State v. Horton, 20759

Citation248 S.E.2d 263,271 S.C. 413
Decision Date10 October 1978
Docket NumberNo. 20759,20759
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of South Carolina
PartiesThe STATE, Respondent, v. Barry Dean HORTON, Appellant.

Jack H. Lynn, Greenville, for appellant.

Atty. Gen. Daniel R. McLeod, Asst. Atty. Gen. Brian P. Gibbes and Staff Atty. Kay G. Crowe, Columbia and Sol. William W. Wilkins, Jr., Greenville, for respondent.

NESS, Justice:

Heretofore, on the 31st day of August, 1978, this Court filed its opinion in this case. It is now before us as a result of a petition for a re-hearing. Upon a consideration of the petition, it is ordered that our former opinion be withdrawn and the following substituted therefor.

Appellant Horton was convicted of murder. We affirm.

The body of Ralph Alexander was found in Pickens County in the early morning hours of January 20, 1977. He had been shot and his pickup truck had been struck in the rear.

Initially, appellant challenges the constitutionality of the affidavit giving rise to the search warrant. As any items seized pursuant to this warrant were not introduced into evidence, appellant's exception to the sufficiency of the affidavit is without merit.

Appellant also asserts the trial court erred in allowing his past criminal record into evidence. Appellant contends his past conviction for "hit and run" did not involve moral turpitude and should not have been allowed into evidence. We disagree.

"Moral turpitude" has been defined as:

". . . an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellow man, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man . . ." 58 C.J.S. Moral p. 1201.

Appellant's argument, that at the time of his prior conviction, leaving the scene of an auto accident where either property damage or personal injury had occurred was merely a motor vehicle regulation, is unpersuasive. "Moral turpitude implies something immoral in itself, regardless of whether it is punishable by law as a crime." Id. at 1203.

An act in which fraud is an ingredient involves moral turpitude. Jordan v. DeGeorge, 341 U.S. 223, 71 S.Ct. 703, 95 L.Ed. 886 (1951); Iowa State Bar Association v. Kraschel, 260 Iowa 187, 148 N.W.2d 621 (1967). One who leaves the scene of an accident is fraudulently attempting to relieve himself of any liability.

We conclude the offense of "hit and run" 1 is contrary to justice, honesty and good morals. It involves moral turpitude and was properly...

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14 cases
  • Todd v. South Carolina Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co.
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • March 28, 1984
    ... ... for the three companies was centralized in Bill Lee, vice-president of sales for Mutual and state sales manager for Life and Casualty. Employment with one company required employment with the ... Supreme Court fully stated the trial court's responsibility in reviewing such a motion in Horton v. Greyhound Corporation, 241 S.C. 430, 438, 128 S.E.2d 776, 781 (1962): ... In passing upon a ... ...
  • Benitez v. Dunevant
    • United States
    • Arizona Supreme Court
    • July 31, 2000
    ... ... The Honorable Thomas DUNEVANT III, Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, in and for the County of Maricopa, Respondent Judge, ... The Phoenix City Prosecutor's ... See People v. Bautista, 217 Cal.App.3d 1, 265 Cal.Rptr. 661, 664-65 (1990) ; State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263-64 (1978) ...         ¶ 19 Benitez' offense, in ... ...
  • State v. Yates
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • December 22, 1982
    ... ... State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 248 S.E.2d 263 (1978) ...         We hold that arson involves an act of baseness, vileness and depravity. Grand larceny is ... ...
  • State v. Ball, 22705
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 9, 1987
    ... ... Jones, 271 S.C. 287, 247 S.E.2d 43 (1978) [assault with intent to rape]; State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 248 S.E.2d 263 (1978) [hit and run]; State v. Vaughn, 268 S.C. 119, 232 S.E.2d 328 (1977) [housebreaking and grand larceny]; State ... ...
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14 provisions
  • South Carolina State Register Vol. 46, Issue 11, November 25, 2022
    • United States
    • South Carolina Register
    • Invalid date
    ...of right and duty between man and man,” or otherwise includes conduct “contrary to justice, honesty[,] and good morals,” State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 414–15, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263–64 (1978); see also Baddourah v. McMaster, 433 S.C. 89, 112, 856 S.E.2d 561, 573 (2021) (“Under South Carolina’......
  • South Carolina State Register Vol. 47, Issue 01, January 27, 2023
    • United States
    • South Carolina Register
    • Invalid date
    ...of right and duty between man and man,” or otherwise includes conduct “contrary to justice, honesty[,] and good morals,” State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 414–15, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263–64 (1978); see also Baddourah v. McMaster, 433 S.C. 89, 112, 856 S.E.2d 561, 573 (2021) (“Under South Carolina’......
  • South Carolina State Register Vol. 46, Issue 01, January 28, 2022
    • United States
    • South Carolina Register
    • Invalid date
    ...of right and duty between man and man,” or otherwise includes conduct “contrary to justice, honesty[,] and good morals,” State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 414–15, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263–64 (1978); see also Baddourah v. McMaster, 433 S.C. 89, 112, 856 S.E.2d 561, 573 (2021) (“Under South Carolina’......
  • South Carolina State Register Vol. 42, Issue 05, May 25, 2018
    • United States
    • South Carolina Register
    • Invalid date
    ...shall have been acquitted”; and WHEREAS, under South Carolina law, moral turpitude “implies something immoral in itself,” State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 414, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263 (1978), and “involves an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the social duties which a man owes to his fel......
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