Turner v. State

| Ala. | Jun 15, 1872

B. E. SAFEOLD, J.

Tbe appellant was convicted under an indictment for enticing away a laborer, contrary to section 3691 of tbe Bevised Code.

Tbe court excluded testimony tending to show that at tbe time of tbe alleged misconduct of tbe defendant, there was an unfulfilled verbal, but valid, contract between bim and tbe laborer, made prior to tbe latter’s written agreement with tbe prosecutor. If this was so, could be commit tbe offense for wbicb be was indicted, towards tbe prosecutor?

Blackstone says, retaining a man’s hired servant before his time is expired is an ungentlemanlike, as it is an illegal act. That tbe inveigling or hiring bis servant, wbicb induces a breach of bis contract, is an injury to tbe master for which the law has given, him a remedy by a special action on the case. — Yol. 8, p. 141. Except for our statute, the prosecutor would be the offender. The subsequent contract was undoubtedly an abandoment of the other by the laborer, and valid against all other persons than the defendant. Is the latter put to his action of damages? May he not regain his laborer, if he can do so in a peaceable and prudent manner? The statute has ample room, without subjecting to its operation the particular person against whom the violated contract is a tortious one; especially, as one-half of the fine is to go to the perpetrator. The court erred in rejecting the evidence.

The written contract alleged to have been broken was not stamped at the time of its execution, and for that reason was not receivable in evidence. — 14 U. S. Stat. at large, pp. 143-4. Parol proof of its contents was inadmissible, notwithstanding its loss, because neither the original nor a copy was admissible without the stamp, and the secondary can not acquire a privilege which the best evidence did not have. This written contract was essential to the prosecution. If it be contended that the loss of the instrument prevented its defect from being remedied, it may be replied, that the practice would encourage pretended losses, and that the evidence which would prove its contents would establish a copy to which the proper stamps might be affixed according to the provisions of the revenue law.

The stamp might have been affixed and cancelled by either party. — U. S. Stat. supra.

It is unnecessary to consider the charges given and refused in detail. What has been said is decisive of them.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.