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84 Miss. 473

Horton v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided March 15, 1904

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1904-03-15

From the circuit court of Lauderdale county. Hon. Guión Q. I1axx,i Judge. Horton, appellant, was indicted, tried, and convicted of rape, and appealed to the supreme court.

Decided 1904-03-15

Truly, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The refusal of the second instruction asked by the defendant was not error. Section 1426, Code 1892, provides that “on an indictment for any offense the jury may find the defendant guilty of the offense as charged or of any attempt to commit the same offense.” It is not necessary, nor would it be proper, to join in the 'indictment a second count charging an attempt to commit the crime charged.

¶3The language attributed to the district attorney is not made known to us in the manner prescribed by law. This assignment of error, therefore, is not considered. Powers v. State, 83 Miss., 691, s. c., 36 South., 6.

¶4It was fatal error to refuse to admit the testimony offered on behalf of defendant of his general reputation for peace or violence. This was the particular trait involved in the prosecution against the defendant, and testimony showing an established reputation for peace and quiet is especially appropriate in this class of cases. Maston v. State, 83 Miss., 647, 36 South., *47571; Hardtke v. State, 67 Wis., 552 (30 N. W., 723); State v. Lee, 22 Minn., 407 (21 Am. Rep., 769); Lincecum v. State (Tex. App.), 15 S. W., 818 (25 Am. St. Rep., 727).

¶5Reversed and remanded.

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