Petty v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court
Petty v. State, 83 Miss. 260 (Miss. 1903)
Tbuly

Petty v. State

Opinion of the Court

Tbuly, J.,

delivered tbe opinion of tbe court.

Under tbe facts of this case, tbe action of tbe court in refusing tbe sixth instruction asked by tbe defendant was error. Tbe sole question for determination was tbe identity of tbe murderer, and upon this point the only direct testimony introduced by tbe state was that of witness Chapman. It was perfectly proper, therefore, that tbe defendant should have bad submitted to tbe jury tbe question of whether or not, in their judgment, tbe testimony of Chapman as to tbe identification of tbe defendant, under the circumstances detailed, was trustworthy.

It was error in tbe court to refuse tbe eighth instruction asked by tbe defendant. This was a case of circumtsantial evidence, and therefore tbe instruction was perfectly proper.

We also think that tbe seventh instruction asked by tbe defendant should have been given, but, as tbe same idea was embodied in other instructions, we would not, on this ground alone, reverse tbe case.

Tbe modification of tbe fourth instruction asked by tbe defendant was correct.

Inasmuch as tbe state was permitted — and properly so — to show the state of feeling existing between tbe defendant and deceased, tbe defendant should have been permitted to show, in any way in bis power, that there bad been an amicable adjustment of these differences anterior to tbe killing.

For the reasons above indicated, the case is reversed and remanded.

Reference

Full Case Name
Milton Petty v. State of Mississippi
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. CRIMINAL Law. Mitrder. Identity of defendant. Credibility of witness. Instruction. Tbe identity of tbe murderer being tbe only question in tbe case, and it baying been shown that tbe only witness for tbe state, whose testimony tended to identify tbe defendant as being tbe guilty party had stated that be did not at tbe time of tbe homicide recognize tbe murderer, it was error to refuse defendant an instruction directing an acquittal, unless tbe jury believed, beyond every reasonable doubt arising from tbe evidence, that said witness saw and recognized defendant at tbe time of the killing. 2. Same. Circumstantial evidence. Reasonable hypothesis. A conclusion of guilt should not be drawn from- circumstantial evidence if any other reasonable hypothesis ■ may be drawn therefrom, and where there is evidenc to support such hypothesis it is error to refuse defendant an instruction to that effect. 3. Same. Evidence of feelings toward deceased. Reconciliation. Where defendant was on trial for killing his wife, the state having shown that there had been trouble between them, and that he had threatened to kill her unless she returned to him, it was error to deny defendant the right to prove that they had1 after-wards become friendly, and that she had agreed to return to him.