McDaniels v. State, 50 So. 324

McDaniels v. State

50 So. 324 | Ala. | 1909

McCLELLAN, J.

The appellant stands condemned to suffer death for the murder of Robert W. Drake. Preliminary to the trial below the defendant moved for a change of venue. The court denied the motion, and this action of the court is the first question presented for review here. This court, in Hawes’ Case, 88 Ala. *2737, 7 South. 302, announced the.rule that the action of a trial court in refusing an application for a change of venue will not be reversed unless this court can “see, and see clearly, that its action was wrong,” that the presumption prevails that the fuli'ng ivas free from error, until error is affirmatively shown. In Howard’s Case, in Ms. — the Hawes Case, in this particular, was followed. After a careful review of the evidence offered on the hearing of the application for change of venue, and with due regard for the rule stated, we are not convinced that error was committed in the refusa! of the application.

The important question presented by the record and argued by counsel for appellant raises for. Our review the inquiry whether the testimony of the accomplice, Charlie Taylor, implicating the defendant, was sufficiently corroborated to render the submission of guilt vel non of the defendant to the jury. Accepting appellant’s theory that the witness Emma Williams’ testimony was all the evidence offered assuming to afford the necessary corroborating testimony of that given by Taylor, we entertain the opinion that Williams’ testimony sufficed for the purpose of corroboration. We will briefly set out our reasons:

Taylor testified that he, Shad Williams, Ed Howard, and defendant concocted, after discussion, the conspiracy to kill Mr. Drake; that on the occasion of his murder all entered his room, one being armed with a piece of iron; that, finding Mr. Drake asleep, it was then arranged for the defendant to “watch” outside, which defendant did; that Williams struck Mr. Drake on the head with the piece of iron, killing him; that one of them secured from his trousers the store (which was nearby) keys; that the four went there, robbed one of cash drawers, and attempted to open the other cash *28drawer and the iron safe; that they took an inflammable oil out of tbe stock, poured it about tbe building, and set fire to it; that some of tbe oil was tben carried back to tbe house, tbe trousers of tbe deceased were saturated with it, and, placing tbe trousers beneath tbe body of tbe dead man, fire was set to the trousers. These are some only of tbe details of tbe tragedy. Emma Williams’ testimony, as presently important, was, tbe record shows, as follows: “On Monday night before Mr. Drake was killed, I beard Shad Williams, Ed Howard, and Charlie Taylor talking at my bouse. Q. Did you bear any talk between them about a plot to kill Mr. Drake? A. Yes, sir. Q. Who was it you beard talking? A. Shad Williams, Joe McDaniel, and Ed Howard. Q. What did they say? A. Shad Williams say they was going to ldll Mr. Drake to get them some money.”

In one view, clearly open t.o adoption, both by the court as a preliminary matter to determine whether it corroborated Taylor’s testimony and by the jury upon submission to them, the witness affirmatively stated that defendant was one of the three, with Sbacl Williams and Ed Howard, she beard talking about a plot to kill Mr. Drake. In this particular Taylor’s testimony, detailing the plot to kill Mr. Drake, finds, if credited, direct and material support. After responding to the question as last indicated, the witness said that Williams said “they was going to ldll Mr. Drake.” (Italics supplied.) the they referred to in the answer of the witness obviously bad reference to the parties said to have been then present, and defendant was one of them. These considerations appear conclusive to us against the insistence for appellant that the testimony of the accomplice was uncorroborated. the affirmative charge, requested by defendant, was, hence, properly refused.

*29The defendant requested, and was refused, several charges postulating an acquittal of the defendant if the jury did not credit the testimony of the sole witness whose statements tended to corroborate the testimony of Charlie Taylor, the confessing accomplice. The rule sought to be announced in these charges should have been applied to the case. The statute (Code 1907, § 7879) forbids a conviction on the testimony of an accomplice, unless corroborated as the statute prescribes. In this case the corroboration (if offered) depended wholly upon the testimony of Emma Williams. Disbelief of her testimony necessarily forbade, under the letter of the statute, a conviction of this defendant.

We have numbered the refused charges for convenience. All of the Justices concur in the conclusion that the court erred in refusing charge 6. Justices ANDERSON and DENS'ON entertain the opinion that the court also erred in refusing charges 4 and 5. Justice SAYRE holds that charges 4 and 6 should have been given, but that charge 5 might properly have been given, though the court- did not err in refusing it, because it placed the burden on the court, to declare what the evidence was. The principles announced in Segars’ Case, 86 Ala. 59, 5 South. 558, and Johnson’s Case, are applicable to these charges. Charge 6 hypothesized the mere belief by the jury of the testimony of Emma Williams, whereas the essential, under the statute, to a conviction, where the corroboration of the accomplice’s testimony is offered by a single witness, is that such witness’ testimony shall be believed beyond a reasonable doubt. Charge 6 did not so intend; but its failure in that respect was favorable to the prosecution.

For the error in refusing charge 6, the judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

All the Justices concur.