Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

140 Ala. 84

Osborne v. State

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided November 15, 1903

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1903-11-15

Tried before the Hon. J. C. Richardson. The appellant in this case, Kittie Osborne, was jointly indicted with Nelson Myrick for the murder of Neil Porter, was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree, and sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for eight years. Upon being arraigned, the appellant moved for a severance. This motion was granted, and she was tried separately and apart from her co-defendant.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently May 1930

3 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1903-11-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

MoCLELLAN, C. J.

¶1It will suffice to say in support of the court’s action in sustaining the objection to the question: “A short time prior to the killing had there not been attempts made to break into your house at night?” propounded to the defendant, that the question *87called for a conclusion of the witness. She should have been called on in the first instance to state the occurrences supposed to constitute the attempts, to break into her house, assuming without deciding that the matter was pertinent. The other questions in this connection were open to the same objection, as well as to others which will not be discussed.

¶2Of the charges refused to the defendant all but that numbered 13 were properly refused.

¶3The 13th charge should have been given. ! The evidence afforded bases for inference on the part of: the jury that the deceased at night broke into and entered the house of defendant, there assaulted her with intent to have carnal knowledge of her against her will, desisted upon an outcry being made and ran out of the house, but soon returned, and while re-entering the house, i. e., being in the hallway and going again towards defendant’s room, she, reasonably believing it necessary to save herself from a renewal of his felonious assault, shot and killed him. The charge was, therefore, not abstract. And undoubtedly, if the facts were in line with the inferences stated, she had a right to kill the intruder, and should be acquitted as declared in this instruction.

¶4Reversed and remanded. ■

/140/ala/84 · .json · Public domain