Wilder v. State Appeal from Pickens Circuit Court

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TIIII STATIi OIT Ai,AIiA}'iA J U DI- C IAL DIiPlillTi"fiil{T

TIIE ALAI]AI"IA COUITT OF CI{IMII'IAI, APPEALS

OCTOIJTiR TEIU.I, 19BO_81

(-1":
)

Irli l rler

State

Appe.al from Pickcrls C-Lrctrj.L Court-

DeC/rRLO, JUDrill

Thcr grand j u,:y

appcllan I a.ncl char:gecl ]re:--

voLir-r1i niol:(: than or)cc, or

blr.l lc.r t. f or- Ltic s;uunc o I: Jl:i cc

or f r;rrrrlrtl.tr-rL :rl:scnt:c.r: irlr l.

of i'.i ckens Cour-rt1, indj_cLetl t:he

in ;r th::ce-courtt. inclic[.nr,3nt r.,lith

c'Ic,1-,osi-t i.rrg nrorcr t-lt.:.rn one atbsc:rrtce

as hcr: voLc, or cas t.i-rri1 j Ilei_,,a1

I o t-.s .

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"'i.'ircr (.]rarrti .lrr.r.'1, of s;ri tl C,-rrrirt-y c:h;rr:1;c t.1rrrl.,
bc j.c;r.c t.lrc { irrd i.rrll of t.iri.r; Jrrrl-.i.c-rt,urLrttt-, Jrrl-izr
Ii. I,/.LJ-cltrr:, tvlti.,:;cr n;u:tc l-o Lhrr Gr;rncl ..lr.tr1' j-s;

o l-hc. r:r'l'L s; cr ru)l(r)()\!'r-r :

" coUl.l1' ollI,l

"tl -i.ci \/ot-c lloJ-i: L.h;trr ()i1 r.i,l , of <1 i tl <le:1-los.i L rn(-)re
t lr;rn onc ba.L l.oL [or: Llrc sarrr].r oJ.I j.cc :ls her votc,
or cli-d vot.rr :i.1-.Lega.Ll y (.)r: f raudr-rIc:nt:J.1', in the
I)ciuocr::rt.i c: 1'ri rnary liun-of f I'l.l r,:cLion of Septcmber
?.6, ').978,

" c0Lli.l'il Tt{o

t'clid voLr: I',lol:e t,han orrcc as arr absr:ntc:e voter, or cli.c1

cleposi.t rnorc: Ltran one ;r i;s;enLee b;r1lot for: Lhe same
of fice or of f iccrs as her vote, or dj"d cast i11.c:9a1.
or fr:audulenL absentee ballors, in the DetnocraLic :

Pr:inary Rtrn-of f li:lecLion of September 26, L978,

'' COIJNT TIIREE

"did casL:i 11.<'ga1- or fraucltrlent absent.ee ballots in
t-tre Democrat-i.c: Prirnar.y Ruu-off EIecLi.on of September.'
?.tt, 1978, in that- she di.d depos j t- rvj.rh t-he Picliens
Count y Ci r:cuj t- Cle'rl< , at>senLec bal-l.ot.s; rvi'ri.ch vrcll'e
frnirduLc:n1- and rvhj.cl'r sire, knr,t^z t-o be frauduleut,
ag:r:i.ns t- Lhr:: pcilc:e ancl cli.gnity of Lhe St;rte of
Alal;rrtu,:t. "

Af Ler: a t.r.ro--c'l;ry trj.a1. rvh:'l-ch enclccl on i'iay 31, Lg7g, the

ariJrel.l arrL r.r{rs founcl i,;trr l-t y as cirar:gccl in Lhc i ntl j.ctincnt atrcl

Sarirt:enCc<'. LO f ive yL'at:St .i.tirp';i .(jOrlit.:i-lL. She Y,ave nOIice of appt:al

a1<l fileci .r mction for a rlcL, t::ial. Thc tnot.ioit r'.'as subsequently

clr-:n.i.r:cl r./h.-rrr rro Lr:s; l. i.rrril;-ry ()1.- ar-'i1ur:tei-rt. \v'iifi nltdc on bt:h;r1f of t.hi:

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'.1'litr c,.,i.(ir.:iri:i' i) i.'t:ii r.:i'rt.t:tl ,'ri- i.r iit.l \./ii:i :; ttir;;t.i1iIi..i..'il-.1 r

. Iir-. lrzrp.!. Jt,l .1. 1. 
j rrs;, ar rr(.)i-irry prr}.1.,i c f r(,:i'i 'I'ui;c;rl-oos;a, \.,'€lS

<:;:[ 'l r,(] :lli t-i,r: Si-;tt.,:' t; i-.i r :; i. l,'i i.ltt::-;:;. S'-lvcl::;-rl d;:ys !rr-Lt>l: Lo 'tLri:

i)r:,,:tt-: r.;rl.i,,: i't..i.ni:r:;z ii.:rr, -o['I lrl.r:c:L.ion oI Sci,;-t:lii1>r,l' ?.i'r, 197ii (h.:t:e-

iir;tf.i.{':r.', "li,.trr -ttlti' l', lr:i: i-.i r,rt") tirr: ;tpir'-1 l-l .ttri ltttrl :;':vcri;I!- Ol-lii:i:

\./()i:,i:ir (.ilt,:r.r [,:t i.il'. ]'.,,! I i rr,;' (-,I l i-t:,t ir1r.,1 I)]-(r;i{riti i:rl }lilir rr'i.t-ll ;l I}iitil)i:I.

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ir,,llii1; lr'r,l i1,.,'it i).,rr..'ir,lr:.;l)' ;r;'t..ril1,,r:.1 i;;' i'i:11r,:'.ii' ii(t'.r.:1,:,il'.. iii.,

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Ii<.r l.I.lns t:cs Lif ierl t.l.rat: or-r scpLcirrlrcr: 23, r979, tre rroL:rrized tire

-i-nd-Lv j clual s o.r Lrri-rt:y-niire ;rbr;(:nL c:,. balrots; .
s i.{1nir Lu rcrs of

't\l cl'rough tlre l>er1.Lols itad noL lrtrcrr sigirccl j-u his prescrlce, I,ir.

Itc'rlI'i'ns ttoLitr:izeci thc,rir basccl Lrpc)rr t:trc: airpcrl.lalr-'s rcpres;cirtaLion

Lo lrirn t--h.t- thc vof er st .srgrlilLtrr.cs \v'c,rc genu.'r_nir. I"i.r. RolIi_rrs:

ter'sLified Ll-rat- he rvas; rtot- pc)rsiorrarl..Ly ac<1uai-uLccl r.rrttr any of the.

indi.vi.duals.

l"Ir- RoIlilts stated on cross*examination ttrat he tolrl the

aP!'ell-ant he cotrlcl not nolarize Ltre balloLs unless the peoplc rvho

signed them \./ere present Mr. I(o1lins then agreed to go ahead

and notari-ze the ballots; if the appellant r,roul-cJ take hirn to the

individrials ancl let thern s\^/e.ar an oath thaL they hacl signed the

ballots - Rollins subsequenLly rve.nt to Pickens County rvhere each

person swore an oath'that he hacl signerl his or,rn bal.loL. T'irese:

o:tths lvere taken aL l'laggie Bozernan's hot:.se a1d varj-ous other homes

i.n Pi citens Counly. I'1r. Ii.oll j.rrs r:ecluire:d no iclen t j.f ication of tire

iudivi.cluals for. Lhc oaLhs
a

On re-direct ex;rminal.ion, I4r. ii.olli.ns testifie-c1 lre coulcl

not rernember the da.l-e he vi.sit.ed I'ickens County to verify the

s i.gnatures .

I'ls. Janice Ti.lIey, a court clerk in the Piclr.ens County

Cl-erk's off ice, testif ied thaL. she process€)s abs;.entee bal.l-ots;.

She clcsc::i.lrcd ttre pliocess as fol l.or.;s: a pof-enLial. abserrtce votcr

Iilrr:;L fj.l.1 orrL rrrt ir1)1.r1..i caIi-r>u fo.r:iu. ll'hj.r; ;rir1>1.i.ci,rt-j.o:r is chccl.led

by the- r:ircuit cl.er:k's; oJ.fice L.o <lt:t.ernrine r.;heLher tho eLpi>licilnt

i.s a reg,'i.sLered vot.ei:. If t-l're: erlrp,l.icant is a re;;i.sLererJ voLer,

t.lr.r-,:n arn al)sc:i)l-e:c 1,>;illot; a-ird.i-nst-r'ucL.i-orts fo:: vot-iilf., are r:taili:cl

[.() t]rr: vot.()r. Thc: 'v()t-(-'.r. th.-rrt l.ci-r,rrnrj ttrc s,.:alr:d ab:;entce blrl l.ot

Lr.r t-irc c i::cui. t- c.l.c:r!.' s; o'[.[ i.cc: 1.;l1ir;-(: i t is; pI,-rcr:<l in a loc]:ccl

iri);;('rlLc(: li;rll-ot. box j.rr t-hrr c:i.r-r_:uit: r:Iul'l--'s'ria,.r.l-t-

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l.lcry r.:csr.i.f..icrcr r.[.rr trr" ]*llii.r vras j.n r.rii.:

ci-r <:r-ri t- c l'e:rll's; crf .['i-cc oir riic)r.-c t.harr ono oc:(:a..;iorr [trc r.lee]r pri.r:
t:'o t.ltc lirrir--o,[f Ii].t:ct. i-on t.o 1ticl. LrP aP1.r l i.cat i.on:; for absient:ec

Lr:rI-l ot'.1; ' I'is ' f i-J .[r:y t.o.l-cl t.hc appc.l.lant- Lh;rt appl j-cat j.o,.s for
nbsiri-rt c:c voi- Lrr5', c:()rr'Lri rrot: bc pi clrr,:cl up clur,irr11 trrc r.asL five
clarys be: fol-e a1n c.l_c<:1.:Lcrn. Ii.r th is; (:zLs(:), tho IasL ,lry f or 6bUnining
irprplicetions \r.rs soirt.cnrber 2.0, j.g/g. on sc:i>t-cmber: 25, Lg7B,

the aPi)Cllar.It itskccl fr-rr: tttor:e a1;pI:lcaLi-ons a.cl rv;rs rcfusecl. At
tiris timr: the:rppcl-lant: an<l l"lj-nnie Dunner Hill ru.-retI j.n to the
circtrit cler.k's; o.[fice, approxinra[ely fifty absentee barlots.

I{s ' Ti.li-t:y noLicecl that alI the completed applicaEions
for: abscrrrt-ec bzrllots'; t.hat- hacl beerr previously turnecl in by the
appellant: contarineci orre of the follor,ring acldre.sses: Route Z, tsox

P318, CarrollLon, Alabanra; 532 l0th Avenue i'lorthivest, Aliceville,
Al-abanrar; or 60r t0th Avenue lriortiuvest, Ariceville, Alabama.

llts' Tilley thoui;ht- this unusual ancl brought it Lo the attention
of t'he circuit clcrk,' I{r. iiloycl, r.zho in turn contacted District
At Lorney Irep Johns t.on .

Dur:Ln1.1 cross-€:>iaininat-i.on, I,ls . Tirrey testif iecl that
t-here is no recluirenr<:nt t-hat applications for absentee voting
bo'picicecl up by t.he votcr-'si themse:Ives or Etrat- the ballots be mailed

to th':: voters' acldrr:t;sr:s. The appellant macle no representatior-r to
I'Is.;. T:LrJ.ey' ttraL any of the bar:.oi " she trrrned in vrere her ovrn.

Pj cltnris CounLy Shcrj.f f Louj.e CoIem:nr testj.fiecl Lhat

t-1te ;rl>scntr-:tt b:rl.lt>t lr<,l;r- for t,trt: Il,-rn-of-[ I]1cct-ion h:ts tree^ i-rr lti.s

cu'stocly s;i.uce thc }turr-o.f.f Illerct-ion. Pursuant to t-he court order

Shcl:i.ff Co.Lemitrt clclivc:rerci the:rbs;enl-ce baIIot box to Distr:icu

1rLt.<-rrncy .Joltnr;t-r;n orl O<:t.o1-.rr:r: :l 0, 1.978. Sher, j..t.f Colema* u*lockr:ti

t.lrr: l>rr.Ll o l'. l-rt>r ;trtrl l'1r. .Jgtrrrs L6ri cx:,rur:i.1ccl Litc: cO.Lcnts. Dj.s Lr:ict

At.t-or.-rtcty .[.nvt::; L,i1.,,ltLrlr (.lirar,1-es; 'i.;,rLC) \./atr; aIs;o 
.pJ:c{jenL clpr:ipg; this

c' j/^illlli.rt.'tl. ic.,l-t. .Itl-l-r,r-- t.lii' r';,:;.rriri.naLl-,i{;ir, Lire s;ltcr.'iff rc-l-oclietcl Ltrc:

i,;t I lOi- l,,i;.i ;tr.r,.1 l lrc r.ij l;t r.'j-r:i ltt.l.ot t'r..ry ar.lricrl lrisi (rr./r) 1raC. 16cit t.cl [:Ll,-:

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I'fr. Clriri.-lcs ll;r t-<: t-r:r;t- j f Lcd t,lrlrt hcr r,rlis :rssi-gncd

to i.ttt'trI;t.i1iat r: aJ.[c3,r:cl cllscrr-ri.tirncLcs; j-n i.]J):;clrL(r(i voLipg fo::

t.l'Lc Itun-'oII El'-:ct. j,otr. Ltrvr:sl- i11trt:c-rr. 'l;rt-c: ()xirrrrlric:d tbr: corrLc:rri-s;

o.[ t-he ;lbst:i'i t-ee [;i-r]..1.o L bo:< br,6u1;ir t. Lo Eire rl.L..; t.l i.ct: .:rLLor:pc:y' S

of fj.ce Iry t.hc shcrr.-i.lf . ilc t-c.:s;t,i f.iecl thaI Lhe balIoL bor,.

cont:rinccl Lirrcc s;et.s <;I bitL.Lot-s; ; ir(:cei)Lcrcl b.]l'lot.si; r.r:jecIcd

ba11.ots; zrncl ch;rl.Icngled bal.l.oL s. Iic: checkc:c1 onl-1, Lhcr accepted

ballots.

Investi.gator Tate sEated that he matched tire absentee

bzrllots to the applicat-ions; for: absentee bal.lots. ll,:Ls examination

revealed.: "quite a fcr'r of the arbsontee ballors r,/er:e noLarj-zccl by :

the same notary ptlblic; sonre of thc appliczrt-.Lons for ttre absentee

ba.llots were maybe signecl wj.ttr an X, 3.-S an exanrplc, yct the ballot

itself had been signed rv:Lth a legible s:Lgnature or v1ce versa."

l'lany of the ballois \./erc nrailed Lo ttrc: s;-uuc acldresses; ancl aIl ttr.c

barllots lterc vot:ed the saine. I{r . 'Iat.c' s j.nr,res t.ig:rt:i.on a,l-so revcal.ecl

that the appellant's acJc'lress \.I.-ls one of t.he thr:ee nior;t- f reqtient.l.y .

ttserl on ttre b;r11ots. At the conclus-i-c.rir of 'Iat.e's e>..arniuat-ion,

the bal-lots r.Jel:e placcd b:rck in Lhc: b:rl.lc.,t. bo:'., <louble lockr..cl, and

ret.u:-necl Lo tlre shc::.lff.

EiSlhLy-severr-yc:rr-olcl Rol>cr:t. Go j.ner; tes; Li-f .led th;rt he

r7.IS a r:ci4-i.s terccl vot-er :in Pi c1<.cns; (-ic>ur-it,y. lic s;a i-cl t.l-r;rt l-re applied

f.c-tt. an itbs;c.:ltt-c:c ba.l Lol: and mtrcle h-i.s rnrlr'11 (X) or) t.lre a1.lir-l-i<:lri:ion.

Ti.ie aPp.l j.cirL'i on vl;rsr r.,'.i i-r'ress;,.rci 1ly Liri: irp];c:1..[.lrrr1-. i'ir.. Go:i ircs; vi;tr;

silor.;lr all ebse-nLr':e ba,Ll-ot- conl-:r Liri.rrli his s,i.11ri;r[.rrr e -i.n cu::si-vc: r";'i:i.Lii-rg.

i'lr:. C<>.r'-ncs s;t.at-ed lrt: had :ic(:i) ttre trzrllol- l;r.tL lie cl:i rl noL f i1.l- it:

:i.rr o]: l;.i 1,,n j t, trc:i:;-tuse trc cottl11 1r()t. ra.rj.l:c:. ilc: ;.r1.r;r.r s; t-lrL.ec1 tirat. lr.:

cl iel ncrt. 13i ve-: ;rr-r)'()",.-r [)L]r'irri-..;s;.iotr t-r: r.roi-c .[or ir.i tn and[ ]rc cliil trot-

voi-r,r t-hr' :tlls;t.:nt-r,rc bir.l. Iot..

[)ir (]roI;s;. (.);1 ,'rii'li rirrt. j,ori, l'ir. . Go i.irt:r; t-elr t'il''i-r'ti 1.hirt. tri:

;,-l'.,);-r-',rrl r,:,t<itt h.i :; ril;tr 1<. r.ri lir ,tr cr()s;ti. ilrt ;rrltli-t.t.r:,1 Llr:ri- lr.' ,1i-cl r-r()t.

l'.rrc.l ,.2 r.,,ltr:l- .'rir ;rl):.ra:rlt-()ir lr;t.l iitL r.,';t:;. [(t: cl itl l-L:tir,:rit;)(']-' [-i.i.o 1'T ,-li.r.:l;



Iic t-t>Icl ttrc nAr"l Lhat 1'rir; rn;rrli',..,;rr; orr a ptecc of papcl: ttrcy hac[.
t

llr: t-es Li. Iiccl t-lra[: I)t. crid no[: hno\,,/ ,,.zi-ro Pairl lLo'L.Li.ns \,Jas .

Anni.cl Iiil.l-trps;..;t::.iLcd t.hi.rL slrr: vu.rs; a r:egi.sLcr:e<l v.Ler
i-n I'i cl<ens; (ioutrLy ernd votecl j-n t.lic Rulr-.of f l:I cct, j-on. I/rs . Biltups
nracl': all rryrr oIl atl absenLee berl.lot appl.icilt:i.on broughL Io her by

' tirc aPpellant. I'ire crppcll.arrt: f i..LIccl otrt Ll're brrllot f or l,is. Ilillups
bercausc she coul<1 nol. i:eacl or rsr.-ite. Ms. lr j-llups toIcl the appellant
to s ign her (Ms . Bt-rll.ups ' ) narle to thc ba'l.lot - She tes tif ied
thaE the appellant rvas a friend of hers.

Seventy-two year-old I'{attie Gipson testifiert that she

\r,'3S a ref;i'sterec voLer: in Pickens county ancl thaL she voLed in
the Run-off Election. On clirect exarnination Ms. Gipson tesrifiecl
t}'raE she placed hcr ballot in tire ballot bo>r aL the l{ational

Guarcl Arm<;ry po11i.g pl.acr: in Alicevi1lc, but: her tcsti-mony

oil cros,s-'e>:amin;rtion inclicatercl t-hert shcr votecl by absentee ballot.

. I'ls. Gipson said tl'raL siil rnacle her: "cros's rnark,, on

an applicati.on for aI1 absr:nLee ball.ot that rvils r.rj-tne.ssecl by her

"sLcpda-ught-er: in-1a,;{, " l{innic I'lac Dunncr. She tes;tifiecl slrc

clicl' thj.s; erl- the llational Guarcl Arntcry

1"1s. Gip.';olt \^ias shovrn lrer absent-ec ballot :rnd coulcL not

find vrhere she nra.Je zin trx, on the rlocurnenl-.. Ihe bal.loL conLainecl

trc:r. ..;i61n:-r.i-u-r:e j.n cu.l:sir.r(: r^rr:i-tjng, She te:;tif-Lccl that shc cor_r1<I

noL "r,v::-i-i.c itL ;rll. " Strr, ir.Lso st-:ri-cr(i LiiaL slrc riicl nc>t lcnoi.r

I';trl.l llol.l .i.ir:;.

.. I)r-rri.rr15 crorjs-c);zlnrinat-.i-ou, I,is. (1j.psol',. test j-f ic'.cl t[1L

.sr.',rr,:r:a.1. 1.;rcl.Lr:s; citrll() [.o hr:.r hriusc 1:i:ior. l.o thr,: c]ect-i-orr. Shc

trul..1ror.'i.ztt.l t-ltr:s;tl 1.;rcl icr; L:ri tr..; s; i-s; L hcL' i.rr vcrtinrr.

5irl1.,h'L.u Sjr;r;rlr, ;I r;(:1,'(liIt:,v-rri.rri: ycirr-o1cl r:ci-1i-sLer:r:cl

\'ot.('a .i.rr L'j.t:L,i-'trl; (iui.trtl'y, s; I ;rt.r:rrl t ir;rt- sl'rc ciici rri;[- iirro..v r.,,irat.

,'lrt ;rlr:i.iirt.cr.t l;;'l.Lrti. ir'l:;. ijitr,: l;lt irl l;hr: li;irl ii(:\,/('i: trr_ltccl ly|

;rl,.t';r.:Lt-i.r ,r lr;il lot- irrrrl Il,r,.l ;r'l ,,.ti;'./ s; \,/(,i i'd irt. t.ili: poi. I irr;.,, P l.ac,r.: i.rr

5.



:rpl)cll.;rnL an<l tracl ncvcr t-aIl:ed to thc ir1;ps-l.l.lrnt.;rlrotrL etbs;enLee

rrot, it18. Art appl.i.cztl- j-c:n rvar; s;hor.rn Lo I.Is. Spanrr conEa:Ln j-ng hcr

nrissl'rellcd tlanl(), siglnc:cl rvi tlr arr '"X, " arrcl r.lj.t_nc:sl;c:d lry the

appellant. Shc clcrriccl urar:ki.n51 ;trr rr)'rr orl Ll-rc appl.icaLion and stal-erl

t.ltat she dj d ltct: oi.rn r.IriLing. I'Is;. Spann was also sl.rorvn a ballc.rt
L/

ancl pointecl out thirE her narne \vr.rs rniss;pc1.l.ed. -- Dur:i1g cross-ex-

aurj-na.L:Lon, ttre follorving occtrrrccl :

"Q. Ancl it says Sophi-a Sp;rnn, but it is not
spe1led S-p- a- i-n?

"A. See, I spell it S-p-a-n-rl, two N's.

"Q. Olcery .

"A- And PIrs. Charlene showed nre that- paper. I
tolcl her that ain't the way I spell it.

"Q. I^ltro makes ouE your ballot therr" You oannoE
read and rvrite?

"A. I do my or.nr r^rriting and my o-!,rn reading.
!trtrat are ybu tatking abor-rt'! I can reacl and wrife,
sir.

"Q. Yotr coul.d reacl anci vlriLe?

"A. I have been reading and r.lriting ever since I
was something lil'.e tha.t (indicati.g).

"Q. Oh.

"A. My urama r:aised" seven cllilclren. Alt of them
coulcl r:ead ancl rvrite.t'..

I,Is;.. Spann also testified that she cli.d not knol Parul

Il.,-r1't:i.11. Sjhc: Teci.t l-1r:cl ttr;rf l4aggic: ]lozcm:tn ancl arr trnlinoi'rn nlalc

vj-s;i.LcrJ hr:i:. Mr:s. \\<szerttitn vr;rnLecl Lo fj.ncl otrt if I{s. Spann had

vo t e cl t-h ri L doy . The uterl. e-, s ii:L cl no t.li in g .

t. Sc:r:' rtt.U;rchcci airpc,ncli.x.

-7--



o
Ili;. Siirarrrr Le.s t- i. [,i-c:rl t.irat- rvhc:n .she: rvc:nt- to t.he 1ro1 1in53

' irl.ircc L.o vot.t: s;llc ru,asr t-ol.d lry l-hcr e.l-r:ct:iorr of.fici-li1-s; t-h;rt hr:r.

\,ol-(: lr;tcl lrI r. carly bcrcn rr:<:o.r11crl ()l) ar) alr..;crrl-cc b;r1 lot . She

I r;l rl L.hc elcct. ioir <lI. f'.i.c.i ;r [. t-lr;.rL s;lro ]rail trol-. arrL-hor Lzed i-rny()nc

t rr vot.c Ircrr: hcrr-, ancl t'lrrrL l-rcr: 1l;rrne ()n t.Lre t;lr.l-l.clL tv:l; rnisr;pijl-|g6.

i'i:; . 51>itrrrr \./as-; t.irt:rr ;i l, .l-oviccl t.o vo [.(r a L t.hc po1 l.s .

Il'i 1;ht.y-:;(.rv()n'- yerar. -'olcl Nat I)irnc1, t-cs Li.f ied t.hat ire r.ras

not. rc:gi-s t-c:rc:cl Lo vot.c j.n I'ickens Courrt-y , br.rt. t-haL he had vo ted

in the p;r:; [. I{e tcs t.i.f j.ed that trc cottJ.cl noL reacl or vrri.te

ancl tirat hc si-1.,,ned hi.s r-raiiie wiLh a mark. lle saici tlrau he knerv

thc appcrl.larrt, and tha[ s]rc rviEnclssed his mni:]l on a clocrrntenL

t-trat rvas rlot identificcl by t.he S[at-e.. ]1r. D:urcy testified that

the appcrl.t.ant exi)Iained nothing to iri-m abor-rt the clocurnerrt he

s:i.Einc:d, ancl "stre stopperl rrte: from tall<ing and saicl just make a

rnarll thcre. "



t!,
.1r
,l

adrl i. L-i on, I'ls . I.;rvender r:.:cei.l.1.ed nr:llci.ng an rryrr on tlic pape.r.
rt

Slrc t-,-:.stj-[:jr:rl [:1raL rro 1',ent1.omilir cvc]: czlnto l-o hcr: housc: Eo

iisk r.rhcLI-rer hcr tnztrlt wasr on l.hc: clocr.ttncut..

Orr cros;r;-crxarrrination, l'ls. I-,arvcnclc:r: tcs;ti-f i-cd thaL a tral.lc;t

caiue to hcr: irr L:hc mail arrci sl-rc aul-1'ror:ized Lhcr appcl-1ant Lo ttrrn

the b;rlIoL in for her. I,Is. La.vcrrcler told the appcllant she

r wanted to vote for the Detnocrats.

Lewis Minor staued ttraL he r.ras a registerecl voter in

Pickens County. He testified that ire voLed in Ltre gerteral. election

but did not thi.nk he voted in the Run*off Election.
- ,/

. I,lr. I'linor testif ied that the appellant "fix[ed]" an

:
absentee applica.tio.n for h.Ln. He coul<l noL read or vrrite ancl he

macle an rrxrr on Lhe application. IIe testifietl tirat he sarv the

appellant on the streets of Aliceville before the P.un-off ElecLion,

ancl tolcl l'rer he vroulcl bc out- of Lovrn on election.lay. She told

hirn she rvoulcl arrrrnge it so hc: cotrld vote.

l.ir. I4inor saicl that he lrercl never secn State's Exhi.hit

l{o. 25, purporti.ng to be his absentee 1>a11ot.. I}ut, he did tell

appellant sl-re coul-d vote for hirn. I{e clid not rnalce the "litLle

rnar.ks" on the bal1or. The ballclL vras sigirecl in cursivt: vrri-ting-

He also testifiecl he clid rrot- knorv P:rul Rollins;.

On cross-ex;rmj-nat-ion, I'h:. I'lj-nor: .stai:cd that the

appell.anL helpecl hinr :Ln r.,oLinB ancl ttraL sl.-re shoi'zccl l-rj.n a.l)aper

tc s;ig51 zLncl he "Lc-ruclrecl Lirc 1.rcr.t iviron l-hc:;' tirilclo []rc:- tttai--i':. "

l,irs. Luci.llc llar::is Les Li.f ic,.<l tl-l;tt- thc appellant brouS,ht

a p.ri)er f6r trer Eo s:i-gn so s;lre r.lottlcl not trat'e b.o go to f-he polls

Lo voLe irr Itrc Ituir-off I'l].r:r:L:i.on. Sihc sLatcd t:l'rltL Lltc:;-tpPclIanL

.,r:Ls:i-Lecl trer orrly one t-i-rn,.r arrcl slro nc'vcrr::c:ca.i.rrc'-<1 a l>al,l-of- in Li'-cl

111j-1.. Strc rle.vgr s;i.;ir-tr.rcl a ba.l-1c,t; bt:[ot-c rr rtotirry 1>trbl:Lc

'9-



i
I ()lr cr.os;s-()>:alnlirlilLi.on, l.irs

'I

t-lrc afpel.l.arrt. Io voLc Ior

p.rl)cr:.

Ilar:: is staLccl that she ;rgrcecl r.lith

t:he Dcnroc:rart-s ire for.e shct signc:cl thc

Ilc:ssie i',i-ll.tr1ls L:est.i.fj.ecl LhaC shr: r.ias a registerecl

vot-er i.n L'icltens Courti:y atnd that..;hc:rppl.i.ed to voEe erbsentce

at. L.hc prorrlpt::Lng of Il'rc erppel.L;Lnt. s]rs: tc:s;t.Lfiect that s].re

cotrlcl noL re:rcl or rvrj-Le. NIs-;. Birrups signed an ,,x', on

.r1r absenLee ballot apptication, SLaLe's Iixhibit No . 41, r.ritnessed

iry the app el.1. arn E .

Ms. Billups rvas shorvn an absentee ballot, State's Ex-

tribiL IIcl. 2. Strc sEatj(rd that she nracle tire trxrstr on Ehe ballot,

but did not sign her nane at the botEom. she also testified

Ehat she clid noL knor.r Paul RoIIins

On cross-e>:amination, Ms. Billups said that Ehe

appellant hacl colne to trcr house. to talk to her about voting, buL

she did not rcrnentbcr hor+ rnany tinres. She testified that s6e

\'/as aL her sist:cr's house rrhen shg. macle Elre "X's" on the barloc,
\'t

anrl th.-:n gave the l-ral1ot to tltt'. appell.ant.

Oit r.e-clirect- r:xamination, the StaLe atternptecl to refresh

the recol.l-cct: ion of i'ls;. B'Li-ltrps by sho-'.ring her a statement she marle

orr OcEobcr 8, api-lr<;:<i.tnat:cIy tr.lo rveeks after t-hc electign. l,Is. 
.

IliIJ.ups theu tcstifj.ecl that shc cl.i.cl noL atrtirori.ze anyone Lo fj,l1

oti'u trcrr.' l>zr1.l-ot: ..rrrrl d.i.d not: rn.rrl< a bal.lo t licr:seJ.f . She testified

t-lt;iL t- hc r;.i.1,,rr:r[.ure. oit thc lt:1.[ .l.r-.,i.. r;as noi irr-:rs

O;r rccrosis-e>:;triri.rrat. j.on, I'il;. Bil.lups agrain sf aLecl

Lh;rl- ..hc' rrlirclrl tlrr-: "X's" o11 Llre doct,.nrcnt. a;rcl tltrncd it ovel: to

t-hc,. ari)l)cl l. ;r, r t- .

S;r\,(:ni.y- riL.viit) 1,,c'rrr:-<i1C I,'r,orrnj-c B. ilici: Lcst:iiicil

l it;r'r- slrt: \,Jrt-r:,-l il) iltx;r-';ql r-1 r-r bal l.clt- j-n ti.,c litrn-o.[.f Ii].cction.

'i.'irL' ,riti)(1 1. I;,;.t

it, i!Lltl i.,r1.:r'. i

Lrr'..;t:'.iLtl; 1..i,'.' lt-

;trrll a

t lr;.r r.

l.lot-

ii:ilr) ll r:oriy;lt i:

!' to ilrri iIi)i)c

t.o i'tt:t:. l.'i:;.

i-on t:o

, [lrr:

lrci-; s;lre s ilinr:d

i1i)pe l.liurt:

b:r L1-oi:, si 1,,:ti,:r-l

'{;*-:-

on t:h.:



I

i' i L-, itntl [1;lvr: it. t-t> t-ltc allpeI.Larrt \v,i]r.) not.ari.zr:rl it-. I,ls. IiLc:c:

t-c:;l, lfjetl t.ltat- l1t) l)r.:Ln e:'v(rr conL.itct:crl hrrr altcltrt irer: vot-ini,,.

,t\f t-c:r.- havirrli hi,r J:(r(:()l [.c:ct j-orr ::el-r:cshcc[, i.Is . P.icr_r Lc:.s Li_ f icrl

t.ir.'rt- slrc nc.i.t.lrcrr r:c:(jc.i.r,c,cl ir b;rJ-lot. nor cl.i-<l s;1rc s.i.1;n orre.

On cr()s.';-ci.:;,ruiin;rL j.on, I,ls . It,Lc.c t.c..it. j.f j cd t.ir;rL Llrc

;lptleJ-I;tnt. c;line t:o trr:r housre ancl .she t.e:rnt:lrlrr:rr:cl ru.rl.-'i.rrg sornd

"X's. " !'llrt: testif .i-ecl L.lr;.rL i:r ur.rn (:Anle r.l.Lt.it Ll're aJ)i)(:J l.anL-- ancl

she Lolcl thern thitt. it \./as he:: ballot ancl s;he rnlrcle the "X's" on

the trallot

[.Lghty-year:-o1d Clemie l.le].ls tcsrificd th;rt she

\{as a rcgistered voter j.n Pj.c}lcn..; Count.y. She rnadr: an apJ)Iication
..

to vote abscntee in Lhe itun-off ElecLj-on aucl .si;;necl her application.

Slu testificd that }lattie Lou Grice rras; lvith her rvhen she fil.lecl

out the application

I'Is. llelIs testif i.ecl tiraL she had ncvet-- seen St:ate's

Exhibir. No. 38, plrrporti.ng tr,r bc hr:r ba.ilot. Sire .clj.cl noL kno'..r

anyting abor:t it ancl nevcr receiv.,il anyt-tring li}'.e :Lt in l-he rnail. .

She did not "tltink" she signed the bal.loL. Sil're also te.st.ifiecl

sl're <licl not ltnor.r Pzrul I'.oIl-ins.

0n cross--e>:ami.nation, l'ls. LIe.!-l-s did noL remr:mbcr: m:rking;

any ttXt st' on a document.

Sr:verrl.:y- f our -yc'ar- o1d L,rtla I)lrJ",oa,ch t-cs t i f :i.ed tl-rat- she

\r,::r:; a regi.sLeJ:cd voLc.lr j-n 1'j-cl<ci'x; Corur.ty. Shc j.dr,:nt:Lf ic:<t St-atc-:'s

ii;.-lr j b! t ll,.r 6l i-irj hr:i' li1.rP.!.i-c;rt- j o;r f:oi: .rir absr,irt,cc i;rr.l-1ot: i.;i: j.c:Ir sirr,.

si-1,,r'recl i.n Sr:ir i;c'1nb.t, 19 /8. I'ls . Drl.,oar:tr r.ras slloi.l;r St-.rL(:' s I'i:rlrib:Lt

j\l<-r. lI, pr-lri)ot:L:i.ng to bc trr:r bal l-ou rvj.th ILcr ..;i 1;n;tl-trrc: aI Lire

brii-l.oirr. lihir I cs; Li l-:i.'.rd t-lrat. :;hr: ]tlrl Iri-:vt:r: :ti 1.It:rl <rrit ()r: si i,,n.::cl

:;rlr:lr [r tLot:tln,-:nL. [ilrr: f trt t.irt:l t.cri; L i-f .i.c:d t.hlri-. s;llir di.d n.rL vol-r:

.i.il L.lrc li,.rir.'o{' f. ]'l Lc:ci.::i"oir ;trrcl t.li;it n(.r nl.1r.t (r'vc.i: cAIirt) i.o ilr:r. h*.l!r,;c

ll-



On cross;-r::<;rnrlnaLir>n, l'1::. DcLo;rclr Les tified that
' t.hc rtPPel.l.trnt broul;irt:.n1 abs;enLe.e trall.ot i-r1>Jrl:icartion to irer.'

Iroul;e. Tirc a1>pcllant. t-oIcl I'ls. Del,oach t-hirr.. strc (t-he appell.ant)

coirlcl "si-gtr thcr papci:" aii.rrl "{-.i.x t.he PelPCr. for nlg. " lrls.

.Dtrl,o:rch statcd t-h;rE shc h:rcI nc> ob.j cci-i.on to t-his p::ocedure

brc alrsc she did no t linor.r tvltat it '..rars al I erbor-rl- . She r:enrernber:cd

;l 1.a<1y atici a man conring to tre:: house, buL shc did not- sign anyttring

for thein or rlar:lc any ballor.

Ctrarles Crinningham testi.fied thaE ire vras registered

to vofe in Fj-ckens County btrt Lhat: tre r.ras noL qualifiecl to vote ir).

the Septnteber, 1978 el.cctj.on. ile could not read or rvr:j.te and did

noL knorv hoiv old he rvas. He testified thaE the appellant brotrghE

hi.m State's Exhibit llo. 46, €rn application for absentee voting,

ancl he macle his rnark on j.t. Ifi:. Cunningham sfatecl that he rvas

unc'ler: the irnpression thaL he nas fi.lling out a fornr to vote in

the ruet- dry re f er:c:ndurn.

I'tr. Cunningilain testifiecl that the appellant brougtrt

hinr a ballot; hr: tolrl Ltre appel.l.ant: to f iIl. it orrL and

hc pul his rnarl< on t-tle t.ral.LoL. He [hen told ttie appellant to

silln ttrc ballot. for him.

The attorneys for: bo[h sidcs st.ipuleLted that- the

tcsliuror:y of. r.rif-ness; I,l:urrJj.ne I-,a.th:r;;r iv'oul.cI be "t.o t"he effect LhaE

stro si.ilneC thc appli c;ri--i.on f or an :rtrsent-r:c bal.lot Presentecl t(,

Iir,t;.-lt), i'j:ri.t-i.c (lr-i.cc,'r.'i-,;li- tiri.r; il; llr::::;.i ;;rr;lt1l).(.: oil Lhc: ir1lp1-.Lcai:iou.

I'u rIhcr. , Lit;rt- stre clc;es: n(-rt rr.:Lner,ri-.rc.r sce.ing t-he: balJ-ot at alI - "

i'fr<:y als;o s;L.i-purl;rt-r:<l t:irrti-. i-he t;iiltl.1L11r6: (ri) t:he bal-1ot \'ri,Is.; not hcrs -

'I'iir: Sll..ltL.i,. L-e (:;r'L.tt:d J':tu.t. (.1. i{o.l,1.ins; asi i.t-s .l-asi: t'ri-tness -

t,i:: . i111tl i.ir:; i.c{; t-'i I j Cri t ir;ll- ]rr: \.,'iia:; cr-)r] I r.is;rJil drrri.n5i lri-s ea::.1-i-r.:r:

ll.r t-ts r.. i t i r.rl l.ir;rt ( lrr.: i'r: i.;,ri. c [.,...;t) f; 'ri-si o f' l-, lrJ-]-ot's t.l'rai- hcr no[:ttr: i-:ieci.

'i'jri: t.i.,::;1. I.;,.r i. :,ti:t:l 
1'l 1' j1i; l-(r i:lrr,r li rrpi-r-:trtlrl:t- 5t-ir lrf itti..rf'y' elc:CL-.j.Ui'r-

l),rr. 1.lii1 f lr i;; i i.r:rr,, i'ir.::. rir't::r.:;ti:trl, t i./() rlt.lt,-.r-- .i;ttlj c:;, ;tircl t-llc

-1:t.



I

I
I

';r,!)I)i) [llrnt c.ltre 
O 

hi sr of f ice in 'I'trs;cer.Loosf ncl he not-ar:Lzr:d

Soirte bal.l oLs. 'f irc s;econcl ti.urc: \ra.s pri.or t.o tlre ScpLernb<tr: 26th

l('r-rir-of f c Lc:ct ion. I'lrc: appellant ancl t.r.,,o t.rorncn cilrrtc t.o his:

cr.[f i ctr t.o lr;rrre .(;otrre trlo]:e tr:rl lors; not.;rr: Lz,e<1. 1,1r. l(clt Ii-ns

rl j ci not not;rr-:i,'z.e t.lir: bal.lot:s j.n tr:[.s; c>f f j.ce aL th j-s Li"rne, but:

zrlirccd Lo [,,c) Lo 1)i cl,.r,ns (lotrnty Lo ]r;rvc: t.hc ind iv Lcltral. vot.ers

:tcllnoi.rledilc t-heir s;:ilirrat.r-rres. IIc s; tat-cd LhaL hcr cl j.d not- r:crncmber

t.trc c:):ac I cla L r-:s r.r]rcrn tre rvcrrL t-o Pi c]'.ens County , b lrL ttrat it

r./as at tlo differenu time.s, once before the elecLion, and once

the clay of the elcction. l,lr. itol.Iins staLcd thar he <lid not-

prcdaLe the ballots, but. notzrr:i.zed anrl claLed thenr Lhe same cl:ry-

The district attorney pointecl ouL to I'ir. Rollins; tfrrt all tire

ballots in evidence were datecl Septernber 23, Lg7B, which vras

a Satur<lay.

The StaLe resLed its casre at this point. The

appellanl rncved to exclude t.he evi<lence f.ist-ing several grounds,

Lhe principal of rvhi.c-h rvas failule Lo prove the c:ase. Affer

the trial court clenie<l ttre motj-on'ihe dcfense began its casc)

ir-r chief.

Ttre ai>pellant Look Etrc rvitness stand in her own beiralf .

Slie testifiecl thaL she hacl 1ivecl. in Pj-cl<.ens Corrnt:y all hcrr Li.fe

a1d thal she had been polit-ic;rlty acLive jn tirc county i.n concert

vrith llr:sr. I4aggie- Iloze.man ancl I'1rs:'' Minnie J)trnner ili1I. The

.rppclI;rr-rL r.ras act::Lve.1.y involved in aidi.ng people to vote by

:ibs;enLee bnl-.Lo L for t-lre l)t:nror:::zit.i.r: pr:i-rlzrrl' emcl t l-ie r:trn-<-rf'f cl.ectiotr

of L97B

The appcl.larnt' s; tersLirnony €stilblis;tred tirat slrc: f're-

cp-rt:nt1y p.iclled up appl icat'i.ons for.- abscutee ballots at: thc: cj.::cr.rit

c:Lcrk's; oIfi-cc. J]lrr: cir:c:ui.l- clcrl<'s of.f:icc wor-rlc1 ztl-Io',v hcr: t-o

Jricl<. up only Lc:n Lo Lv/enLy ai>pILc:rLic>n:s;rE it t-intr:. Tlrc rtpPellant

r.,,6uIrl tlrr:n cl.i-st:ri-Lrut:c: tIc app1..i.cat.j.ons-; t.o hcr: r.lor.l<crr:s r'rho rroirlci,

j rr trr;'ir, Lrrl<t: ttrcttt t.o Pt:oPlc: r,.rlto coulcl not t,,o t-o Llrc 1:o1-ls ol

i;r'crp1.r: v,'].r.r r.lo,rltl tr(: ouL o f tot'ln ()i-I el.c:ct,ictn tlay -

1"



'.[hc: t"l J-anL Lcst-.i.fi..d Lh;iL,-n]oll.or,,.i.ng cc>l1.o11uy

rvj ttr ;] poteuti-aI voLer: rvoul-cl occur or)crc shc fotrncl zr i)erslorl

rvlr() \./Jts; 11 tr;.r1.:i-J:i ecl tcl vOLr: al.rsr,rirt.cCt:

"-L rvoulrl L!() l-<-r Llrat. pr:r:l;crn's horrrc: and r-;r1l< vli-th
t-lrc:nt aucl a.sl< t.heur*.- I rlicln' L v:i.s.Lt nc:body r:.xcc:pt-
rr:1i.Ls; t.er.-crcl vc: t:r:r.'s; l>ec;rur.sc: t-h;tt- ' s r.rhat. it. t.tas; about .

Arrd .L rr,orr.Lcl 1;crt in ttrcr:c an<1 s.ly, 'Do you \rant t<.r
v() L(r t-h.i s yclrr:'? '

"'[r/ltaL liincl of clecLi-on is t.his ?' I r^loulcl s;ay ,
'well , it' s Llre Dcrnocralic. ' And ttrey rvotrlcl
s;llr "IhaL's Llre way I r,lanL to vot-e.'

"Yon rcclcon you r.rill be able to be at the polls?

"'Ihey would s&y, 'No. Yor-r know T can't get arouncl.'

"And r said, 'I^1e11., rvould you rilie for rne to shovr
. yorl ttoi+ yotr can votcr rvithouL getEing clor,.rn ther:e?t

' ,, , Yeah. ,

"Ancl I rvor.rld sir clor^rn and tell them that once you
. fi.ll Lhis. form out and 1et me mail it back to the

Circuir Clerlc's office or take it back, I said, and
the-y will mail you out a ballot. And mosL of the
time, 'I,ioulcl you ljlcc fo:: the ballot to come to
yotr?' 

.

"Anrl they vroul<l ztns\./ct: no, that they \,7eren'L
al>le t.o, you know, gct 'it bacl< to me or: nobody
el..se, ancl they ruould say, 'Nr), I can't get i.t
t-c.r )ou. I

"\'loul.cl you li.lcc for'me to-*l,ILrat rvoulcl you l.il<e
fo:: me t-o c1o-- let- jt come to rny box, or horv

,,, :": :.".::.'.:',r::n:"*,
"I said, 'Olcay. I rvi.l.l <1o tliat,' ;nrrl r,rhen it comes,
thc:n I rvill get ir back to you let you deciclc
r.rtric:h i.ray you \./anL Eo voLe. '"

'i'lrc app!)l I ant. s La[.ecl tl'ra-t. strr: ncver 1r;r<1 t-lre :rlrsent-ee

blr.l 1-ot- rrra.i .l-r:d t-o her actclrc:;..; unlcrss stre vras; instructccl to do so

by Lhe applicanL. For appl.icanLs l.rhos;e ba.l-loLs \.rere mailed to

t.lici.r hore,.:s, t.lrc apl)e1.1:rnL rvotrl.r.l [io t-o Lh.:ir hontcls and d,i-s;cr-ts;s

r.ri i-ii tlr,-:rrr ho',.r thr:y clcs;ir.-r:<l Lo vot c. Thc iri)pol.I:rnL r^roulcl tal<.c

.".r.i t.tl ll.:r, oil t-irr-:l;c v.i,sl i.t.s;,;r s;aurplr: bal-1.<lt- c'nrlorslecl lry Ll-rc:

./il.,.rlrltuiti l)irlror: r-':rt. ir-: (ionJ1::r.orrcil . 'f irr: s;:ttn1;.Lc trr.rll.ot: :i trcli.r:a1-<:ct

lirr-: 1i.1.;ilr;r;t't rr I),'iii(.r<:r:ttt.i.(: (lolrf.t:|.L:u('r'' s; llrrr[r:]:(,rn(rr.::;. Tirc: appitllant:

i; l.irt.c(i t ttai. j;lrr: cLicl nrit- lrutr. li arrry lr,ttl-l.o[-r,; r:ont-r'at-'y t-() t.Irc:

VO I C: r:I:;

1 1. .



'ihc appell.'rnt. t tten

' Lr:r; t:.Lirtr>try c-r l' Soltir i-c Sp;rrrn .

Ltrol< aIr ;ritit1..i,clrt.-ion t-o I'i:.;.

o
ccl corlcerni.nii t.hc

s;t,at,ccl t-liaL shc:

l-lrrL. I,Is;. S1;;rrrn r.ras

I il(:

nrrt. horne. l'he ;r1;1rJ-i.c;rt-i-c>:r iis.i . fiP;11'11-1' '' holne r.li f h

I'ht: al)i)(r.l..l.ltnt iratl rro I-rn. t-lrc:r contaCt.

r.ii.l.h I'Is. .Splrrrir. Slrc cl j.rl scc': Lis; . S1>ann' r; Lra.l.1ot- irf t.e11 it:

\..'asj r-'cLurrncr.l to "heac1cg,.rar:t-ers" by one o-[ L]i,-: arilpcl I-l itrrt' s t'orl.lels

Thc api)ell:rnt- s Izrt-ecl Lhat., af t-cr the ballors \^/ere. rnarked,

tl-re ne>'.t. step \./as; Lo ger- Lhcur not,ari.z.r-rcl. /,f Ee:: tlris rvas clone,

an unidenrified rnan r./orlcing vrith the tloivell }iefl-in carnpaign

took therir to the cou.rthouse. Thc appellant s;ricl that at rro

time d:Ld stre cleliver any ballots to tl.re circuit clerk's office.

The appellant tesLified'that she visj-tecl IL:. Rc;llins

in Tuscaloosa on t\^/o occasions. Thr: fj.rst time she and I'laggie

Bozeuran asked Vlr. llolli-ns t-o noLariz;e sonle ballot:s in connection

r.rittr the pr:i.rnar:y elecLion. 'llhc seconcl v.Lsit \v-urs j-n connecL j.on

ivith rhe I'.un-off Elect.lon. She \'i.r$ a(:coutPiini.ed by Lucy

Lockett ancl I4r:s. I{innie I)untrct: IIi-ll on []'rir; visit.

Tirc app(.:l.1ant r-esL'i.fj.ecl t.h;rt. l'1r:. Ilollins came Lc)

Pic.kens County in colln(icti.c;n r.rj.th ciLhcr the Rutr-of1l iiler:tior:

or t.tre Gr:nr:ral Iil.ecti.ou. She tesLif ir:cl thal: shc arrcl l'lr. Iio11in:s

r.rcnL froin hor:se ti..house Eo lravcr ballot.s nofari-zetc|.

'jlhe app€rl-l;rnt- Statc(l Llr;tt shc si grtc,:d s;on() of Lhc n;tnc-:s

rtl
() r:rr i rlr.rt<:c, i.rr t lr:i s ('?.st: r!--t

o,tl t-lrc, ilo::l'-r:rt; s;i1;nccl so;lle I);trtl'Js, a.l I clc-,rtr.t r'.'-i-L:h

of thr.: -ind'i..zLchrlr l. vol:c:r-s. 'I'hi,: I)coPle i'rottlcl

T lranci Lo t-[rr,, l)cr]. " 'J.'i'ta,t:(r \,'iil Il llo f r:rtrcl :i.nr;o.[.vt:<1 .

'l'lic: def ct,:;cl ]- (rcal. l r.:cl .Ilt,-t i.(:(r I i I 1-cy t.o t-lrc: r';i.tlltr:;s

I.i:;. 'f i'LJr-.y irl<:1i.i-[ir:rl [.i.rzc rji)rjc.i.ii-c airpLi.rr;.rt-:i.o:u'; .[-ot. itbsrrnt:rie

9--.-.. -..- -- - -

1['i r r'

t'ir i

ljl ;ii ir iriLr.()r.l't:ji':l L[ri r'l.y
t'i'.i-. il;,Lri-, ;iP1;l j r:':ri itt:t:; j.tr

ll

i-t-l ti (:

t. Iri r;



l>a.1.'l.oLs cnc(rrn(:d in t.ht.s cascl. she Lcr;L.Lf:Lecl that the

c:i rc:uic c:lerJi' s of i:i-cc rccc:.i.vcrl rlrre absrrnt:cre ba.l.lc_rIr;

r,r:r L c-h ing t-hcr r)anl(rs orr [.lre.r abc'rvc f j.rre app 1i certioirs . 'Ihc

rl':fc::.rs;c urlnr.iLt.r:cl evJ'-cicrrc<-: strolvi.n1,, t:haL only Li.rc; of t-hose

bal-locs \^/ot.c;rct-ua1.l.y j_n the ballot trox.

1'l-re clefensc: rested iLs case.

I

Ttre prosecution in this case vI;rs in pur.-suant to

S 17*23-L, Cocle of Al.abama L975, vrhich prorrides, in pertinent part,

as follorv.s :

"Any person rvho votes more than once at
any election held in this state, or de-
posits more Lhan one ballot for the same
office as his vote at such election, or
knovringly attempEs to vote ruhen he is not- entj.tled to do so, or: is g.uil-ty___gj_arfyj-i!g
of _f[S&91__qf_jry.U4rr1g!_!__./or.Ulg, musr, oi-r
convj-cLi.on, bc imp::i..soned in Ehe pcni.tentiary
for not- less than tr,ro no:: more thar-r fi-rre years,

t.hc disc.retion of ah3 jur:y. " []il:phasi.s added- ]

Thc appel.lant; contcnds that $ l-7 -2-3-1., supra, is consti;

ttrLionally inipe.rrni.s;s:i-bl.e because it. i s; "va5;ue, inclefinite ;rnd un-

cc::tain. " Speci fi.ca.l.ly, she asserLs Lirat the only porti-on of the

stil.LuLe rele'vatrt- Lo trcr is that dealing ivith "illegail or fraurdulent

vo [:i ng, " etrrcl slie: cr-.rni-.en<1s t-haI the s taLute rnust: fall beczruse it

dor:s not- clcf:j nr-: r.,'LrrrL cr(rnstiLtrtes i11-ergal or:' frauclulenL votj.ng.

'.['ills c(ru]:1., in C_11-;111ill i._s__y,-_ S-t:1t-gi, AIa. Cr. App - 364 So. 2d

i+J.6, (:c:r:t.. <lcrr. , /ria. 36!* [jo. ?-d l+?-0 (].978) , ncrtccl Lhc ge:ne.t:aI

I),-'i :1,- LI,ll rrs involvecl in clc t et:rni-ni-rtg, rvhet-her a 's LartuLe is uncr:ns t-i--t- -""

t.rri.'i-crri,'r.[ c]..r r,:: t:o vit[,,utI)(r{;s;. '-flrtr::c tirc cclurL st.irt-t:cl:

" "i.'tit: (-)ssr r)rrt:j.aL I)rlr:posi: c>f t:lre 'r,oj-<1 fc-rr vag,trc,nes:;'
r.ioc:t:rinr: i.s t-o w.rr.lr i.ncii-vi-drral,:; oi- Ltrc cr.i-rninal
cOn$(i(:lLi(:n(i(:s t>f Ctre:i r: (:()nrlirCt:. l.li.Lti.arlts; v. Unif ccl
Sii-:rtr,:r.;, ?,\|1. tJ.[;. 9i, -l). i;. Cr. :;16, 95 L. t,]ri- 77lt,
cir:r:.j.clr-'tl ;t,-r',, t-,. ')-'-), l rltl ; S("t',jt./r; v.. [Jirittrcl St;]t-ct:;,
'1.9/r.5, 3125 ti.li. 9:1., ).04-1.04, 65 Ii. Cr. l0:)1., l0Jr-),
tl9 t,. l';et. ) 49'.). il'l':.i s (ir.rur.'L tr.:.r:; ro!)(:irLc:rl11, l;t.atcti
t iili. r:,--i.r;ri;r.rl- ..;t.-ri-r_ri.e:; '.,iiricir f ai'l Lo gi-vc clrir: rrot_i.cr:
t il,:r i. ittr .'t(:i- lritr; br:Cn ltl(:lC c.ri;uLn:r'L [,ir.J:r-r::e it j-l; dtrite
;t t't'. il:r.,:(,)Il:l t- i i l,tt i.()!)ir l. cl i.,i,rr. i.V.t t.i c-iir:l ().f: ([tr.t D j.'Ocest-; of IalV,
l,;rt,t,,,li.i.;i 'v. Iir-irt.r-r oi. llli.r .lt.:r:r;e}', l9:)?, 1jC[r tl.5j. !r5L,
't') li. Ut-. Ll.l), ti3 L. I-ri. ti8il; liir i t-..:rl lji-;.rLcr; v. I-. (loi.rcn

L[,-



1.,
I c:,,,r.,i Cc.r. , Lg').L, ').5:, U. st. 81 , ? si. Cr. ZgB, 6i) 1,.

liil. 51.6. '

"'lrf(: hr.ivc sr(:VCl.Zr.l- t.Lurcls; l-reId t-lr;rt- di.l.fi ctrlLy
iit clcL.c.ruri.niri1,, rvhct-1ri,r ccr. l.;.r irr riu,rr:gi.rra_L ol'[.<:nscs
zirr: rvj.t-hin Lhc rirr:errrir-rr; oli Lhr: 1-;ruiiturgc: rrrrcler aLl:;-rcl.:
aIi vat,,Lrc <1oc.; rroL ;riil.onurt j ca1 ly rt.rnttci: a st-.aLrrtr:
unc()r'rst i.Lrrt.i.<-rir;rI 1'or irrclcIini.tr:n(:,.;s;. Un'i-tccl St-;:ll-r,:s
v. l,lurz.t;;rcic, 1930, 230 lJ. S. 396 , '-)9() , 5C S. Ct.. l.Gl ,

l.(r3, 74 L. Ecl. 508. lrrrnos.s Lb.t.r: st zrncl;rrcls; of ..)pccifi.c:l-
t-y ilrc rloL rcrquLi:<:d. llirj t.crcl St_;rt.es v. i?et-r:.Ll1o, l.g4l ,
:):l? U.S. 1., 67 S. Cr. 1538, 91 1,. I:tc[. ]_877. Ti.rc Lt:sr-
i-s rvtrct hcr: Lhc langurl;e corl\/eys s;irIf j.cientry deI-i.rri.te
\'/arrl:i.rrg i.rs t.o L.tre pl:oslcr,Lbecl condr.rcL rvhen rrreasurccl
by coiiurron undcrsLancling ancl prarr,:t::ices. Connal l.y v.
(]crrer:tl Con:;Lruct-ion C<.,., L9?-6, ?.69 U.S.385, 46 S. Ct.
L?-6, 70 1,. Ifd. 322." 'IQuoti,rg _.1-o_fq1-1Ly.._-!og-qq_fgg, 3tr.L
U. S. 223, 230-237., 7L Ii. Cr. 703,707 -708, g5 L. ud.
BB6 (19s1).

The court r.zent on to observe;

' rrVaguenes;s challenge-s to statutes which clo not :

involve Irirst Arnendnrent freeclorrs mr-rst-. be ex-
amined in the lighu of ttre facts of the case. at hand. U. S. v. Por+el1 , supra; ijnited States
v. Mazurie, 4L9 U.S. 544, 95 S. Cr. 7L0, 4?_ L.
Ed 2d 706 (1975). "

In ou.r oi:'i-rrion, the r^rorcls "iI1.eg:rl or: frauduLenL" asi used

in the forei;oi.ng statute are rirc:rely clcscr::Lptivc: of ' the inLi-:nL rle-

cessary for the cor,tmissi.on of the orrurl,,o. Sce: 29 C. J. S. Eleetions ,

S 3rrl, (a) (1965) |

" !_gi" t j,L*1_g,l_gJ__LfLt qil_!. . \^li tti ].' e .-; p,.i c L L o ryo r d s;

descril>tive of int.ent- s;uc.h as 'rr,illftrl ly, '

'knorving,ly, ' anci ' i11.c:6irr l-ly' or'unta',v[r-rlly , !

etc. , it r,roulci generall-y be suff. j.c:icn1- to
fol lovr Ltre words of Ltre s Latutc. l'he r^ror rls
of the r-;LatuEc, t)oi./{:\r€,-r, s}roulci bc inc.ltrdcrl in
tire irrdi- c: t:nti)IlL . "

Clrtir t. c:f .A.1.:tlr:uir;t c-rbs;r-:ruccl :

" l'hc c-lf f cl-1 c.., rlr,'r1(.ruirr-:r,rcl by ttir: sj [-;tL.tltc] ,

. an<1 inLendr.:cl t-o bc dcrsc:ribecl in Lhc:
j.ndj.ctraerrl-, i l; voti.nir, Inorc tiran onc.r.
.r\rr irrdi <:l.rireliL .tc-,r: .:t s L;tLtri or'y o {.I.r:irci:
i.s; t)c:',1('.r:ir1 -1.-y srtr.[fj-c: i.crit., t'rh<:ir it i.s
f t. ii:ir,-,cl i rr o r pl-rrsilc:; Lh,: ',.,'oi. <ls o l. t.tr,:
l; t.;.r l- '.r l: {: . 'l

(l l-r:;t t.).y , 1.1'rr: .L:tt'r;,,rrl, gc, o [' tiri: ir L.;tLuLc: t.cJl Lc,ci :-i it (:oilri.ton

iiirilr:,..!jL;lnrl iirll tir.ri ".i l. Ir:iiir1- or- J.r:i, u,1rtl ,-rrrt- vot- j. lri'," i-:; v6rtittlr, ii:-)t-'

t i;,11. c)ilr.: i,;r l- lr.ri. f"o:: {.itr: :iiriilL! o Ii..ir:i:, ot: al..i.,l:ir.i:ri. i.ril; t.o !".ri:..'

i.lirrrrr ()'.r.:: j:; rrc.ri. (:lri-Ll l,.rri L,-r rlo {.; c). ll'irr sil.rIt'Lrl(' t.irLL.'.; i,,i.t',:.:;

I t--



rlrtc l'rof.Lc.r-' oi t-hc c ritai.rritl. conr;c.l Lr,-)r)c:riI; of

'ltttnctrt.<l y(rirI.'tj rt[',o, ()uI]

t- I r ir t- L. irr: \/o .ini-crnt- oI t.lrit s;L;rt-rrl.c:

I i cate vot sjorl v. [it-lrt-e, supr;1.

!)()\.,,Ct. LO clec.Larc: a lr:1li.s.l.etL lvr: cnact_ment:

on1.i, :i-n t.hr-: rno:; L c:iit. l:()nlr) circlmrs t_irrrcesj -

.&!-q:L-..:L!_.-gd _Ttt_,_l_u_:r q):l_g! _qI 41:l!:tti.1. _!!11.__y,._!].j ! Lon , Al:: . , 3lL So. Zc,.

90/r (19/9); ,L.,]!o.!_,v._[:!{-_c]., ?./3 AlzL. L66, 'L?,7 So. 2.d 47 (f962).

In {glSSl_v._._9_t-nlg, sripr.r, thc r\Iab;tnta Supreme Court

.seL or;t thc-: f.o1lo'*ring gtri.clel:[.nr:s; fclr: the e:lerci-.re of this power:

"'fqb€_lru.€), coLlrLsj rna-y clec.L;rre leg,i.slaEive: en-
dc-E[d!-e]tIDto be i.noperative :rncl void for i.ndef-
initeness or uncert:ri-nty in rnearning. BuE such
por.rer shotrld be exer:cisecl only i.riren a sLaLuLe is
so incomplcte-:, so i.lreconcil;rbly conflictj.rg,
or so vague or indefi-nite Lhat- jt cannot be executed,
and ttre court is unable, by the appli.cation of knor.m
and accept;ccl r:lrles; of construct.ion, to deLermine,
rviLtr any rc;isonablc degr.-ec of cer:t-;rinLy, rvhat the
1cgi-..;Ial ur:e -i-nL<:nclccl. "

"[,:]vc:n :i Jl [:]tr-'. clcsc:r-iir[,.i.ott j
. fr.i:i, l-rcxn lrilil-,i. 1;tr.i.t.y,, Llr:rL <'lt.,c:Il not

t-irr: t-L:.r.ri!si c; I i.lie hc:1. 'i r-tc:itirlrbl t, oI
t.;.i'rctr ;t l,iritI.;(.)!1 r.!l)1.r-) :[if t-crI. l)1.i)l,. ltl-iclit i

l,'jr: [;t.:-t t.r'rir,, Lir;rt it ]-r.r;l::;O:rat-,J.c i.ttl-r-lr

lrr.'rrrlr,:r-:irr;:;()l lo !; l./"'/.-\ ".1 , s;tlt)l;1, it:tt; il .l-r'r:;tilj'

s; rrr:lr irc L i.o:r .

Sjrrprc:lnc: Colrr:t det.ei--rnLrrerl

\.,'ir.(; t.ci l)J:oscril,c dup-

provi.<1ed by the

Lhat- the leg.Ls'-

I,'urthcrnicrc,

ol: fretrrCul.enL

of

s; rro [:

r r:n cl,.:r.'

c n ..[]o r.- c e iirr,- i-r l-

l; a'r/:l i.J.;ri:1c. "

PricL;t{--j-c)n oI t-lrc

ll(:r-'tr 1.r t. ov.i .l,.:c1 i o r: tls

].'or: thc s;Latrrt-r: in qLlcst j orr r \.r€ halre t.he cerL;rinty

.!iq,-l!-ig. ancl f,ii.Ls on cou::Ls to guiclc: us j.n clr:t,erm i.rr:i ng

.l.irLr.i::cr i.nLericlccl to prohibi.t- voling rnorc t.irern oilrje.

evcrn if , as; appcll;rnt- c.c-xrt.errcls;, t-itr: phrasr: "i llc51a1

s;trbi c:cL. to cl.11. [.cr..1n11 iriter pr:et,,it i.ons, \'/c re1-y or-I

o'f- Lirc:

1-t; l)ror;(

tLI)i.:r. .[

t; rti)r-;t, iltr{l Gr;t:tl,rlr, !)il)t;.r. f iri:r:,.rf0rt.,

s L;i t: rLt cr

:-- .i. l; c-: ci .

t.(r provicle

/\ssocl.a[-e(t

,,.r l . e cl I ir r].r r:; t/Y; r; tr r: .i

r-'r,., t

).i 
j

t,l
r. i,

ir'/ t.lrt: ci.i',r t. I.i; ,t.I) I :; (', ,.r



roo
i'Pp:lying thc priricipl.er; of thor;cr c.as;cs, i:rs rvel1 as Ltrc: tcsts

.orrl-linr:cl :i u (llrarnbefii-__v.:-__if!1l-!_e_, s;up]:a, t-o t.h<: stal-r-rt-c: anrl the f;rcLs;

of t-hr.r case br:forc us, we clo not bel.icvc: tirat S 17 -23-.1.,

s;ttl)r.t, is uI)constitut.i onally v:lgLle. tr^/lrcn lnc:it.sur:cd by cominon

Itrrcli:1. s t-:rncl.i.nli arrcl pr;:ICt- j ce, ;rncl a long-erccc:prt-ccl clct-errni-nation

of J-eg,islat.jve intr-:nt-, it. pr:ovides; cl.ear noL.Lccr of wirat cc.,ndr-rcL is pro-

iribltccl. Sr:c Aixler_soly_,_L\]L_tg{!!g!!!., /rL7 U.S. 2l.I , ?.27 n.L3,945. Ct. ?-253,

2.2.6/t a. 13, /r.L L. Ed. 2d 2'L (L97q
II.

Appellant in.sists thaL the indicLrnent in this case tvas

so vague, unccr:tain .rnc! j.nclefj-nite th;rt. it failecl to charge an

offense or: t.o infor:m trer of the nature ancl calrse of 'th. accusations

against her

The general rule in Alabama is that it is sufficient

to charge the'elements of the statutory offense in the rvorcls of

rhe srarure. Cey_{g"_jy_,__pJe!s , ZdZ AIa. 468, B0 So. 2d 50f (1955).

Tilc only c1'ualification to this rule is that.the indictrnent

must apprise the. accused ivi.th reas.bnable certainty of the natu::e

of the accusation againsL him, so that- I'rc may prepare his clefense 
'

and plead the judgment of conviction as to a bar any subsequent

prosecution for the sarne offensc.. t].1r!tg.l --!-qtcs--v-.--S'irnrnorts,

96 u.s. 360, 24 1,. Ed. Br9 QB17).
'r.

In Ga.y!5:n v.__!!-q_!_9., supra, the A.labama Supreme Court:

se:t fort.tr cerLain recir.riremcnts fo:: a proper:1y dravrn inclictrnenL

t.;.:ic:I<.irrg, t.hr: r.rorcJs;. c-rf t-trc r;t-rrt.utc. Tlre cort.r:i siij-d t-hziL, alt.hough

the 1-anguage of the stzrtuEe mery t:e usecl as; a general desc.ri.pEion

of Lhe ofLeu..;e, it lnusrL be accompanied by ttre facts and circi,rmsLances

infornrj-rig Llre accus;c<1 ttf the s;pecif ic of f crnse: , s€ttir-r5,, f orth r.rj- t:tr

p.rI:L ictrL:rr j.t-y t.hc "tirnc, p1;rcc, :rncI ci-rcttins Lances" o ll the cri-me.

In !:-g.'.1g!- y. -:s!,:Lt*€, , 52. Al a. 308 (l-875) , Lhei Strpreme

(jr;ur:t of lilal-l:,rrrr:r reccty,ni-ze'.<.1 LlrlrL, wh.i.1t'r a. gencl:al accus;atj-on

rtf " j ll rr'r;:rl voL.i.uii" Iva:; trot. s;trf Ii c.Lc:nt trl sLtpI)ort a convicLiott,

.u'i lr.l.1r-,i1rrt..i orr <-tf. ".L1 Itr;1zr [. \rc-rL.Lrrg" r.llri Ctr s;i-le:ci. Iicr,l i-n i.;hat thc

i i I r:.[r,;t1 :i t y c()nsigt-ecl, ,,./irrlt.trr,::] i.L r,l;rs a I,J.IIIt of .Le;1;il qr-ral-itic:riion

lr)



o.;. vot:j..g r.orc ?*,', o.(:c), r.r.u'l.cl l>e ..;rrl.ficic:r-rt-

, Our exatnitrai..Lon and couip:rrison of Ltre j.nclicLnrerrr, ry:i.Lh

t-ht: stztt-trt-t: shot.ln j.r-r Lhr-: foreiloingl p;irir[ir:;r1>hs revc:;r1..; L]r;rL t-]re

-i-ncl.Lct.nrcnt f ol..l.orvs thcr 1-;rnguage of thcr st:.rLutc:. rt j.s a plai-n,

<:oncj-se anci clefinit.c ryrj.t_Lcn s;t-at.enrerrt of t_lre csr;ential f;rcts;

cons t: itr.rt:i.ng, Lhc of-I:ense charlied. lire i-nclicLnrepL also suf f:iciently

informecl tlie appelIanL of Lhe p:rrL-i.cula,rs of tire offense so that

stre could prcpare her clefens;e.

A sufficient inclictrnent for frar.rdulent or itlegal.

voting:

"Im]ust. or:di.na::ily .set forEh Lhe facts relie,-cl
on to constiLuLe t:he offense and allege that
the election at which the offense was commi.ttecl
vlas held 1>ursuant to law, and must describe Lhe
election and the intent'rvirh which the acts r{ere
con'mritted. " 29 C. J. S. , S 341 , supra.

A revietv of the three counts fhat macJe up the inclictment

in qlrestion shovrs the fo1lowin51:

Count one made the appellant av/are. that she did illegally

or fraudulei'rt1y vote by voti.ng more thnn once by depositi.ng more .

th:ln one ballot as hr:r vote in the DenrocraEic Prirnary Run-Off

Elecuion of September 26, 1978.

(lount trvcr info::mecl Lhc ;rppe).larrt that s;he c1.Lcl casL

illegal or fraudule'nt absentee ballots by voLing ulore than one

abscntee ba1.1ot or by ciepos.Lt.ing n',oro Lhan one absenLee bal-.Loc

as her votc in thr': Detrtocr:ati-c Pr:Lmary Rr-rn-off Election of SepLernl;er

7.6 , rg7'.d

CounE thrce noti-f ied [he appcllant. tl'rat: shc di.d cas t:

iJ-lc,gal- or. f::errrclulcnL al>scnLee balJ.ots by depositi.ng, rv.it.h Lhe

I'-i-clccns CourrLy Ci rcuit Court, abs;c:ntcc: ballot.s i.;lr j.ch werc: fr:ruclulent

;rnd th;tt s;hr: I<t're'./ t.o bc: f rr-rudul.cnt.

A rnor:c c<.rrrc.i-se: arrcl p;rrLicrrlar: st-a't.errrcrrt: irr-tlor:urLit,,;

iii)i)(:IlarrL of the clt;,tri;cs sltc r,,c;ul.cl 1;c: l:e(lLrLr-ecl t.c.r tue:(:t.ls

cii {'i. i.crr.l. t- t-r-r (:rrvi...; i or1.

?()-



' T.t. i s; c'Lc;tr t.hirt- Llrt: irrrli c l.tnertt- rv;r:; s;uf f i ci-cnI ztnd

t iri: Er.i.rr l- colrr't: \r;.Is; cr.)t:t:(rc t. in ov{tl'rLil i"r't1,, t-lrr: ali)pc:ll:rtrt' s

tlirinrrr r(:r.

T t.t

'I'trr.l ;rppcr). 1 arrt coiirpl;r j ns t.trat- Lhc St.zrt.e' s evj-clencc vras

jnsrtj: Iicic:nL t.o sLrppo]--1. hcr: c(:n,zic[:ion. Si-rc ;]r[!Llcs Lh;rI the

r t-esiLiuioIly pr:escnt:ed lry tirc Stert.c did not- "revcal a sinl;le ins;tance

of unaLlt.tro:r:-ze<l voting. r' Tl-rc api)(:llanI cl;riurs ttr.rt there \reie

only "some Lectrnic:tl irnpcrfections employed" in her assis;tance

of absentee voLers.

A brief rjuuiiTr:Ir.y of Lhe Lcrstirnony of Soptria Spann,

Lucille l{arris, LuIa DeLoach ancl Robert Goines reveals evidence

contrary Lo appelI:int's assertion. All these rvitnesses testified

that they cl-i.cl not vote try absentee ballot-, yet absentee ballots

\.Jere vot-ecl i-n tlrei r rr.ltltcs .

Mrs. Spann's; sigrraEul.'c:,"rcpresent-ccl by an "X," appcar-

ecl on tl-rr: applic:rt:lon for: c.r1l abs;enIec bii]-1ot. rvi.tncssccl by t-]re

appe1.lant, br-rt I,1rs. [i1>arnn staEcd L1-raL slrr: could ::crad, t.rrite, and

si6in he:: or,vn nalne. In acldi-tj-on, she po:Lnt.cd out that her nam<:

\^ras misspel.Lc:d on t-t'rc arbscnLcc: bal1.oL, an<1 t.hat sire iterd voted

ai- Lhc po11-s; ancl lrad nc:r,cr.' so1,rg,ht.an alrscrrLec troLe appl.icaLion.

Lr-rc'i.1l.e llarl:.Ls t.cs;t.i f.icil thlrL t.trc appo.[.1anl- brotrght:

frci- ;r i)ai)(:r. Lo {.i l I oir i. so t-}riLt. Si'tt: r.v'oLllcl rlr-;i- 1l;ri,e Lc> g() [-cl

t.]r,-: polls; . Sihc r. cc;rJ- [c,d t-lrat t-ltc €ri)[)(11L;rrii- only visiLe.d hcr: on

orr.-: occilr-; j-<rrr. I,ir:l;. Ii;rl.i.i.s sLi,,t:r:d t-liat she rt(:vc'-)l receivc'-d or: si.lincd

:rrl ;r1rsr:1t-r.:cr b;r.l .Lot-, il'l t-trr.,tr5,;ir il Ii ;lt-rs;a:tiL.r:c brrl.l oL l'/asi voLt:c1 in her

J,r.rJ :r I)i: l,oarr.:lr Lt-:s [-i I i-r:t] t]i;rL: t-hc ailPg'[ 1.anL trrciuSrht hr'lr:

,'r.ii ;iirl-; t:r'rlr(:r.: I'rr.t.l..l.cr[. itPp.1..i-c;rL..i.r>lt .'ittcl s;Lltt.c:ti t.o ltc't- t.hat. sh<:



l;rrL.l r>L r..rlr:; ltot: hers;.

'l.ltc LC:Sl:i.urr->l1y of Iiobcrrt. (loj rrc's; \./.rs strb.st.ililLi:rl].y

s,i,rir-[ .l-ar t:o L.hat- o.[ ]'lr-s;. ]l;_rr:ri-s; intri 14rs. l).:i,<.,ach.

'j'ltcr tt:s t.lrnouy oi. Cirar:l-t:.s Crrirn.i-ngtrJul s.:r.,:rrlecl Lo -Lrrcl.i czrtc

'r.l'rltL t.l-rc :rp;rcIlarrl- rrs;c:cl clcccp l: Lorr :Lg its;sis tipg lr Lrn to vo Le i.,

t-itr.' rttu-'of L' elec:t- i on. l4r:. Ctrn:-ri-i'r11harn t:ho'.rglrt hc: r.ras; voLing,

orl a co:nirl.cLely d lf .[c:r--onI surtrj c:cL.

it'he Lest:[.uroity of thc <,rt:her rvj-t-nesscs rvas both

confusing ancl conflicti.ng, anc1, clepcrncling on rvho r,ras exami-ni.1g

Lhera, their testimony \.ra:i favornbl.e to both the prosecution

and the defense. Under: these ci.rcurns;tances, only a jur:y coulrl
:

unscr.-arnble Ehe hodge-po<1;1e of the t.estirnony. At any rate, the

conf licting eviclencc prer;entecl a jury question. The truLh-

fulness of the testi.inony was for the Lrier of fact. Ygy_y.__Stacg, AIa.

Cr. App. , 335 So. 2d 24'/. (1976).

\{e ag,l.'ee r.zj.th appellanI tirart. no of ferrse is cornrniLted

nre.rel-y by p:Lclci ng tU) appl-icaLi.on..; for. erbseir tec t'allots , or retrrrning

the cc-:npl.ct.ed appl-ic;rL j.orrs , or us;ing srorueoric el.se's acldrcss for

tire return of ttre b;rl 1.ots;. llor.;r:vcr, r+hen t.his; cviclence is con-

sicl'er:cc1, ;r Long r,v-i-Lh the Lcs[.i-ruony o:l] the: aborze f our rvj-titessc+s ancl
_-_.__\

th.: irrc:gul.arity in rrciL ar.i.zing t.he l-lalIots, 1(reason:rhLe inference \
/.=-_.=:---_--",'

,z'|.-t,-'.ctnsj steirL r^ri.t-h Lhcr ap1:ell-r.:n t.' sj'irrnocence' cxi-st.l;) C...roper: \'.
,._--- *--) -_-a

:: l. ilrl t

r.rtl c rr

t,i'r il

.l.s t.he

488.

si.:.lrrr.l ivir:i piir i

gu:Ll t-y

Cert:airrly

f rairtlrrl ent

pirLl -

.' i '. - .r.l\^r-J

:: l; l-; a. tr t: c r.:

vt.r'..cd Lhc

, s; tll) r-il .

(r(.)i1('l ',rilr' , ir ['t r: t: a c c:o l il i.rt g thr:



t.,

i
I
I

rc;lsonablc Prer;ulttDt-ion..; o I. (:orr:cct.rresl;, Lhat Ihc erricleirce r.ras

s;trff.ic:i-c:rit. t:o srri-rpor [, L.hcr vcr-,_li.c:i [,lc .rrc corrvj.rr cccl

l) a 1.. ()r) t.Ly a1i;r.Ln s t

28/r Al.ir . 4'IZ, Z-2.5

\r'it..j rro t \.J1.-Orl[] ()l_-

oI'. Ehcl evicl(]r-rce.

82 i (I9Cr9) .

t-haL Lhc vercJict

tlte r,,,eigh I

So. 2d

t:ir i:.: corit: t.

r_.--_e_-_. - -t i,- r,:- .p r:{.:j r.ir.l i

rrnj us; t ancl r./ir{j no t

Ufy-tLi1,_ v:__$-_!ir !_q ,

IV

'r'Lre aPl)ellant- in.';is Ls; th;.rl sire rvils de.i-eci a fair
c rial lvhen Lhc pr'scctrlor, i.n his cr.osi.,g arglrnrcr-rL, irnproperry
appeal-ecl L, the passion a.d prejuclice of the jury- The appellant
argues f'hett- the state niacle several refer:e.ce.s to the,attitucle of
blzrclc peopl'e torvarcl the ttre trial. she insis Ls that the corrflrents :

ruere significant because the -lury in her case rras all r+hite and
no 

.other r'rhite persons \'/ere in the courL,room except court of ficiars.
The appelrant argu(js Lhat the prosecutor aLternpLecr to create the
irnpression tllaL blacl: people rvcre Lrorrbremakcr:s rviren hc mentir>necl

t:he f:rct that hc hacl tc> prosccLrt e another cas;e involvirlg blar:1s
orr the cornpletion of the ai)pe.L.Lant-,.s t.ri;rl .

The specif:i c cor'ltncrltL to which t-trc api)(:llapt refers is
f orrncl in Lhe f ol1-or.ii.rg port-i.on of Lrrc rr-:c'rcr:

"1,1i),. Jol-lNsTol'l: Arl r.ighr.. J,:rcties anrJ Gcrrtl.emen,I arn going to quit. I havr: 5,,oL a rnurder casie totry as sooil as \./c get. tllrough r,riLh this. rt i,volvcssolnc bl'ack people. It iit'zo.Lves; et.bl.ack nrern vztro rvaski l1ccl.

"i.lB. SEIAy: \,.rrr I{orr,r, r:r.ry I appr:c_r;rch the
tr c, r i c: l r z'.g,:t 

..i 
rt'l

" (ilcrrlr:h r:oir.f<.:rcirce ) .

"'Illlti couit'1.':
y()rlr mr:t..Lori. ,,tt,,rLaj n yoilL' ob ic:cLicln rrnci deny

,[ rr Cr: . r\1:p. , 3JB fjo . Zd 1033 (1.97 6)

r)c) l.cgir.l- s; L;rnclarcl fr>r: garri;:i,n3

CL- i..ll.t.{lr:nc;r' 5;l-clirlr:[il; - I'ire'-re

rit,t-c:t-'rni.rrr:tl or'r. .i.L:; r)t i-r riltllJit_l; .,,

l.(rnirr. 1: iry Liic i))-oriccut.or

() t hc tiir t.errs.-, ;li-Lor..rtr.ryrst

Irr t-irr-:

- ') ',,



d-l-<-t:;i.g .trr.,,no,rf 'rtrer (:()rnrir.rr-rt- :r1>pcilr.s a,, O t<.rta-Lly irrercvant
t.o LIte crlse at h;rrrd. Se:e Srarr- .Tolrb:il1;_ H_q-sg _li .ll.fy_lltig_!_ely_._]i4f:1,

o't
?-0'/ r\1a. 6?-0, 93 so. :;7?- ().g?.2) . P,c(:ilrrsc t.hc di..sLr.-j.ct attorney
r. (-'nj;,rrlcr,:cl t-hat: t:hrr ne>lt- 

.c;'rr;c he \,/as Lo pJ:os(.)CULe j.nvorvecl it

[rI;lcl< vi.c: t-i-tn, but. rt<tt-h Lng r.r:rs; sa j-cl abouE u bI;ic]l clcfenclanL, we

<lt-r rrot. bcl. icve LI-re stett-cmL,.nt \./as pr-er-lurlicial to a1:pcI.[a1t. l{e

, vi'c"'r Ehc cl j.s tr j-c L ait. Lorncy' s corilrrrrirra ..,r a re:rn.Lncler Ltri-rt he vloulcl

br:i-ng the tuurderer oJ- a black nran to justice as sivi-ftly'as he r.rould

pursue the killer of a r.rhite man.

Afte:r a close readi.ng o.f the entir:e closing ar:gunrent by

both parLies, we are convince<I that the di.stri-ct at-to::ney was re-
plying to the argumenL previously mercle by the defense. counsel. :

No tnention of race lv:ts rnade in the'firs[ par[ of the clistrict
attorney's closing. argunent. Ilovrever, our examination of the record

shoiv.s thzrt the defense attorney, i.n c1-osing argument, made many

ref erences to race. From the recor<l l

"I asked you aL the outs.et r"rhether or
not you could accord to 'Ntrs. llilcler ttre
sanre stanclard of justice that you vroulci
accord to a rvhitc person, even thor_rgh
she is a black person.

"I arsked each of yoit at: thc outset.
rvhether or not the facL of t:he race
or color of. Lhe atLorneys or of the
dcfendanE vroul.d rnal<r: any difference
at- al.1. or en[-er into your deliberatj.ons
in any s ot: t: o f: rvay .

"I(eep i-n rni.ncl LtraI you lr;rver vor+ecl noL tc.r
l-et corninuni.Ly pt:essure enter int_o deli.bera*

..Ljon..; t.traL y()Lr go to ltal<e bach there aL all
bccause c.ornrnuni.t-y pr:crssures and considerat-ions
of race havc no pl;rce in our jucli.cial s;ystern.

" l',ttL I clo rr<.r t: }<.no',v t:h:rt a v;h j- t c -j tir:y in
f i.c:kcrns; CorrrrLy .i-n 'L979 c;,)tl rise to thc
c:hal-1.c:ngc. 1 dr:r rrot. kno'.^r tiraL. I j trs t.
lropc t-o Cotl you cau. IJtrt. .I. clr> noL l<now
Lha[.. ].'t:rh;r1;s; 1. r,;.i.ll l<.no.,.J i.t: trefor:c l.
.l r:;tvc.

-./ it -



Nil.Drl 
t'lt'i..l.lili;,n,l,t,,i rn,i i cs Jr t'irs; '

"i{e.rJ.l.y, loo}t. }1rl;. I.Jj.l.der s:i.t.s; in ir
courL room ri1,,lr t no\./ on tr.i aJ i1n(l t.hc:

l)l:osiectrtion .Ls rvhi.t.r:, t-he jur:y i s; r./hi.Le;
ancl -in f;rct- cvt:r:yl>ody'i.s rvlri.t:e o>'.crc:pt.
I.lr:sr. I,lil<1cr ar-rd trcr .lai.ryers. Aricl stre
has bercn in Pi.ckcns CorrnLy 66 yeilrs. She
r.van ts s;ome:hor.r t-o kincl o-[ cl-range [haE siIuation.
Shc: otr1,,ht. t-o rv;ttrt. t.6 c6a.11e j-t. If you were
b l. aclt , yo Lr r.roul. cl rvan t [o ch:tnge i t .

"B1.ack people do not. rLln tl-re Dernocr:.rEic
Pal:ty or no other parLy in the Stzrte of
Alabama. l,aclies and (.lentJ-etnen, you knorv
that. I.Ihite peop.l.e rLrn the Denrocratic
Par [y

"i.Jolv, Iast year is not the only time that,
that poor. rvoman has been rvorking in elections.
Il'rat part of her--She had been at it a long,
long time, I wotrld be willing to rvager you
evel:yfhing I have, rvhich is noE mtrch, that in
Iiovernber o,f last year thaL poor woman workecl
har:d and long and wj.th absentee ballots to
help elect I"ob Jarnes thaL rrany of you a'll
votcd for. That is just as true as I understand
it here. tstrL while Gove::uor James has Sone in
to be the. Governor of this StaLe, ttrat poor
vrornan sits here on frial. I dare say, I vlil1
r.Iager everything I h:ive got and I said that
is not much, that rvhern tre ran, if he ran, that
poor \./oman v/as ouL tl'rer:e r,riLh abscnt-ce ballots
across; ttris count-y.... If he got elected, she
helJred. .,.

"But they dirl not Proslecttte her'that time
If he runs again, sev(')n days a week auywhere
she can find to vote she i.s going to be tryi-n5i'
'.[Lr:iL is ]'rei:.

"'It)r,, pr:.oblem occLirs, ancl t-I-rat. i.s rvhy I rvill
t-cll. y.Ju Lo usc your colllllloll scl15:ic. T[e pr:oble,r
occurs :i f sorne blaclt candidaLe surfaces l-ocally
ancl r.ranEs to run for solnethjng,. She is gcling t-o
support hira. Shc rvould be crazy if she did not"
You vroulci clo it if yoLl r'rcre in hcl' positj-on.
That rnal<ers het. in t-he: nti-ucls; o-[ some a troublc-
rrraker. LL has; c()me riolv to t-he po-LnE r'rhcr:c they
say slic j t; even a crirnir-ra1.

"i)j.cl yotr hear ttrd Lest.imony of ortro brought ttre'se
[:r]-l oLs t-o t.hr,: CortrL.trctrtse? It vras; not l"irs . \'lildcr;
j t- \.i.rs rro t. (:vcil ;-Lt'ryi;ody bllicl<. I-L r+as a rvh:i- te lltan

-2.5-



it. oo
t./ir() hClpccl s;Lrcc.L:r;sfrrll;r t-o (rI()cL (rnr: of:
yorrr [Jnit.c:ri SL..1L.erj Ijot].ltor.-;, llor.rc:.Ll lli: fli.n.

)'our ouglrt- t-o fiird her rlot tlrri-lty ltccarus;t:
on Llri: cv.i cl.cncc, sjhc is; nol-. Thct'rc :Ls rro
cr.Lnt.in:l.L i rr tcrrt- hr:r e :. I'[rc:::r: i si r]o f r nucl ]rere.
T'lrr,:r-c js on.l.y a poolt \.J()itrarr Lr.ylng Lcr trr:lp. l'1rat.
:i.s a-l.I you'vc, go[. I]uL thcrr:e:i.s tirj.s quesl-ion of.
r:ii c e antl .'r I l. th a L

"You end I [tno'.y Ll-rzit, thcrc: .t]:o pcoplc, i-n t-hi.s
c()rrnty, in cvc)r.y count y out Llrer. e-, I vrould
say in the ['roon clocl<s, and t.hey aj-n't all
black. They havc: usecl her, reu.secl her, and
r.zi.ll usie trer agaiir j.f they get tht: opporEunity."

L'he follow:Lng conments r,/cre rnacle by the clistricL at.torneT

in rebutLal ar:g,,uinent :

"It does not. rnake any diffe-rence to me how
many r,rhitc people in Pickens County |hink
ttraE Jrrli.a l,lilder is an'agitzitor. It does
not make any dj-ffe.ience. f.o me horv many
people rvould like to talk to us about th;rL.

"If anyone in this counLy who happens to
1;e r,il-ri.Lc r,vcre to conrinLt n crinre invo1ving
ar-ry trlacll urerLrber clf our.socic:ty ir-r thj-s'cour1ty,
ir rvoulcl noL rrr:rlic any di ffcrencc to lnt: horv
rnuch pressure \,ras appli.ed not- to 1;l:osecute
that- persorr sj.mply because he or: stre r.ras rvhite.

t'No\,7, a.l-ot has been sai.d aborit the.sLanda::d
o,E Lrleatrnon t. .[<;r: b].acks , t-trat- ttre sAlrre s;titndard
of treaLlnenL shr.ruld be appliecl. Conversel-y,
vle rrrig,,lrt. srry t;irat thc r;aInc dut-y to ztbiC,e by
thc l.ai.i slrould app l.y. /rnd t.hcr s'..lmrr st.and:rrd
oI- corni)l-i;ruct: shr:rrl-d arpply, '.t prir".i.1e13,e in-
c1.ucling r--cs;porrs;ibil.it,i cs;. Ancl j t i r; not:
(ir'I(ri,t [',]l t-() I;:l;r ',.']1 -'1-. ' .l-;r.i i s rrt'-<l.l..,tt-r-'.cl t-lr;:t. lrc
ol: s;1-..: i:; siirri.r.l.y1-'liic'!, or: r,;lr.Li-e atr'11 t.ir:ti- i-s ^r.tre

errrl o.[ i r.

" l',]: . S(izry l;;r i- cl t.trlr t- .i I you t \r.)r:(l.i c L :[.s;

i-rr:1ra:-t. j :'i l. , .i.L trrir.; [- Lir.: noL 1:,rti 
-l t-y. llolv,

J.:rrlir: r; l.ncl (lr:n t. l r-:inlrrr o{. t.lir: -] trry , i i- i.:-;

rra)r-c) :i.r,t1;r.lt:t: rutt- t-o IIra: Llri' L r;lrr 1it:t. il f=;i.i r.

t r,i.;tI jr-r t-1r,r c{rtltL;.' t-}l;lit t.lrilt- )'()u Ii.ncl
lri'r-- 1,,ri LJ t-y.

"r'ril(t i-t .i l; llr,,rit>ir,; l.lr.lL i.irr.:l.i'r i.t; pr-cilr;ii;1,r'
;i l.oi. of- ,,)i'ttliiilrr.{: ()'i\ ii Lc,t. of. ciilit:l 1lcO1l1.c
l.,t:(:;rl-r:.;,.: l lt'.:r't-' ltrill ttOl l)rr',rit ,il;tt)y l','ir:i t.c fcil l<l;



in tlf"our:Lroon aL a1l tlrjs tiO rirey
vrotrl.d rerttror s; Lecr: clear of t-tre Lairrt. of
havi.ng of I-enclccl Ltres;e fo1-lcs. Yor.r 1<rro-*2,

they r,vilI irl.l corne ancl asl< i.I so,nc,body j.s

bc:Lng invcrst:igatccl , but t-hcy clo noL r.rant
thc respoirsi.i.b.i.Iit.y for rviratc:vcr happens
;rfLcr: t-h:rt-. Ancl LtraL j.s thc: r.ray a lot of
f oJ.l<s f cel erbor-rL yoLr. Ttrcy vri.l1. s ay, you
knorv, that- 'you rerally or-iglrt to convi.ct hcr:,
btrt clo noL t:ell anybody that l saicl ir to you.

Ir/e noLe that- r1o object.ions \{erc takcn to any of the pre-

cc:eding quotes by ei.t:her Lhe defense or the prosecution.

Our e:<aminati.on of the closing argurnenl-s reveals rvhat

appears to be a pattern of racial refererlces injected by the de-

fense. the clistrict;rLtorney's r:emarl<s, i.nclucli.ng the remark

objected to, were reply in kind Lo the defense aLtorney's arguments..

The appellanL cannot complain of tl-r'. remarks by the district

attorney rvhen they vrere provoked by her defense counsel- Eyfg_:t.

State,2O9 Ala. 65,95 So. 655 (f923). See also, Seals v. StaLe,

282 A1a. 586, 21.3 So. 2d 645 (1968).
:

This cour:L observed in Evans v. State, .supra, that vlide

lafitucle should be given to the prosecuting attol:ney.rvhen he

replies to an arguinent previously made by the defense counsel. the

remarks complainecl of by the prosecutor r.Iere not error ancl

vrere rvithin the permissible limits of reply to the defcnse counsel.

.v.

At the contPleLion of lhe cour:t's oral charge, the

appellant objected Lo the tr:iaI courf-'s instrucl-:Lons to the jur/,

c1:riming that the .Lrial court improper:ly staLed the cont-.entions

ctf t-l're State rvithouL sLating Lhcr conLentions; of the apPellant -

" The trial .courL's charge rnust be consiclered as a r':hole;

no part of it shoul.d be tested in isola[ion. itr99_]l1-lt.--9!at-e,

/ila. Cr. App. , 353 So. 2d 1 (L977) -

In thc pr:csent casc, the tr:ial courL narncd ttre StaLc's

c6rrtcpt.ions only in r:cfer:cnce to its l;lrrclcrn of proof- The coI.r-

-?:t-



i' 
' "' 

t,.,.,tions \verc ,lr,,"ecl rvirh Lhr: follorvi r,r, Qr,Lurn€rnt:

. ' . )3ll; Il: ;:il: l::,,'l;"u:;;l;:":: ;:;::i':"'
r (ras<-rrtlrl-r.l-c: clotrtrt ers t.o e:ach clf Ehc fo).lorving
ur;tt.t.c1:si ol: orle of t-hcr t.rvo offcnsr,,s; containecl
in t-his s LatuLe. "

Tire t.rj-:,rl coLlrt ttren concluded that porIi.on of Lhe ctrarge by

s t-ating the fol.Lorving:

"As I lravt: poinLccl ouL to you, the bur-den
r:es;Ls upon Lhe SLat.cr oI Alabam;r to prove
aIl of t.hese allcrgati.ons to your satj.sfaction
beyond a ::easona.ble cloubt. "

In qleyc.l-_yr__q.!e!e, 2T AIa. App. 423, 426, 109 So. L25

(L926) , the courE obser:ved:

"In ch::rging ti:re jury, it is the clurty of the
. Judge to give ttre lzrw applicabl.e Eo all theories

presented by the testimony, and, if he recapitulates
the evidence on one side, to recapitulate it also
on the other side, and not to indicate, by the matter
or manner. of the charge, rvhar his o'rvn views are as to
the effect of the testimony. "

The foregoing portion of the court's oral instruction did

not recapi.tul;rtc the'evidence for the State at the expense of the

appellant. I.lor clid it corianent on"the effecr of the evidence, or .

refer to what had or hacl not been provecl. Eru111_y,--E!g!g,47 Ala.

App. 643, 25g So. 2d B4,g (Lg72). . The trial court merely stated

t-he burclen of pr:oof on each elernent of the offense that must be

rncL by tlre State. Therefore, "it. is our judgment that the trj-al

court pr:operly instructed the jur:y. See !]4--q-4d$iniEtlator

_v_.__IJic.11qls1, 50 Al;i. 336 (L814) .

I.Jc Iavr: s;c;rr.-chcrd t-ire recorcl Jlor err:or- prejudici.al t-o

erl)pcll;rrrt ancl havc: for-rnd none; ther:ef ore, the j udginent of cc-rnvictiOn

lry t-hc Pi-plccrrs Cj.rcr-rit CourI is; affi.rnrecl.

AI,'li'rlu,iID.

A.l..l. t:hr: Juc1i,,e s; concLlr .

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