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State v. StallingsState v. Stallings

Supreme Court of Alabama
Nov 15, 1904
Reporters:
Before:
Anderson
ANDERSON, J.

Upon the hearing of this petition before the‘chancellor, the State offered to prove by witnesses that after ‍​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‍defendant, who was seriously wounded, had been removed to Peagler’s drug store, and about five minutes áfter the shooting, upon being informed that Buckhaults was dead, said, “I have done what I have always ‍​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‍intended to do, and am ready to die.” This‘evidence was objected to by defendant, and the objection was sustained by the chancellor.

“Acts and declarations to be admissible as res gestae must be substantially contemporaneous with the main ‍​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‍fact and so closely connected with it as to illustrate its character.” — Fonville v. State, 91 Ala. 39; Mayfield’s Digest, Vol. 1, p. 772. We do not think this evidence was admissible as a part of the res gestae.

There ‍​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‍Avas no predicate for the introduction thereof as a confession. All confessions are prima facie not admissible .as evidence. — Mayfield’s Digest, Vol. 1, p. 206. The action of the chancellor in excluding this evidence was ‍​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‍proper.

The order of the chancellor granting the petitioner bail is affirmed.

McClellan, C.J., Tyson and Simpson, J.J., concurring. ”

Case Details

Case Name: State v. Stallings
Court Name: Supreme Court of Alabama
Date Published: Nov 15, 1904
Citation: 142 Ala. 112
Court Abbreviation: Ala.
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