State v. Millings

Citation145 S.E.2d 422,247 S.C. 52
Decision Date06 December 1965
Docket NumberNo. 18431,18431
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of South Carolina
PartiesThe STATE, Respondent, v. Willie Ross MILLINGS, Appellant.

J. Reuben Long, Conway, for appellant.

Sol. J. M. Long, Jr., Conway, for respondent.

TAYLOR, Chief Justice.

The Appellant was convicted at the June, 1965, Term of the Court of General Sessions for Horry County of the crime of manslaughter and has appealed to this Court from his conviction. The sole question on appeal relates to the cross-examination of the Appellant, wherein it was elicited that he had been convicted of auto theft in 1944 and receiving stolen goods in 1946. At the time the testimony was received, Appellant's counsel objected on the ground that it was highly prejudicial and moved for a mistrial. At the close of all the evidence, Appellant moved to strike the testimony on the grounds that the offenses admitted were too remote.

Evidence of prior convictions of crimes involving moral turpitude may be introduced into evidence on the issue of the credibility of a witness. When an accused takes the stand in a criminal proceeding, he becomes subject to the same duties and liabilities of witnesses generally. State v. Gilbert, 196 S.C. 306, 13 S.E.2d 451; State v. Van Williams, 212 S.C. 110, 46 S.E.2d 665; State v. Chasteen, 231 S.C. 141, 97 S.E.2d 517. Since the evidence is competent as to the issue of credibility an objection that it is 'prejudicial' will not lie. Moreover, an objection couched in terms no more specific than 'highly prejudicial' is too general. See Griswold v. Texas Company, 163 S.C. 156, 161 S.E. 409.

At the time of the admission of the evidence, the question of remoteness was not presented to the trial Judge and the granting of a motion to strike was addressed to the sound discretion of the Court. In re Limehouse's Estate, 198 S.C. 15, 16 S.E.2d 1. There has been no showing of abuse of the discretion of the trial Court in ruling that the motion was not timely made.

For the foregoing reasons we are of opinion that the judgment and sentence appealed from should be affirmed; and it is so ordered. Affirmed.

MOSS, LEWIS, BUSSEY and BRAILSFORD, JJ., concur.

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11 cases
  • Marshall v. Martinson
    • United States
    • Oregon Supreme Court
    • February 14, 1974
    ...Asata v. Furtado, 52 Haw. 284, 474 P.2d 288 (1970); Werdell v. Turzynski, 128 Ill.App.2d 139, 262 N.E.2d 833 (1970); State v. Millings, 247 S.C. 52, 145 S.E.2d 422 (1965); State v. Olson 83 S.D. 260, 158 N.W.2d 526 (1968). See also Reed v. State, 43 Ala.App. 419, 191 So.2d 258 (1966).Contra......
  • State v. Smith
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • January 16, 1992
    ...the end of all the evidence. A mere assertion of prejudice, however, is too general to preserve any issue for appeal. State v. Millings, 247 S.C. 52, 145 S.E.2d 422 (1965); State v. Bostick, --- S.C. ----, 414 S.E.2d 175 (Ct.App. Assuming Smith's mere assertion of prejudice was sufficient, ......
  • State v. Ball, 22705
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 9, 1987
    ...263 (1978) [hit and run]; State v. Vaughn, 268 S.C. 119, 232 S.E.2d 328 (1977) [housebreaking and grand larceny]; State v. Millings, 247 S.C. 52, 145 S.E.2d 422 (1965) [auto theft and receiving stolen goods]; Daniel v. Hazel, 242 S.C. 443, 131 S.E.2d 260 (1963) [conspiracy to obtain propert......
  • State v. Blackburn
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • August 24, 1978
    ...452 (1975); State v. Sharpe, 239 S.C. 258, 122 S.E.2d 622 (1961); State v. Hill, 268 S.C. 390, 234 S.E.2d 219 (1977); State v. Millings, 247 S.C. 52, 145 S.E.2d 422 (1965). There was no evidence that Blackburn was at the scene of the assault on Ms. Tanner. Thus it was critical for the State......
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