Elliott v State

Elliott v State
1911 OK CR 35
113 P. 213
5 Okl.Cr. 63
Case Number: No. A-233
Decided: 02/06/1911
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

(Syllabus by the Court.)

1. APPEAL Reversal Loss of Transcript.

2. NEW TRIAL Grounds Loss of Record.

Appeal from Stephens County Court; W.H. Admire, Judge.

Carsie Elliott was convicted of selling intoxicating liquor, and he appeals. Reversed and remanded, with directions.

Page 64

Gilbert & Bond, for appellant.

Smith C. Matson, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

ARMSTRONG, JUDGE. The appellant was convicted in the county court of Stephens county on the 4th day of May, 1909, on a charge of selling intoxicating liquor. On the 7th day of May, 1909, he filed a motion for a new trial, which was overruled, and he excepted. On the same day judgment was pronounced, and he was allowed 30 days in which to make and serve case-made. On the 3d day of June an extension of 20 days was granted by the court upon a showing that the appellant had been unable to secure a transcript of the evidence. The record shows that the stenographer lost the notebook containing the stenographic report of the testimony taken at this trial, and was unable to furnish the defendant with a transcript of the same for that reason; that the defendant made due and proper demand for the same, and was in no way at fault in the premises. The county judge also exonerates the appellant from any blame in this connection. This court has held in the case of Tegeler v. State, 3 Okla. Cr. 595, 107 P. 949, that, where a defendant is deprived of his right to present a complete appeal to this court through no fault of his, he is entitled to a new trial. The same rule is announced in the case of Bailey v. United States, 3 Okla. Cr. 175, 104 P. 917, 25 L.R.A. (N.S.) 860. The record clearly discloses that in this case the appellant is in no wise at fault by reason of the loss of the stenographic notes, and that he could not perfect a complete appeal without them. When this condition arises and is properly presented to the trial court, and it is made to clearly appear to that court that the defendant is not responsible for the loss of the record or material portions thereof which cannot be supplied in any way, a new trial should be granted and save the expense of bringing the cause to this court for reversal.

Following the doctrine announced in the cases cited, supra, this cause is reversed and remanded, with directions to the court below to grant the appellant a new trial.