Dixon v. State
Dixon v. State
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
After a most thorough examination of this record, it is our view that the jurors Cheatham, Wilson, Childress, and Pierce were disqualified as jurors, and the trial court should have sustained the challenge .for cause. Every peremptory challenge allowed appellant under the law was used, and therefore the failure on the part of the court to sutain the challenge for cause of any one of these jurors was fatal error. Nothing is to be gained by setting put in full the questions and answers of the jurors above specified. The answers were frank and fair, but clearly show disqualification. Questions of this character largely depend upon the facts of each particular case. Murphy v. State, 92 Miss. 203, 45 South. 865. This case is controlled by the cases of Jeffries v. State, 74 Miss. 675, 21 South. 526, Fugate v. State, 82 Miss. 189, 33 South. 942, and Murphy v. State, 92 Miss. 203, 45 South. 865, and cases cited in above opinions.
In reversing this case, we deem it proper to say that, in the light of the whole record, the trial court should grant a change of venue, if asked, when the case comes on for trial again.
Reversed and remanded.
Concurring Opinion
(specially concurring). The record in this case is a striking illustration that “truth is stranger than fiction, ’ ’ and ‘ ‘ how unsearchable are the judgments
Without going into a discussion of the evidence produced on the motion for a new trial, it is sufficient to say that, under the circumstances, it was practically impossible for this defendant to have obtained what the law regards as a fair and impartial trial, and the motion for a change of venue should have been sustained. Before the jury was secured the appellant had exhausted his peremptory challenges, and there were forced upon him some three, and perhaps four, jurors who were permitted to sit upon the jury over the protest of the defendant. These jurors stated upon their voir dire that they had a fixed opinion, that it would require evidence to remove this opinion, and that, if they were called upon to pass upon the case without any evidence, their minds were in a condition to then return a verdict. These jurors were perfectly honest and frank in their statements, stating that they did not consider themselves competent jurors, but that they would return a verdict according to the law and the evidence. To try any man with a jury composed of men who have formed such an opinion
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James Dixon v. State
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Criminal Law. Disqualified jurors. Reversible error. Where a defendant on trial for crime (uses every peremptory challenge allowed him. by law, it is fatal error for the court to overrule his challenge of disqualified jurors for cause.