OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. 453 Term, 1857. Chitwood vs, The State. CHITWOOH vs: T ti-F1 STATE. If the defendant, in preparing his bill of exceptions on the trial of an indictment for a criminal offence, state that the venue was proved as alleged, instead of stating what the witness testified as to the place where the offence was committed, he must abide by the concession: Where the verdict is not without evidence to support it and the Court below refuses to grant a new trial, this Court will not disturb the verdict, ppcal f tenn the 01) cult Cowt of J oh 'mon county. The Hon. Felix J. Batson, Circuit Judge. Mr. Chief Justiee English, delivered the opinion of the Court. Russell B. Chitwood was indicted in the Johnson Circuit Court for an assault and battery upon John Armstrong; tried by a jury upon the genei al issue; verdict of guilty, and fined $10. He moved for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict was contrary to law and evidence; the Conrt overruled the motion, and he excepted and appealed The bill of exceptions taken by the appellant is as follows: "Be it remembered that on the trial of this cause, the State, to sustain the issue on tier part, introduced John Armstroir-, the party charged have been assaulted, etc,, who. 'Ane sworn, by his testimony establish the time, venue and manner of the paities as charged; and who testified that lie, in i-a-ruipa-ny with another person, had gone to a school house, where the defendants was, in search of a man named Reagan. That he had his gun -with him when he went into the house; where the defendant and others were engaged in singing. That, when they stopped singing, he spoke to defendant and told him he had understood that Ilefendant had threatened to whip his brother, and that if he should attempt to do it, he would have some
454 CASES IN TIIE SUPREME COURT Chitwood vs The State. January older person to whip first he, the witness, at the time holding his gun in his hand. Defendant replied by telling him to leave the house, and then rose to his feet. Witness refused to leave until ho got ready, when the defendant uaught the gun in one hand with the other pushed witness back, and they both fell together over a bench, and were separated by the persons present. That witness made no attempt to inflict any injury on the person of said defendant before the defendant caught the gun. Witness did not recollect whether he pointed or drew the gun upon defendant or not. That if he presented the gun before defendant caught it, it was unintentionally done, -The State then called two other %% -itnifb6ub, who testified that they were present at said difficult y . That defendant, themselves and others were present at said school house engaged in singing when said Armstrong came there. That Armstrong came into the house, and set his gun down by the door, and walked back and forth across the floor until the singing ceased, when Ile stepped to his gun, picked it up, walked lip in front of the defendant and accosted him as stated by said Armstrong That defendant then told Arm t s ..rong to leave the house, and rose to his feet, Whereupon Armstrong threw his gun over in the position of a present; when defendant seized the gun in one hand, and with the other pushed Armstrong back, when they both fell over a bench, and were parted hy the by-standers, That defendant made no attempt to strike or use violence upon Armstrong, until after he bad drawn his gun as above stated. This was all the testimony in the cause," etc. The refusal of the Court below to grant a new trial is the only matter assigned for error. The counsel for appellant insists that the venue was not proven. But the bill of exceptions expressly states that the State established tbe venue, etc., as charged, by the witness Armstrong, The counsel, however, submits that the bill of exceptions states a legal conclusion instead of the facts sworn to by the witness. If there be any force in this objection, it comes badl y from the appellant, It is the usual practice for the party
OF THE g TATF OF ALKAA sAs. 4:ur Term, 1857: Chitwood vs, The State. whilre,,orveq n pniut, to prepnro nut] tender the bill of exceptions for the sigimture of the judge, who signs it, if it contains a correct statement of the facts, etc. It appears from the face of the bill of exceptions in this case, that it was prepared and tell-deied to the Judge by the Appellant. If he thought proper to make it state that the venue was proven as charged, instead of stating whirl the witness testified as to the place where the offeuee was counnitted, it was a concession in favor of the StatI which lie must abide by. It is, moreover, insisted hy the counsel for appellant, that the, verdict was not warranted hy the evidence as to the assault and battery, etc. If the jury believed the witness Armstrong, their verdict was not without evidence to sustain it. They might have found, upon the testimon y of the other two witnesses, that appellant acted in self defeuee. It was clearly a ease turning upon the weight of the evidence, and It wro: their peculiar province -III judge of this. They having found the defemlant gililty, -wpm all the 'testimony before them, and the presiding Judge, who likewise beard thc evidence, having refused to grant a new trial, we shall not distnib the verdict. The judgment is affirmed.
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