Gordon v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court
Gordon v. State, 95 Miss. 543 (Miss. 1909)
49 So. 609
Whitfield

Gordon v. State

Opinion of the Court

Whitfield, C. J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The fifth instruction for the state- is fatally erroneous. It is a charge upon the weight of evidence. It selects and magnifies certain fragmentary ’ portions of the evidence. It attempts to put the facts constituting the theory of the- state, but fails to put them all, and it charges the jury that they may find the defendant guilty if they believe so and so- — doe's not state that they should believe beyond a reasonable- doubt, but that particular defect is cured by the instructions for the defendant. But, worse than this, it charges that they may find the defendant guilty if they simply believe so and so. They are not required to believe from the evidence. It is impossible to affirm this case, which is an exceedingly close one on its facts, in the face of an instruction so grossly erroneous.

Reversed and remanded.

Reference

Full Case Name
De Witt Gordon v. State of Mississippi
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Criminal Law and Procedure. Instruction. An instruction in a criminal case is erroneous which either; (а) Is upon the weight of evidence; or (б) Selects and magnifies fragmentary parts of the evidence; or (c) Assumes to state the facts on which the state’s theory of the case is based, hut does not state all of them; or (d) Authorizes conviction on mere belief, ignoring reasonable doubts; or (e) Pails to limit the jury to a consideration of the evidence in reaching a conclusion.