danzey's testimony may further be construed to the effect that it was about this time, Marie Yancey, the sister of Mrs. Davis, ran out the front, and that Trawick pushed the curtain back as he went in the kitchen with the remark "lets don't have any trouble". The shooting followed almost immediately, defendant insisting Trawick continued to advance towards him after being warned not to do so.
We think it clear enough all of these matters constituted a part of the res gestae and that there was no error in permitting the state to show that Marie Yancey "was running" as she came out.
Many of the questions asked defendant by the state on his cross examination were either not answered or answered favorably. But in any event all of the questions so clearly came within the wide range of the trial court's discretion as to require no separate treatment here. Wilson v. State, 195 Ala. 675, 71 So. 115.
The oral charge of the court considered in connection with the several charges given at defendant's request clearly embraced all legal phases of the case for the jury's consideration. We need not, therefore, stop to inquire as to the exact correctness of the charges refused defendant, for the reason that in any event their substance was embraced in the instructions to the jury as above indicated.
On motion for a new trial, defendant insists he has shown an unwarranted and unlawful separation of the jury, citing among other authorities Williams v. State, 45 Ala. 57; Croker v. State, 47 Ala. 53; Payne v. State, 226 Ala. 69, 145 So. 650; Arnett v. State, 225 Ala. 8, 141 So. 699; Melton v. State, 26 Ala. App. 265, 158 So. 196.
It appears that after a brief consideration of the case by the jury accommodations for the night became necessary and they were all carried to the hotel. No place was available for all to occupy the same room. The jurors were accommodated on the third floor of the hotel — four in one room, two or four in another and two or four in another room. The exact number in each room is uncertain. One deputy was placed in the hallway. Part of the jurors were on one side of the hallway and part on the other side. Another deputy slept in the room with two of the jurors. The jury was all along in charge of these two deputies and there was no communication from any outside source.
There was here shown no unwarranted separation of the jury and what is said by this Court in Arnett v. State, supra, suffices for all purposes and we consider the question needs here no further discussion.
Defendant cites Oliver v. State, 232 Ala. 5, 166 So. 615, as to the deputy Bond who slept in the room with two of the jurors, upon the assumption Bond was a witness for the State. But this assumption is incorrect. Bond did not testify on the trial nor does it appear he had taken any part therein. See reference to Oliver case in Harris v. State, 233 Ala. 196, 172 So. 347. True, Bond admits that he had a wager with one Adams that defendant would be convicted. But the proof is undisputed that the jurors knew nothing whatever as to any such wager. This ground of the motion is likewise untenable.
Other grounds in the nature of newly discovered evidence are so clearly without merit as to need no discussion and indeed are not here urged in brief. Mindful of our duty in cases of this character we have examined the record with care and find no error to reverse. The judgment must accordingly stand affirmed.
Affirmed.
BOULDIN, FOSTER, and LIVINGSTON, JJ., concur.