Cabel v. State

Citation93 So. 260,18 Ala.App. 557
Decision Date06 June 1922
Docket Number3 Div. 427.
PartiesCABEL v. STATE.
CourtAlabama Court of Appeals

Appeal from Circuit Court, Montgomery County; Walter B. Jones Judge.

Anita Cabel was convicted of assault and battery, and she appeals. Reversed and remanded.

Arrington & Arrington and Ludlow Elmore, all of Montgomery, for appellant.

Harwell G. Davis, Atty. Gen., for the State.

BRICKEN P.J.

This defendant was indicted and tried for assault with intent to murder. She was convicted of assault and battery and duly sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail for the term of four months. From this judgment of conviction she appeals and it is here insisted that the court erred in refusing to allow defendant to show on cross-examination of the injured party, Mrs. Lelon Loftin, and by her husband, W. d. Loftin that a civil action for $10,000 against this defendant was pending, wherein Mrs. Loftin (the witness) was plaintiff, and that this civil suit was based upon the same act as that complained of in this prosecution.

This insistence is well taken, and the rulings of the court in this connection constituted error to a reversal. This evidence was admissible, and should have been allowed, in order to show bias or interest upon the part of these witnesses, so that their testimony could be weighed and considered by the jury in the light of such bias or interest if such existed. The general rule is that on cross-examination of a witness, any fact may be elicited which tends to show bias or partiality, and, if the witness denies the fact showing the bias or interest, the cross-examining party may call other witnesses to contradict the witness on this very material question. It cannot be doubted that the bias or interest contemplated by this rule may be engendered by a pecuniary interest, as well as by ill will, hate, or by love or friendship. And certainly it cannot be doubted that the outcome of a criminal prosecution, based upon the same transaction as that of a civil action, would be regarded as having much influence upon the latter. The following authorities sustain the holding here made, and show that error of such nature as to materially affect the substantial rights of this appellant was committed by the court in these several rulings complained of and to which exceptions were duly reserved: Byrd v. State, 17 Ala. App. 301, 84 So. 777; Tapscott v. State (Ala App.) 88 So. 376; Brown v. State (Ala....

To continue reading

Request your trial
17 cases
  • State v. Doughty
    • United States
    • Maine Supreme Court
    • April 3, 1979
    ...Such evidence may be shown by the testimony of other witnesses. Lane v. Commonwealth, 190 Va. 58, 55 S.E.2d 450 (1949); Cabel v. State, 18 Ala.App. 557, 93 So. 260 (1922). The rule has been extended to the situation where no civil action has been commenced, but such a suit is or may be cont......
  • State v. Hart
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • March 24, 1954
    ...the acts involved in the criminal case. Villaroman v. United States, 87 U.S.App.D.C. 240, 184 F.2d 261, 21 A.L.R.2d 1074; Cabel v. State, 18 Ala.App. 557, 93 So. 260; State v. McLemore, 99 Kan. 777, 164 P. 161; Coleman v. Commonwealth, 208 Ky. 601, 271 S.W. 662; Commonwealth v. Marcellino, ......
  • Wooten v. State, 84-1438
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • March 5, 1985
    ...showing the interest or bias of the victim was before the jury, the cumulative evidence rule does not apply); Cabel v. State, 18 Ala.App. 557, 557, 93 So. 260 (1922) (bias or interest may be engendered by a pecuniary interest; "the outcome of a criminal prosecution, based upon the same tran......
  • Gunn v. State, 6
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 27, 1980
    ...of a civil action against him. Malone v. State, Ala.Cr.App., 358 So.2d 490, cert. denied, Ala., 358 So.2d 494 (1978); Cabel v. State, 18 Ala.App. 557, 93 So. 260 (1922). While we have not found a case from this jurisdiction on point concerning the cross-examination of an accused or defense ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT