Sims v. State, 1 Div. 376.

• Decision Date: 04 June 1940
• Docket Number: 1 Div. 376.
• Citation: 29 Ala.App. 398,198 So. 258
• Parties: SIMS v. STATE.
• Court: Alabama Court of Appeals

198 So. 258

29 Ala.App. 398

SIMS v. STATE.

1 Div. 376.

Court of Appeals of Alabama

June 4, 1940

Rehearing Denied June 18, 1940.

Appeal from Circuit Court, Clarke County; Joe M. Pelham, Jr., Judge.

J Sims, alias Gerald Churchhill Mackreth, alias Gerald Charles McDonald, was convicted of obtaining property by false pretense, and he appeals.

Affirmed.

Affirmed in 198 So. 259.

Certiorari denied by Supreme Court in Sims v. State, 1 Div. 118, 198 So. 259.

Sullivan Holberg & Tully and Ralph G. Holberg, Jr., all of Mobile, for appellant.

Thos S. Lawson, Atty. Gen., and John W. Vardaman, Asst. Atty Gen., for the State.

RICE Judge.

Appellant was convicted of the offense denounced by the terms of Code 1928, Section 4131--obtaining property by false pretenses. The value of the property shown to be so obtained ($2,300) warranted the punishment imposed. Code 1928, Sec. 4905.

In view of the record, as it comes before us, we can see no necessity for a detailed discussion of the evidence.

Appellant was charged by an indictment, unchallenged by demurrer, with falsely pretending to Stella O. Kimbrough, with intent to defraud, that he was an agent of the National Union Mortgage Company, and that said National Union Mortgage Company had sent the appellant to the said Stella O. Kimbrough to collect certain bonds for exchange for bonds of greater value; and said indictment further stated that by means of such false pretenses the appellant obtained from Mrs. Kimbrough three particularly described bonds (of the value of $2,300) belonging to her.

Appellant was unrepresented by counsel on his trial below, but he is represented here by capable counsel who have filed a brief in his behalf evincing much ability and industry. And said counsel, with commendable candor, admit that there are but three questions apparent which deserve our consideration. We agree.

These questions are, as stated by appellant's counsel:

1. Did the State meet the burden of proof in establishing every element of the offense charged to the appellant?

2. Was there a fatal variance between (the allegations of) the indictment and the proof?

3. Did the court commit a reversible error in permitting testimony concerning the appellant's record as to previous criminal offenses?

The first two questions are raised by the refusal to give to the jury at appellant's request the general affirmative charge to find in his favor.

Nothing seems more definitely settled than that before we can review the action of the lower court in refusing the requested affirmative charge in favor of a party, the bill of exceptions sent to us must show that it contains all the evidence. To use the language of Mr. Justice Foster of our Supreme Court, in what we believe is the latest utterance on the subject: "Since the days of court reporters there has grown up a habit of stating all the evidence in the bill of exceptions. And this is necessary in order to review the ruling on the affirmative charge requested in writing by either party or on a motion for a new trial because of the insufficiency of evidence." (Italics ours.) All States Life Ins. Co. v. Johnson, Ala.Sup., 194 So. 877, 880. And see Daugherty v. State, 28 Ala.App. 453, 186 So. 780, wherein we cite Crow v. McKown, 192 Ala. 480, 68 So. 341, L.R.A.1915E, 372.

Here the bill of exceptions not only does not state that it...