State v. Rumbolz
State v. Rumbolz
Opinion of the Court
From a judgment of conviction for having possession of intoxicating liquor in a public place and an order denying a new trial, defendant appeals.
A material witness against defendant was Frank Palmer. Charles Bintliff, a federal prohibition officer, testified that he gave Palmer two $b bills of ‘which he h-a'd! taken the numbers, and' Palmer testified that he gave these bills to defendant on a street in the outskirts of Mitchell in payment for moonshine whisky which defendant brought to him there. Defendant at the time was a barber in the city of Mitchell, and testified that he got these two bills and some other money from Palmer in the barber shop in exchange for a $5 bill. Defendant was corroborated' in this by two other witnesses. These two bills and some other money were found on defendant’s person when he was arrested.
Bintliff was asked what he told Palmer when he gave him the two bills. This 'was objected to on ,the ground that it was incompetent, hearsay, arid not binding on defendant. The objection was overruled, and he answered that, when he gave the
Defendant complains that his cross-examination of the witness Palmer was unduly restricted. By the questions excluded, defendant sought tO' show that Palmer w-as owing for his car, and having trouble in meeting his payments, and for that reason was interested in the conviction of defendant, since his compensation was- dependent on .the outcome of the case. Palmer had already testified that he was acting as an undercover man aridl stool pigeon, and that he was to get $40 or $50, depending on the expense, if he succeeded in convicting defendant. This certainly showed that he was interested in the outcome of the action, and we do not think the cross-examination was unduly restricted by exclusion of questions about his owing for his car. The argumentative question should have been excluded, but its admission was not prejudicial. Appellant concedes that there is sufficient evidence, if believed by the jury, to warrant a conviction.
The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE v. RUMBOLZ
- Status
- Published