Rhodes v. State

1. Where the court correctly instructed the jury as to the issues between the State and the accused, it furnishes no reason for a new trial that, without request therefor, he did not refer to the fact that counsel assisting the solicitor-general, in his opening statement to the jury, informed them that the State contended that the killing was the result of a conspiracy, though there may have been no evidence introduced to sustain such contention, 2. Where the court instructed the jury that the law presumes the accused to be innocent, and that such presumption remains with him and protects him and prevents his conviction unless removed by evidence which excludes every reasonable doubt from the minds of the jury “as to his innocence,” this inadvertent use of the word innocence instead of guilt,, in the charge as to reasonable doubt, will furnish no cause for a new, trial, where the meaning of the court is apparent; the instruction, in effect, informing the jury that there could be no conviction if they’ entertained a reasonable doubt as to whether the accused was innocent or guilty, and shortly afterwards another instruction having been given that the jury could not legally convict the accused unless they were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact essential to establish guilt. Wilson v. State, 66 Ga. 591; Stewart v. Bilis, 130 Ga. 685 (5), 688 (61 S. E. 597); Perdue v. State, 135 Ga. 277 (69 S. E. 184); Taylor v. State', 138 Ga. 826 (3) (76 S. E. 3'47), 3. Under the facts of the ease, the failure of the court to sustain the objection of counsel for the accused to an expression used in argument by the solicitor-general does not constitute reversible error. 4. The court did not err in failing to charge the jury, of his own motion and without request therefor, that the character of the accused had not been put in evidence, and that they should not allow any of the evidence in regard to alleged bad treatment of his wife by the accused to influence them in any way in passing on the casé, except as such testimony might tend to show the frame of mind on the part of the deceased toward the accused, and on the part of the accused toward the deceased, who was a brother of the former wife, of the accused. 5. Where counsel for the defendant in a criminal case did not introduce evidence as to his general good character, but counsel for the State discussed the character of the accused as indicated by certain evidence which was admitted, it furnished no ground for reversal that the presiding judge overruled the motion for a new trial, in connection with one ground of which affidavits of the good character of the convicted person were set forth, and also written requests from eleven members of the jury, and from the widow of the person slain, that a new trial should be granted, where the evidence authorized a conviction, and no cause for a reversal was shown for any other reason. 6. 'The evidence was sufficient to authorize the verdict. The other grounds of the motion for a new trial, not herein specially discussed, were without merit) and there was no error in overruling the motion for a new trial.

Indictment for murder. Before Judge Hammond. Richmond superior court. May 31, 1915.