Long v. State

54 Ga. 564 | Ga. | 1875

Jackson, Judge.

The defendant was indicted for robbery; the jury found him guilty. A motion was made for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict was contrary to the evidence and without evidence to support it, contrary to law, and that evidence had been discovered since the trial which would probably have changed the verdict. JThe court refused to grant the new trial, and that refusal is the error assigned.

The facts are briefly these, as proven on the trial: A young man named DeLongcame to Atlanta, sold some meal for $26, bought a bottle of whisky, got in company with a couple of lewd women, and with the defendant and another man, went out to Ponce DeLeon Spring on a frolic, and lost all the money out of his pocket-book except $3 00. They were joined at the spring by other women of the same class; remained there some time; DeLong went off with some of the other women a short while; they (the five) then left the spring together, visited various places, and on his way back to the wagon-yard where he put up, DeLong swears that he was robbed of his pocket-book by defendant and one of the women, in this manner: The two accompanied him back, one walking on each side and holding his arms, when defendant took-hold of his pocket-book and, against his will, took it from him, saying he would take care of it for him ; the woman, who was also indicted in the same bill, put it in her stocking, and after-wards returned it to him. When they parted from him, defendant told him if he returned that he would shoot him. On arriving at the wagon-yard he missed all his money except $3 00. All the party were drinking; bought whisky repeatedly, when DeLong’s pocket-book was exposed; and DeLong himself was quite drunk, according to his own testimony and that of all the .others. The alleged robbery occurred at night — nine or ten o’clock. There were houses about, yet no outcry was made by DeLong. He was the only witness for the state. The woman was sworn for the defense, and denied the robbery, and two or three other witnesses were sworn, showing the drunkenness of DeLong and his associating with óther women at the spring. We think the facts show rather a weak case of robbery. ,No intumtVjjfcjon or threat was used except the threat to., shoot him, if he returned, and this was before he discoyéred that his money was gone, and after the pocket-book had been returned to him ; nor was any great force used, nor does he appear to have been frightened. It is doubtful 'if the money did not slip from the pocket-book before the time of the alleged robbery, if he did not spend it in the previous debauchery, or some one did not then steal it. Still, filie question was for the jury; there was some force, and we will not interfere with the verdict on the ground that it is contrary to the evidence. Nor will we interfere on the ground that it is contrary to law, although from the trifling amount of force used, and the quasi willingness of DeLong for defendant to take care of the purse, if he or the woman afterwards took the money, it would look more like larceny after a trust than like robbery.

We come, then, to the ground of newly discovered evidence. This consists of the affidavit of two women, that they saw Eva Sweatman (the woman present at the alleged robbery,) in possession of DeLong’s purse at Ponce DeLeon Spring before the time of the alleged robbery, and that DeLong said to her then and there that she could have any amount of the money she wanted. Also, of the affidavits of two other women, that they heard Eva Sweatman say she had money enough to buy a gallon of whisky, and saw her put money in her stocking at the house of Mrs. Hackett, before the time of the alleged robbery. Also, of the affidavits of two policemen, to the effect that DeLong told them the day after the alleged robbery that Eva Sweatman ran her hands in his pocket and took out his pocket-book, which contained $26 00, and when she returned it to him $23 00 was gone.

The affidavits of the policemen alone would not be sufficient to authorize a new trial on the ground of newly discovered testimony, as they consist only of contradictory statements of the prosecutor: 13 Georgia, 513; but they strengthen the motion predicated upon the other affidavits. Those affidavits are facts and circumstances not cumulative, and which; ffbefore the jury, might, and probably would, have changed the verdict) •, The defendant was arrested and confined the next day; no ^yant of diligence appears on his part, nor on that of his counsel, under the facts disclosed in the record. The case made by the prosecutor was not a strong one for the high crime of robbery by force, for which the defendant has been sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. The prosecutor was the only witness sworn., for the state; die was drunk to the extent of staggering and throwing up along the road and at the wagon yard on his return, therefore, taking the whole case together, we conclude that the ends of justice demand a new hearing, and we feel constrained to reverse the judgment and grant the new trial..

Judgment reversed.