MALVIN KITE
v.
STATE

Fla. | 1936-10-31
Ellis, P. J., and Terrell, J., concur., Whitfield, C. J., and Brown and Davis, J. J., concur in the opinion and judgment.
126 Fla. 77 Florida Supreme Court (1936) Positive Treatment
Also reported at: 170 So. 445
Cited by 15 cases

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Synopsis

The appellate court affirmed a conviction for assault with intent to rape, finding no reversible error in the trial court's rulings on witness examination and jury instructions. The court also confirmed that a defendant can be convicted of a lesser included offense like assault with intent to rape when indicted for rape.


Holding

No, the trial court did not err in its rulings. The court held that when a defendant puts their general reputation in issue, they waive the right to object to questions that touch upon their character or reputation. Furthermore, the court affirmed that an indictment for rape properly allows for a conviction of the lesser included offense of assault with intent to rape.


Key Quotes

““Did he go up there because he ran away from the same kind of scrape he was in or is in now ?””

This quote represents the question asked by the State Attorney on cross-examination that the defendant objected to, concerning the defendant's past behavior.

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Facts & Procedural History

The plaintiff in error was indicted for rape but convicted of assault with intent to rape. During the trial, the defense put the defendant's reputatio…

The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.

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Opinion of the Court
Buford, J.

Buford, J.

In this case plaintiff in error was indicted in the Circuit Court of Duval County charged with the crime of rape. He was convicted of assault with intent to rape.

■ Plaintiff in error presents a number of questions for our consideration, most of which are without merit.

The first question presented involves the action of the trial court in propounding certain questions to a witness. The record discloses' no reversible error in this regard.

The second question may not be treated because the record does not support the application of the question.

The third question presented is:

“Did the trial court err in permitting the State Attorney to ask one of defendant’s"witnesses on cross examination by the State, whether or not the defendant had not, at a vague and indefinite time run away ‘from the same kind of a scrape he was in' or is now in ?’

*79Plaintiff in error has not pointed out in his brief the place in the record where the alleged error complained of is shown. Therefore, the question should be ignored. Wé will say, however, that the record discloses that the defendant on trial'by questions addressed to one V. J. Ellis, a witness in behalf of defendant, put the general reputation of the defendant for peace and quietude, and as a law-abiding citizen, in issue. But aside from the fact that by putting his own reputation in issue he.waived any right to object to questions, the answers to which would touch the status of his character or reputation it is shown by the record that defendant’s counsel asked him this question:

“Did you know that he was planning to go to New York to take the job?” '

This question was objected to.

Then the following:

“Q. Do you know that he was planning on a job in New York?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Did he work in New York for a long period of. time up there?
“A. He did.
“Q. Is it a fact that he just returned from New York the latter part of 1933?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. All right, did he marry a girl there in New York?
“A. Yes, sir.”
Cross Examination.
“Q. Do you know why he went to New York when he was up there before?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Do you know why?
*80. “A. He went up there before he knew this girl, he went up there to marry her.
' “Q. Didn’t he go up there because he ran away from the same kind of scrape he was in or is in now ?”

This was objected to and overruled.

The answer was: “No, sir.”

Then the question was asked: “He was not accused of raping another girl?”

This question was objected to and objection was sustained.

So it is that there was no reversible error disclosed in this record.

Another contention is that the court erred in refusing to give certain charges requested. The charges requested were fully covered by the general charge given by the court, and therefore, no error occurred in the refusal.

- The main contention appears to be that the defendant could not be convicted of the offense of assault with intent to rape under an indictment in the Circuit Court of Duval County charging the crime of rape. This question has long ago been settled adversely to the contention of plaintiff in error. In the case of Baker v. State, 40 Fla. 178, 24 Sou. 69, this Court held:

“An assault with intent to commit rape, punishable under our laws as a felony, is included in the higher charge of rape, and, independent of any statute, the Circuit Court could, under the former Constitution, punish for the lesser offense when found under the higher charge of rape. The rule under that instrument was that the charge in the indictment determined the jurisdiction of the court. McLean v. State, 23 Fla. 281, 2 South. Rep. 5; Winburn v. State, 28 Fla. 339, 9 South. Rep. 694. The section of the Constitution conferring jurisdiction on the Criminal Courts of *81Record expressly excepts capital cases, and its terms do not expressly, or by necessary implication, deprive the Circuit Courts of the full jurisdiction possessed by them over such cases. The section of the Constitution conferring jurisdiction on the Circuit Court provides that such court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of certain civil causes and ‘of criminal cases not cognizable by inferior courts; and original jurisdiction of actions of forcible entry and unlawful detainer, and of such other matters as the Legislature may provide.’ Section 2921, Revised Statutes, enacts that “whenever any person indicted for a felony shall on trial be acquitted by a verdict of part of'the crime charged, and convicted on the residue thereof, such verdict may be received and recorded by the court, and thereupon any person charged shall be adjudged guilty of the crime, if any, which shall appear to the court to be substantially charged by the residue of such indictment or information, and shall be sentenced and punished accordingly.’ As above stated, the grant of jurisdiction to the Criminal Court of Record is not. in terms exclusive, and does not forbid the Circuit Court from trying and imposing the sentence of the law when there has been a conviction of a lesser offense in a trial on an indictment charging a higher one.”

No reversible error being made to appear, the judgment should be affirmed and it is so ordered.

Affirmed.

Ellis, P. J., and Terrell, J., concur.

Whitfield, C. J., and Brown and Davis, J. J., concur in the opinion and judgment.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Wilson v. State, 294 So. 2d 327 (Fla. 1974)
    …al or on preliminary proceedings) in State v. Hines, 195 So. 2d 550 (Fla.1967). . Oglesby v. State, 156 Fla. 481, 23 So. 2d 558 (1945); Ailer v. State, 114 So. 2d 348 (Fla.App.2d 1959); Sherman v. State, 255 So. 2d 263 (Fla.1971). . Kite v. State, 126 Fla. 77, 170 So. 445 (1936) ; Foy v. State, 115 Fla. 245, 155 So. 657 (1934) ; Jordan v. State, 171 So. 2d 418 (Fla.App.1st 1965) ; see, generally, 35 Fla.Jur., Witnesses, § 214 (p. 306). . Gluck v. State, 62 So. 2d 71 (Fla.1952).…
  • Mancebo v. State, 350 So. 2d 1098 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977)
    …Matera v. State, 218 So. 2d 180, 183 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969). As defense counsel voluntarily introduced evidence tending to show the defendants’ good character for lawful conduct, their good character was placed in issue. See Kite v. State, 126 Fla. 77, 170 So. 445 (1936). Thus, where defendants placed their character for lawfulness in issue, questions relating thereto on cross examination were relevant and non-prejudicial. No abuse of the court’s discretion has been demonstrated in the denial of the motion fo…
  • Truluck v. State, 108 So. 2d 748 (Fla. 1959)
    …of the prosecutrix’ conflicting statements the evidence does establish and appellant here admits guilt of the lesser included offense of assault with intent to commit rape. Frenette v. State, 158 Fla. 675, 29 So. 2d 869; Kite v. State, 126 Fla. 77, 170 So. 445. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 924.-34, F.S.1957, F.S.A., the judgment is reversed with directions that judgment be entered accordingly and sentence imposed for the offense of assault with intent to commit rape. Reversed and remanded. THOM…

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