27 Ga. App. 637 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1921
Lead Opinion
The defendant was convicted of violating the prohibition statute. The only assignment of error that we consider of merit is that the court failed to declare a mistrial upon the defendant’s motion because State’s counsel, in his concluding- argument before the jury, made use of the following language: "Gentlemen of the jury, the county commissioners have legally appointed your county police, and largely for the protection of the country women and children. You know how it is out there in the country, gentlemen; that they are without police protection and exposed always to drunken, vagrant negroes; that you yourselyes, as you sit here, are possessed by the haunting possibility that on your return to your home you may be confronted by the corpse of a murdered child in your door, or at your door the idiotic face
The assignments' of error other than that dealt with above are without merit. For the reason pointed out, it was error to overrule the motion for a new trial.
Judgment reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. I do not think that, under ail the particular facts of this case, the refusal of the court to declare a mistrial or to rebuke the solicitor-general requires a new trial. The evidence fairly demanded the verdict, and therefore the error of 'the court was harmless. Furthermore, it clearly appears that the improper remarks of the solicitor did not inflame the minds of the jury, since, although they found the 'defendant guilty of a felony, they recommended a misdemeanor punishment, which was imposed by the judge.