The appellants, Oscar Watkins and Walter Baker, Jr., were convicted of the crime of robbery and sententenced to prison fora term of two years. KRS 433.120. Both appellants seek reversal of the judgment on the grounds that the court erred: (1) in overruling the demurrer to the indictment; (2) in overruling appellants’ motion for a directed verdict of acquittal; (3) in allowing two witnesses subpoenaed by the Commonwealth to testify who had remained in the courtroom during the trial; (4) in making improper and prejudicial remarks to the jury; and (5) in failing to instruct the jury on the whole law of the case.
The first question raised is the sufficiency of-the indictment. The appellants contend that the indictment was de-murrable because it did not charge that the victim of the alleged robbery was “put in fear.” The indictment, in pertinent part, charges that appellants unlawfully and fel-oniously committed robbery with force and violence and against the will of the party robbed. Robbery has been defined as the felonious taking of property from the person of another by force. Breckinridge v. Commonwealth,
In considering appellants’ second ground for reversal we have decided it would serve no useful purpose to relate the evidence in detail. In substance, the testimony offered in behalf of the Commonwealth revealed that during the morning of July 4, 1954, following an overnight drinking party in which the appellants and J. W. Ingram, J-r., and several women had participated, the- appellants slugged and robbed Ingram. The appellants admit that they had a fight with Ingram, but deny that they robbed him. Each appellant testified that Ingram was drunk and unruly and other evidence supports that particular statement. Under the conflicting testimony, the question of their guilt or innocence of the offense charged was for the jury to determine. Newsome v. Commonwealth,
Appellants next urge that the court committed prejudicial error in permitting a state patrolman to testify who had remained in the courtroom during trial with consent of the court. A similar contention is raised concerning another witness who remained in the courtroom after he had given his direct testimony, but who was recalled as a witness in rebuttal. The alleged error is not available to the appellants as a ground for reversal of the judgment, because it was not relied on by them in their motion and grounds for a new trial. McGee v. Commonwealth,
Appellants further urge that an improper and prejudicial question was asked by the court of the witness Paul. Combs. While this witness was being interrogated by
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the Commonwealth’s Attorney concerning the name of the county wherein the offense allegedly occurred, the court interposed this question: “Mr. Combs, the place shown to you by Ingram, where he had been robbed and beaten up, was that in Powell County, or what ?” The witness replied: “It was in Powell County, Sir.” Obviously, the court was referring to the place where the prosecuting witness claimed he was robbed. However, this alleged error is not reviewable because no objection was made to the question, nor, was there a motion made to discharge the jury and to continue the case. Under the state of the record we must assume that appellants waived the objection they now seek to invoke. Coe v. Commonwealth,
It is further urged that the court erred in failing to give an instruction upon the offense of assault and battery. We have no fixed rule with respect to when this instruction should or should not be given. It has been held that common assault and battery is a degree of the crime of
assault with intent to rob.
Abner v. Commonwealth,
Our research indicates that there are three types of cases in which, as a general rule, because the assault is merged in the greater criihe, an instruction on assault and battery need 'not be given/ They are:
1.When the prosecuting witness testifies positively that -an actual robbery has been committed (some cases say “if the robbery has in effect been consummated”) and theré is no contradictory evidence on that issue. Murphy v. Commonwealth,
2. When the defendant asserts an alibi and denies his presence at the time and place of the alleged crime. Herron v. Commonwealth,
3. When the defendant admits his presence at the. time and place of the alleged crime but denies that any criminal act was committed. Abner v. Commonwealth,
On the other hand, we have recognized two types of -cases in which, as a general rule, the assault and battery instruction should be 'given. They are:
A. ' When the -defendant admits the taking of .something from the prosecuting witness but denies felonious intent.1 Southerland v. Commonwealth,
B. When the defendant admits his presence when an assault takes place but shows a reason for the assault other than robbery as the motive. Blanton v. Commonwealth,
We are of the opinion that the facts in this case bring it within the category set • forth as “B” above. It is quite similar to the Davidson case, last above cited. The defendants were entitled to an instruction on the lesser offense of assault and battery, which thé jury would have been justified in believing took place independently of the alleged robbery. For 'the failure to give this instruction, the judgment must be reversed.
The judgment is reversed.