Gordon v. The State Court Opinion

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Gordon o. The State.

Indictment for lltcgal Votittg,'

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i;'Q.ritt ;6;ti9!'; .{"'::rlryglld 
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tll*"'TJ;*l}"";i.;'8';;';iii'; ^"ii; rcauli,tc cl6ctionel Sc', npproved April 22' 1873' chnrgin{

;;;;ih"" clefcnrlnr,t, not bcTng trvcnty'onc ycnrs of rgc' votcd at o qrYcn genenl

n!oerion heltl in this Stntc. iisutficic"nt; llrit I rnerc fcircrnl nccusntion of illcgdolcction hcld in tlris Stntc, is stt{Iicicnl
.'^ri.- rvirhout srrceifvinq iIr rvlrot thovoting, rvithoutvoting, rvithout spceif; ing
support. n' convlctlon'

iliiii -.iiii s [otiiistc,l, is rtot sullicicnito

l?iffiffi;; not bc conaicted of -ittegal.votirtll' - A miuor,,s'hg-i'-"^lht^tJ.":2, .lltnor : uhcn cannot oe canutcteu uJ tL"lu' """"rr'-;;il;-ir'.'.r:"r--nJ oi ,t,itlJj'. qu:rlilierl,..":,nnoi-!,0 !:ill.tttl^ *i*9{"1;:l'",s",,',,^^u ., informr.r,ion fromLr\,Y qrt.rlrrEu' s'rr,rvu vv 
;;li;;iil 

"r'ott'? [triti; l'nat'cctt by information from

l1i'i'llt..ifl-:i..tltl:-:""::1",:,,,,""oc hnvina r<norvrcLrsc ,iii"' tiil. .r iriJ ilrrir,'ih;i

OT ALABAIVTA.

[Gordon u. Stntc.J

reeorrd count is a goncral nccusttion of illegrl voting, not spcci-

[.Iune t'crm,
I Srs.l 309

IGortlorr u. Stttc']

oI his rr:rcific tlistlosition trtrd urrrvilliuqrress t'o cng:rgc ilt tt:ttor'

tul coirttrst. YcU rvo cauttob knorv llult l'hc cvttlcttco dltl not

"l.t"riiji.,;-,,ffect 
tho verclict of the jury ; and tho judgrncut

;rilii;;i.t." b,:'rcue,s"d, tnd thc causl lemanded'-;ii,o 
defeuclaut must rerirain and be hcpt in custocly until

clischargcd by due cotlrse of larv'

f-ring in rvhat thc illegality cousisted, lvhcbhcr in a rvant of
ligtl qualification, or in voting'more thatt once, or in deposit-
inr more ballots than one. a,r:d is not sulficient to sunnort ainc nrore ballots than one,
coiiviction. 2 Bish. Cr. Pr.

Armar, frorn Circuit Coutt of l{eury'
Tried before Hox. J. I\{cCar,nB \YTLDY'

1'he opiniou states the case.

J. H. CowAN, for appellant. - I-Ionest
'rvitlrout fault orr defettdant's part' rvill
otherwise be an offcnce. It negatives a

Bish. Crirn. Law' $ 276.

in tho bill of exceptions, tended. only to support the charge
eontninecl in ths first count. Trvo rvitnesses were examined on
tho bchalf of defendant; one, his mother, and ths othcr an ac-
qrnintiruce who had hnovn hinr from his birth, antl residecl in
liro same ueigl-rborhooil, and for a long time a member of the
mmc family rvith defendant, and they testified the defendant
nns of the age of twenty-one years, in the August preceding
lhs clection. 'Ihat they had frequently told rlefenclant he rvould
ln of full age in that month, and subscqueutly and bcfore the
election told him he was of age. Ths court refusecl to charge
the jury that if ths dcfcndont, in rcli:tnco on thess statemenLs,
honestly believed he was of full age when he voted, he should
not be convictcil, if the evidence convinced tbe jury he was uot
of age.
''( AII crirns exists, primarily, in the mind." A'srrongful act

nnd a rvrongful intcnt mnst concur, to constibtrtc rvhnt thc larv
deetns & crime. Whcn an act denounced bv the larv is Drovcd
to htve bcen commitbecl, in the absencs of tountervelilirig cvi-
rlcncc, the criminal intent is inferrecl from the commission of
tlur nct. The inference nray be, and often is rernoved by the
nttcuding circumstances, showing the absence of a crimiual in-
!cnt, Ignoranco of larv is never an excuse, whether a party
is chorged civilly or criminally. fgnoranco of fact may often
bo leceived to. absolve a nartv fronr civil or criminal resnonsi-
bility. On the presumpt'ion ih*t 

"uo"y 
ono capable of icting

for liirnself hnotis the iaw, courts aro"cornpell'ed to proceedl
II it should be abandoned, the administratioir of iustice rvould
lrc inrrrossibler as eyery causo rvould be enrbarmssed with tho
olL(eral inquiry of lho extent of legal kuorvledge of the
portics seelcing to euforco or :rvoid lirbilitv ond, respousibilitv.
- The crimiuil intention being of the esience of drime, if [hs
intent is depenclent on a knowiedge of particular facts, a want
of.such hnohlcdge, not the result'6f 

"*.iler.,re.r 
or uegligcuce,

rolioves tho nct of cr.inrinnlitv. An illusbr:rtion m:rv bc forincl in
rrrc vcndine of obsccue or ininror.nl p.blic*tions. 'A l.rorvrctlso
o( tho chailctcr o[ such p.nblicntioirs is nn iuclispauslblo i:rgt:c-
dicnt of thc'ollcnce. Fro'iu the vencling it rvouli bo infera6lc;
brrt-ii it appcarcd the venclor was blindlond in ttre course of his
tra<lo happenod innocently to make tho snle, a wrrrt of linowl-
ulgo of tiro chnmctcr of tl"ra nirblication r"o,,i,l rolievo hinr from
crirninrll rcsponsibilitv. A rnnn luyins in tris possossiorr con1.
tcrlcit coinior forgc"il burlc bills, rvitli intcnt'to pnt thcnr in

is not sulficieut to suprort alng nrore D&llots tn&n one, a,ncl. ls not suulcreut to supporE a
coirviction. 2 Bish. Cr. Pr. $ 275. The evidence, as disclosed,

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isnorance of fact,

o*""otu rvhat would

erimiual intent. 2

Jonx lY. A. SaNrono, Attorncy General, contra, citcl

Sclr,ustert, Tha State,48 Ala. 199. 
,

BRICI(ELL, C. J. - This inrlictn:ent is founded o-n tho

irJi.tfi.*.tiori of lJrc stlutttto, airplovc<I Aptil 22,.1613' o'l;

. titlcd ,( An &ct to rcgulirte olcctioirs in thc stutc of Altrbltnr,
;i;l.h .l..I*rcr: ..'Iii:rt any ,(rrso^ r'otirrg rno'c tltttn.ouco n'.

anv cleciiotr hcld iu this Sbate, ot dcpositir)g more- tlrau one '

bailot for the scme olfice at such clcction, or is guilty-ot |fI
other hind of illega,I or fraudulent votiugr shall be clcerned guttt'I

;ilf;i;;;J; .r,"." Prmph. Acts 18?2-3", p. 25. The fir'st couu!

.t,rrg.t tfi;t tho appollirttb, trot bcing of t"r""-?r:,:tJr;r".'ltr'fil:
ycrri, votccl :tt ttie lmt getrcrirl clc';tiotr

Yor.' r.tr.

""c']".t',ill'1"'),il ;,i,:i"';;:f,',;i;t b a|c, g'c', trhcn 
'ro 

r''rxsr' - rf onc votes reqklcsrlv

or cr\r'olcsslv. lthcn thc fircti orc iio'i'tf'rt or rttlcoLt:ritt' his ignoronco rtilliloter'
Ii ri'i,i,i,". ii'ii'i'-.ij,i,'i"* i,"r q.i"ii;;iJ;r1 ,' h"rl,.' tr,. dcfcirdnnt rrctcd honcstl;

;"iiit;l;; i"'q,ir,y,'i, ,i"il;srr'y iuitt,orit plo.pcr trrrc to lecr.u tho facrs. is I nrrttcr

rvhich sbould bc ]cft to thc dclcrmlnxhon ol lnc Jllty'



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310 SUPITEIIII COUITX'

[0orrlon ,. Strtc.]

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Constitution as the disqualification of an elector. He is bouird '

to exercise reasonable diligence to asceltain. the facts y\it1h ..
euter into atrcl forru these cliralificrtiorls.' I{rlving exarcised thil '

diligcnce, if hc residcd ucrl thc bouttclirry iiue oI a-countlt rurtl

circulntion, coukl trot br: cottvictctl of ct'itne, if lto rvns ignolanl
of tLcir sl)uriousncss. r\ sta.tutr: irnposed ir pcnllty on tho

orvnor or ctptirirt of tny steirmboat lcieiviug- and' trarrspoltitlg
ruuv coiolctl r)crsoll. rviihout ltilvittg pirtticulxr cvidtrncc tlrri
,u,il, purrou rias ftee. Tho pcnnltic6uld bc inflicted orrly on

the cirptrirr or olvner rvho liriorvir:giy trtr,nsporbecl such pcrson.

If the'person o[ eolor, rvithout the linorv]edge or- colrs-enb of tlro
captain or orvner, entered the boat, concealiug hirnself-, anil tviu

tlrirs catried awar, the penalty was not iucurred. Dutcan 's,
Statc, T Flurnplr. i+S. ittogai voting, wiren it is supposed 1o

alisc from thc rvilnt of lcgal qualificritior:s, is depeudcnt on tho

votcr's linorvlcdse of thc-particulrrl frrcts rvhich m:rlro up .tlro
qturii{icltiou. itrvcry tturn 

-is 
bourrd .{:o knorv tho ltnv-r'cqrrircr

tira! cvcrv voter eLuli be a ttativo boru or utturalized citizcn
of the Un'itea States, of the age of ttventy-otte yerlrs' aud httc
resiclecl in the State, six ,,rorril,., and thL courity in which ho

ofters to vote, three nronblrs next precerliug the elcctiolr, tn'l
urust not bave been couvicted of tlic offenc6s meutioucd in the

he had readlre,l the age, ho votes, having the other ,necessflr)'
qualificatious, illegal iobing should noi be imputecl to hirn.
'I'he intent rvhich tnakes up the critne canuot be atiit'nted'
Whetber he hacl thc belief 'that he \yas a qualifierl voter, antl

tire infoluration s'as frirly obtained. should bo referred to, alxl

dctet'utincrl by thc july. Ttro rvholo inquiry should bo clirccte'l
to thc votcr''s-knorvlcdge of facts, and to his diligence in alqulr'
ing thc reciuisitc knorvlidge. If hs votes recklcuily or carolcssl;'
rvhen the fucts are doubtful ot uncerbain, Itis ignorlnce shoukt

rtot excuse hiur, if the real fircts shol he ivas nit qualified. -.ll
ignoliurt o[ bhe disqualifying fac!, and rvithout a ivant of dili'
g""n"o, nndcr an horfusb Uitioi of liis right to votc, ho sirorrld ln

Er.nr.tl, tlrough hc h:rd not thc riglit. 2 l]ish Cr. T,aw, S!

27G-279; ,51tu7e v. Boyctt,10 lrccl. 2ig6; tllcGuire v. Statc,i
Yor,. r.rt.

shoirld be informcd by thoss htving thc mcttrs of liuorrlcrlgc
that his resideuce rvii rvithin the-couuty, aud he, rvithout l
knorvleclge of the real facts, honestly actiug on this infottnution,
should v6te, he coulcl not fairly be "clrn.gef, with illegal voting,
thoush on a, subseouent survev. or on somo other e-videncc, lt
shouicl be ascertaiu"h lrit rcsiclirics was not rvithin tho corrrtty. ,

Tire preciso time when a liltr1 trrives at the age of trvouty-'otto
yeari is a fnct, hrrorvledge of rvhich lie derives-necessarilY from

iris parcnts, or other reiir,tives or acquaintanccs havitlg knorl'
edg6 of the tims of his birih. If act-ing in goorl faith, on iufor'
ma-tion fairlv obtained ftom them und"er arr- honest belief tlrrt

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OT ALAI}Ai!IA.

[Ex Porto ChnmPion']

311
u75.1

Humph. p4 i co'rnmo,*i:*1..:' !:t'l{':!'frllct' 
268 i com'

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;h, ;i;ilr's c,:. c as cs, 41 2'

"'Ttu?, ntlu-g"iuoo uy tt'u circuit "tr'* :*,::'ffi2'i,iili;,i{,iJ;fv'ir,";'Ji5.",i1r,*"*:::.'":'"::i}.""'"';The cbargo glYcn Dy LrIs vrrvqru ""t-'^" --trvs 
erroncous, anil

fus.ail to ;ffirg"c, tuc"o- according to, 
lllo-tt^ :l

rr.^ .irrrlcrnont must bo reverscd, ancl tlro qlu:9 r.eman{t*: 
- Tl:itu j.,dg*ent-must bo [t u .uo.u remandod' The

iho j*dgmensmusE ".;"H:;lr.,1y;;ril dischargcd by due
tppellant.must remarn ln .;uruvqJ u^'v"

ciirse of lawt

Dr parte ChamPion'

Tpplicatiott for lfandamtl*

Ilabcas urpus; pctitionfor;2t1at mfi.c-t1n1=^1"n:,1'^t'g':-[,i,r'fim Sfru;l;Ilabcas utpus; pclition/or that st{licicnt -A pctttto

taining thc s totcnrcu ts prcsg'' i"; ['.,'-*: :** * llf "*l'i::,X
Ilabcas utpus; pctitionJor, 

"u'fi 
;;'g1i:';'[;o;id'iri. n.tii"a Coilc,.nnJ verificd

llllt'lliti'::{d:'iuillii ri g:dl*rtrft;;;;il i;iG to oircgo rhat thc
rsrcouil'cd Dy sectlon *zur, I

t;;ii;;i' ;i'.s"ltv Yl'li;!* :ii::ltl':#
,onr.iit.a b.f a jrrsticc ofifiI:i,4,J l1y.l*t1,lJru..,,*iir*"*,iiiiilii i;i,:ii",:ilt'r'll,,,,fj
l;i',T,;',:tlf i:1[h#[iiiq"*J$fr ][{i"!Trr"!Ji:rii1}i,'
ff ]ilf-i,:rUf,"s':,'I:"'J*iliij"il:lTg jx-';',tl*1"i5:li,:xs',THl::
[ir ii iidlipo^tt'tlro! no offenco hos lrycu

i.r .iit+iii1l,t pr.isoncr rvith it'
's:ll:J?t??Jlf.l:ff,ilti:liiit'j *'r:::,)":i.*'^i*ilill:ltl',,1"ff:'l9i::;f 'T:*.'l"i1Xi,lf -,:#;.r#il[il,]"il{,}!-;i"*'::,{i','r*,i:15;'"13;X

"IlliTili'll*:lli:ii!tiii*xilsr""{.irii:,ll};r*luili*'',1ffi ;;;i;;ty' cxnminctl ngni rrs i. hi m' i f srill.llvrng rm

[i:i.iTt**r],ifr"',,,$*l'.]'.jll::,"t'"[""":'.l,'l:il1$Ui]il* lTTil'i;",ff ''yh I ii:['].X tililh",ll il' $ii!l:":d'l; ]]r ]l' o-, l':o'n t o r

ilii;I"drir;il.i&i riti"'iii"uii', u'Jii" p'i'ontr dctaincd until it is gtveu'

,I'if xHJiffi t1;lJ;'.1.'i'*'r'-?'JY,f :3rJ,f,)',i;!:r:ifr
deterrnine evidence i, .G;;'ti to-tbe causc of thc inrprisounreut

o[ petitioner, rvho:L,i'"d;t1tffii botore ltirn- on habcas

;r#'". 
-"fi;s;;;dilf iil'*'ti;;-aro fullv set forth in the'

opiuiou.

Jogx D. GAnpNrcn, for petibioncr" -lflro 
netition could not

bo demurrable ; it',-;l^;;t"p;iv tltin"al;c1^coubained aII the

;iG;;ir;;;;;,.a r,v tfi" todu' -Mand'amus 
is the proper

ffiilil:- 30 frr. loi. ""ilr-;;;' Mot'on' /30 Ala' 4e) shorvs

ii,llJYr,L ;;ffi i;"d;" f# "j..,'i',u;i;; ; "i 
a tuot he ivill be

conrpcllcd to cxcrcisc ib by m'anc{'antus'

Jxo.'W. A. Sa'xrono, Attorney Geneml' contt'a' 
'

trf ANNING, J;:- Tho prisoner Cbarnpion' by pctition to

H;;*%t*il*l;:lTii;,,i#1,:i:;;1,!{,irl,t*'L""*
triot.oi, upon ,, 

"orrirG,ont 
6f tr justicc of thc Dcircc chat'gtttg

him with having .o,#itrca *pi-arrcl p^-uycd tint by thc



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