Dowdy v. State
Dowdy v. State
Opinion of the Court
Application for continuance or postponement of the trial to a subsequent day of the term was made by defendant to enable him to procure the attendance of his witness J. R. Meachum, by whom he expected to prove that one Griffin, and not defendant, did the shooting for which the latter was being prosecuted. This was a first application, and in all essential particulars was in strict conformity with the requirements of the statute. Code Cr. Proc., art. 560. It was overruled by the court, and when it was considered in connection with the evidence in the case on the motion for a new trial, was again held insufficient, the new trial being refused. There can be no doubt of the materiality of the testimony, if the facts stated could have been proven and were probably true. v
In determining the correctness of such ruling, this court is governed by the same rule which controls the court below
Now, what are the facts as exhibited in the record before us? Seven witnesses testified, and not a single one corroborates the statement that Griffin shot, or was in any manner concerned in the shooting. It is proven, on the other hand, that the absent witness, Meachum, commenced the difficulty, and that after firing upon Thomas, when the latter returned his fire and shot him in the arm, he turned and fled from the house. After he had fled, the assault for which appellant was convicted was made, and two witnesses swear positively that the appellant did the shooting.
Now, is it probably true that the wounded and flying Meachum, who was outside the house, could have seen and known that Griffin, and not the defendant, did the shooting? We think not; and the court, in our opinion, did not err in refusing the new trial.
There is no other question requiring notice, and, no error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.