State v. Wells

• Decision Date: 28 June 1920
• Docket Number: (No. 10414.)
• Citation: 103 S.E. 515
• Parties: STATE. v. WELLS.
• Court: South Carolina Supreme Court

103 S.E. 515

STATE.

v.WELLS.

(No. 10414.)

Supreme Court of South Carolina.

June 28, 1920.

Appeal from General Sessions Circuit Court of Sumter County; Edward Mclver, Judge.

Joseph Wells was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, and he appeals. Affirmed.

Jennings & Harby, of Sumter, for appellant.

F. A. McLeod, Sol., and John H. Clifton, both of Sumter, for the State.

HYDRICK, J. [1] Defendant was convicted of murder, with recommendation to mercy, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed, and assigns error in the selection of the jury, arising out of the following facts: E. H. Lyman, a juror, was called by the clerk. Mr. Clifton, who was assisting the solicitor, said: "Present him." Mr. Jennings, one of defendant's attorneys, said: "Swear him." But before he was sworn the juror informed the court that he wanted to be examined on his voir dire, and he was so examined, over defendant's objection. On his examination he stated that he had frequently heard the case discussed and had discussed it with a good many people, among others, with the husband of one of the principal witnesses; that he had formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of defendant, but thought he could render a fair verdict. After hearing his examination the court directed that he be presented again to the state, whereupon he was challenged peremptorily by the state. The sole question is whether the ruling was erroneous. We think it was right.

Appellant relies upon a dictum in State v. Haines, 36 S. C. 504, 508, 15 S. E. 555, 556, where Mr. Justice Pope said:

"If the prisoner is once allowed to announce his acceptance of the juror by saying to the clerk, 'Swear him, ' the right of challenge by the state is precluded."

That was a mere statement of the practice when no good reason appears for a departure from it. But appellant overlooks the fact that in that very case, although the state had apparently waived its right of objection and the defendant had accepted the juror, the state was allowed to challenge him before he was sworn, and the ruling of the court was sustained by this court.

The proceedings incidental to the trial must be left to the sound discretion of the trial judge, whose rulings thereabout will not be disturbed unless it appears that they were prejudicially erroneous with respect to a substantial right. The right of challenge is the right of rejection, not of selection. State v. Kelley, 46 S. C. 55, 24 S. E. 60. No substantial right...