Strickland v. State

43 So. 188 | Ala. | 1907

HARALSON, J.

The trial was had on May 23, 1906. and the defendant was allowed until July 1, 1906, for a bill of exceptions. The time purports to have been extended by subsequent orders until the 20th of July, 1906, and the bill of exceptions was signed on the 19th of July, 1906. The several orders extending- the time, are not-set out in the record, or in the bill of exceptions, but the mere recital of the existence of such orders is contained in the bill. The bill of exceptions as to this matter is as follows: “The court in term time made and entered an order allowing the defendant until July 1, 1906, to prepare and submit a. bill of exceptions, and on the 30th of -Tune, 1906, and within the time of the first order, made and entered another order extending the time until July 15, 1906, and on July 14, 1906, within the time made and entered another order, extending the time until July 20, 1906; and, now within the time allowed by the court, comes the defendant, and presents this, his bill of exceptions, and asks that the same be signed and approved by the court, which is accordingly done. Signed and approved, this July 19, 1906.”-

The orders extending the time, as above stated, are not set out in the record, or in the bill of exceptions, but, at most, are the mere recital of the existence of these orders as contained in the bill, as above quoted. In this state of the record, the bill cannot be considered.

As was held in Mitchhell v. State, (Ala.) 41 South. 518: “Wheie the time for the signing of a bill of exceptions has expired, without an entry of an order extending the time, the court cannot by order grant further time * * * The mere recital in the bill of exceptions of what has been done, and the order not appearing on the record, nor by any order signed by the judge, the bill of exceptions cannot be considered.” The following cases, to which others might be added, are cited: *3Central of Ga. Ry. Co. v. Carroll, 148 Ala. 61; 41 South. 517; Dantzler v. Swift Creek Mill Co., 128 Ala. 410, 30 South. 674; Brown v. State, 133 Ala. 152, 32 South. 256; Zion Lodge v. Folkes, 132 Ala. 609, 32 South. 485; Thompson v. Habil, 135 Ala. 249, 33 South. 658; Peterman v. State, 139 Ala. 131, 36 South. 767.

The case was set .for trial and. a special jury Avas regularly 'drawn, and the sheriff Avas ordered -to- serve .a copy of the indictment and venire on the defendant. The transcript is silent as to' Avhether these orders of the court Avere complied with; and the defendant contends that there is error in the record for this reason. The case of Hughes v. State, 117 Ala. 25, 23 South. 677 holds to the contrary. The presumptions are in favor of the sheriff having faithfully discharged his duty in these regards. Them Avas no objection in the court beloAV by defendant on account of a non-compliance with said orders of the court. The failure of the sheriff, to comply with the orders cannot he here raised for the first time.

There being no error apparent on the record, the judgment of the cout beloAV is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Dowdell, Simpson, and Denson, JJ., concur.