Carter v. State
Carter v. State
Opinion of the Court
The indictment charged that the accused, in the presence of a named female, used certain obscene, vulgar, and profane language. A witness for the State swore that he was sitting in an automobile with the’ lady named, that the curtains were up, that there were no lights in the car, that the accused was riding in a car with several other boys, that this car was stopped near the one in'which he and the young lady were sitting, that he recognized the voice of the accused, and that the accused used the language quoted in the indictment. Three witnesses swore in substance that they were in the car with the accused, near him, and would have heard the language attributed to him had he used it, and each swore positively that the accused did not use the language quoted or any similar language. These witnesses had a better opportunity than the witness for the State to hear and know what accused said, and their testimony is positive. Haywood v. State, 12 Ga. App. 643 (2) (77 S. E. 1130); Weeks v. State, 79 Ga. 36 (3) (3 S. E. 323). The judge charged the jury that “the existence of a fact testified to by one positive witness is rather to be believed than that such fact did not exist because many witnesses who had the same opportunity of observation swore that they did not see or know of its having transpired.” This was error. The rule relating to the distinction between positive and negative testimony should not be given in charge when the witnesses on each side have equal facilities for seeing or hearing the thing about which they testify
As a new trial follows the foregoing ruling, it is not necessary to consider the other assignments of error.
Judgment reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.