Pittman v. State

• Decision Date: 03 July 1893
• Citation: 17 S.E. 856,92 Va. 480
• Parties: PITTMAN. v. STATE.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

17 S.E. 856

92 Va. 480

PITTMAN.

v.STATE.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

July 3, 1893.

Homicide —Evidence —Uncommunicated Threats by Deceased—Testimony on Former Tkial.

1. Uncommunicated threats by the deceased to kill the person who afterwards on the same day killed him in a rencounter in which the former made the first violent demonstration by raising a stick in position to strike, are admissible in evidence on the trial of the latter. May v. State, (Ga.; filed Oct. term, 1892,) 17 S. E. Rep. 108.

2. The better opinion seems to be that, though the death of a witness who has testi-fied at the commitment trial will render what he then testified admissible in evidence in behalf of the state on the-final trial of the accused for the same offense, yet the removal of the witness from the state, and consequent inability to procure his attendance, the accused doing nothing to prevent his attendance, will not, the witness being still alive, render such testimony admissible. The Code, (section 3782,) which is general in its provisions, should be construed, touching criminal cases, in conformity with the principle or distinction just indicated, since doing so will harmonize it with both the letter and spirit of the constitutional provision that the accused shall be confronted with the' witnesses against him. Hall v. State, 6 Baxt. 522; People v. Newman, 5 Hill, 295; Brogy v. Com., 10 Grat. 722; Collins v. Com., 12 Bush, 271; Owens v. State, 63 Miss. 450; Bergen v. People, 17 111. 426; IT. S. v. Aagell, 11 Fed. Rep. 34; Whart. Crim. Ev. § 229; 3 Rice, Ev. 350, et seq.

(Syllabus by the Court.)

Error from superior court, Randolph county; C. L. Bartlett, Judge.

Pickens Pittman was convicted of murder, and brings error. Reversed.

R. E. Kennon, for plaintiff in error.

J. M. Griggs, Sol. Gen., for the State.

PER CURIAM. Judgment reversed