10 Ga. App. 40 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1911
The accused was convicted of selling liipior. The first indictment against him was quashed for a defect, and a new one immediately returned. As to each of these indictments he asked for a continuance, that he might obtain the testimony of certain witnesses as to his good character. It is inferable from the record that both indictments were .returned at the same term of the court at which the accused was tried, and that subpoenas were not requested for the witnesses until after the court had convened. It does not appear when the accused was first arrested for the offense. It does not appear that he had not been previously committed by a magistrate. As to witnesses residing in the county, the accused must, in order to make his showing complete, either show that he has had them subpoenaed under the provisions of sections 943, 944, of the Penal Code of 1910, or else that there has been no commitment trial. As to the witnesses Cray and Morton, it does not appear that they resided out of the county; hence, as to them the showing was incomplete. As to the other absent witnesses, there was no showing that they had ever been served with subpoenas. It does appear that subpoenas were issued for them and left with the clerk. As it is not the duty of the clerk to serve subpoenas, the showing as to them is legally incomplete, viewed from the standpoint of a formal showing for continuance on legal grounds. The showing as a whole made a case for the exercise of .a sound discretion by the judge.
Judgment affirmed.