Kitts v. State

• Citation: 69 S.W. 545,70 Ark. 521
• Parties: KITTS v. STATE
• Decision Date: 28 June 1901
• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas

69 S.W. 545

70 Ark. 521

KITTS v. STATE

Supreme Court of Arkansas

June 28, 1901

Appeal from Desha Circuit Court, ANTONIO B. GRACE, Judge.

Affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

B Harris Motley and F. M. Rogers, for appellant.

The court erred in refusing a continuance. 119 Ill. 151; 34 Tex.Crim. 277; 92 Ky. 485; 72 Ga. 98; 5 Am. Crim. Rep. 443. The affidavit for continuance on the ground of absence of a witness must show due diligence in procuring the attendance of the witness. 144 Ind. 290; 39 La. 918; 154 Ind. 1; 54 Mo 274; 22 Tex. 593. And that defendant was not absent by defendant's consent or procurement. Thomps. Cas. (Tenn.) 192. The court erred in permitting oral evidence to show the proceedings in the mayor's court. 2 Greenl. Ev. § 9; 1 Sneed, 276; 10 Ark. 398; 57 Ark. 402; 1 Ga. 231. The contents of an instrument of writing cannot be shown by oral evidence, until it is shown that the original cannot be procured. Hughes, Cr. Law, 827; 52 Ia. 46; 2 N.W. 597. The record of a former acquittal or conviction is the only competent evidence of the same. 105 Ind. 589; 5 N.E. 735; 26 Ga. 579; 101 Mass. 25; 72 Miss. 95; 16 So. 202; 150 Mass. 315; 23 N.E. 47; 84 Me. 436; 24 A. 985; 34 S.C. 16; 12 S.E. 619; 43 Minn. 196; 45 N.W. 152; 121 Mo. 566; 26 S.W. 901; 94 Tenn. 505; 29 S.W. 901; 45 La. 973; 13 So. 349; Under. Cr. Ev. § 514. The killing was murder in the second degree. 145 Mo. 240; 44 S.W. 764; 46 S.W. 959; 41 A. 134; 117 Ala. 16; 23 So. 77; 69 Mo. 451. Malice, willfulness, deliberation and premeditation are necessary to constitute murder in the first degree 20 W.Va. 709; 57 Mo. 40. The killing was in self defense. 5 Yerg. (Tenn.), 459; 1 Humph. 479; 11 Humph. 200. Circumstantial evidence is inferior to that of an eyewitness. 2 Thomp. Trials, § 2501.

George W. Murphy, Attorney General, for appellee.

The indictment was sufficient. 26 Ark. 325; 29 Ark. 265. The testimony of the absent witness was inadmissible, and it was not error to refuse a continuance. 2 Bish. Cr. Pro. § 620; 22 Ark. 355; 36 Ark. 653. The testimony of the mayor was properly admitted, and tended to show defendant's motive for the killing. Under. Cr. Ev. § 44; 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 89-90.

OPINION

BATTLE, J.

The indictment in this is as follows: "The grand jury of Desha county, Arkansas City district, in the name and by the authority of the state of Arkansas, accuse Jim Kitts of the crime of murder in the first degree, committed as follows, to-wit: The said Jim Kitts, in the county, district and state aforesaid, on the 25th day of November, A. D. 1901, did unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, with malice aforethought, deliberation and premeditation, kill and murder Jim Johnson by shooting the said Jim Johnson in the side and body of him, the said Jim Johnson, with a deadly weapon, to-wit, a Winchester rifle, loaded with gunpowder and leaden balls, and then and there held in the hands of him, the said Jim Kitts, from which wound so received said Jim Johnson, on the 25th day of November, 1891, die, against the peace and dignity of the state of Arkansas." A demurrer to it was filed and overruled.

The defendant was then arraigned; pleaded not guilty; was tried by a jury, and convicted of murder in the first degree; and he appealed.

On the day of the trial he filed a motion for a continuance, and for cause said: "That Tom Watson, a witness for the defendant, is absent; that said Tom Watson is a resident of the town of Arkansas City; that immediately after the setting of this case by the court for trial upon this day defendant caused a subpoena for said witness to be issued, and placed said subpoena in the hands of the sheriff for service; that said subpoena is returned not served; that defendant believes that by said witness he will prove that the decedent, Jim Johnson, uttered threats of killing defendant; that said witness communicated said threat to defendant; that said threats were made upon the day of the killing of said Jim Johnson; that affiant believes said facts to be true; that said witness is not absent by consent, connivance, or procurement of affiant."

The court denied the motion, and proceeded to try the defendant.

In the progress of the trial, A Driedell, mayor of Arkansas City, testified, over the objection of the defendant, that he, as mayor, issued a warrant for the arrest of the defendant, at the instance of Jim Johnson, the deceased, and Pat Henderson; that Johnson was a witness in the case, and the defendant was fined; and that he was tried on the same day the deceased was killed, the trial occurring about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and the killing between 7 and 8 o'clock p. m.

The appellant insists that the judgment of the trial court should be reversed for the following reasons:

First. Because the indictment is defective.

Second. Because the court overruled his motion for a continuance.

Third. Because the court erred in admitting the testimony of Driedell.

The appellant contends that the indictment is defective, because the following allegation is made in it, "from which wound so received said Jim Johnson, on the 25th day of November, 1901, die." He says it does not appear from this allegation that he did die or will die. But when it is read in connection with what precedes it clearly appears that did die is meant. ^[*]

The refusal to continue was not prejudicial. The evidence adduced at the trial showed that the deceased was not, at the time he was killed, threatening or making any effort to assault the appellant; and that, if the absent witness had been present at the trial, his testimony would not have been admissible.

The testimony of Driedell was competent. The contents of the...