Buford v. State
Buford v. State
Opinion of the Court
The testimony delivered by Mr. Joy as to the discharge of the defendant we do not think competent- on the testimony in this record. It was very easy to have proved that discharge by the records of the company, or by Mr. Smith or Mr. Van Hook, or any proper agent of the company, who had personal knowledge of the fact of such discharge. It is obvious that Mr. Joy’s testimony on that subject was wholly hearsay. Whether or not the appellant had been discharged at the time he had his dealings with Mr. Briscoe was the vital point in the case. The fourth instruction, asked by the defendant and refused, should therefore have been given.
We notice no other assignments of error than those specified. Reversed and remanded.
The above opinion is adopted as the opinion of the court; .and, for the-reasons therein set out, the case is reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- T. C. Buford v. State
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Criminal Law. Hem-say evidence. False pretenses. Instructions. Where on the trial of accused for obtaining money under false pretenses by representing himself to be the agent of an adjusting company, the issue was whether or not he had been discharged by the company before the occurrence of the transaction complained of. It was error to allow the superintendent of agents of the company to testify that the books of the company showed that accused had been discharged several months before the date of the alleged offense, he having no personal knowledge of- the fact, this testimony was hearsay. 2. Evidence. Criminal mtent. Good faith. Where accused was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses by contracting in the name of a company and obtaining money thereon and by representing himself as the agent of such company and the issue was whether or not he had been previously discharged by the company. It was error for the court to refuse him an instruction that even though he was not in the employ of the company at the time of making the contract, but was ignorant of the fact that he had been discharged and acted in good faith in making the contract and obtaining the money, then he was not guilty of the crime charged.