{
  "id": 1411074,
  "name": "DeVoe v. State",
  "name_abbreviation": "DeVoe v. State",
  "decision_date": "1936-10-19",
  "docket_number": "Crim. 4012",
  "first_page": "3",
  "last_page": "5",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "193 Ark. 3"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
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    {
      "cite": "201 S. W. 784",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "132 Ark. 518",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1576776
      ],
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      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/132/0518-01"
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    {
      "cite": "6 S. W. (2d) 832",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "177 Ark. 413",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8721836
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      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/177/0413-01"
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    {
      "cite": "268 S. W. 861",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "167 Ark. 492",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1377002
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/167/0492-01"
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    {
      "cite": "16 S. W. (2d) 991",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "179 Ark. 507",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8723422
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/179/0507-01"
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    {
      "cite": "70 S. W. (2d) 39",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "188 Ark. 1081",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1428281
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      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
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  "analysis": {
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    "char_count": 4655,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.509,
    "pagerank": {
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    "simhash": "1:07ccc1360f489ab3",
    "word_count": 820
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:27:08.157459+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "DeVoe v. State."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mehaeey, J.\nAppellant was convicted of assault with intent to rape, and his punishment fixed at twelve years, in the penitentiary. This appeal is prosecuted to reverse that judgment.\nMae Chaney was eight years old, in the 3-B grade at school, and testified that she knew right from wrong, and she knew, if she did not tell the truth, she would go to the bad man. The appellant\u2019s attorney stated, before the witness had been examined at all, that he objected, because he did not think she was qualified. The prosecuting attorney thereupon stated that he would ask her questions showing her qualifications, and when the prosecuting attorney was through with the examination appellant\u2019s attorney again said that he objected because he did not think the witness was sufficiently qualified. The court thereupon said: \u201cYou want to ask her any questions?\u201d He answered, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d The court told him to proceed. Then appellant\u2019s attorney examined her at length as to her competency, and when he finished with his examination he did not suggest that she was not qualified, made no objection at all, and the prosecuting attorney proceeded with the examination of the witness, and after he had closed appellant\u2019s attorney then examined her at length and at no time suggested that she was not qualified.\nThis witness testified that the appellant put his hands between her legs, and then, testified as to his conduct in attempting to rape her, and testified that shortly after the occurrence she reported to her mother and stated that she hurt in her private parts, and her mother immediately carried her to a doctor. The physicians who examined her testified that she had gonorrhea, and immediately thereafter the physicians examined the appellant in jail and testified that he had gonorrhea.\nIt would serve no useful purpose to set out the entire testimony. We think there was ample evidence to submit to the jury the question of whether appellant attempted to rape the little girl.\nAs to her competency, it may be said, first, that her competency was peculiarly within the trial court\u2019s discretion, and the trial court\u2019s ruling on the question will not be disturbed unless there- was a gross abuse of discretion. Underhill Criminal Evidence, \u00a7 337; Guthrie v. State, 188 Ark. 1081, 70 S. W. (2d) 39; Durham v. State, 179 Ark. 507, 16 S. W. (2d) 991. In this last case the court said, speaking of the witness: \u2018 \u2018 She was six years old, and stated that she had been to Sunday School, where she was taught that if she told a lie she would go to the bad man.\u201d She also stated that if she told a story she would be sent to the jail house. She was small for her age, but intelligent looking. The court held that she was competent, and she was permitted to testify. The witness in the present case was eight years old, appeared to be intelligent, to understand what was meant by an oath, and she testified intelligently. See Yother v. State, 167 Ark. 492, 268 S. W. 861; Payne v. State, 177 Ark. 413, 6 S. W. (2d) 832; Crawford v. State, 132 Ark. 518, 201 S. W. 784.\nWe are of the opinion that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the witness to testify.\nIt is next urged that the court erred in giving the f ollowing instruction: \u201cYou are instructed as a matter of law that a child of tender years, under the age of ten years, is incapable of giving her consent to sexual intercourse, and it would not be necessary for the state to prove that it was against the will of the prosecuting witness.\u201d\nBefore giving this instruction the court had instructed the jury at length, and the instructions given by the court, except this one, are not complained about, and this one was given evidently for the purpose of explaining that where a child was of tender years, not capable of giving her consent, the state would not have to prove that it was against her -will. The court had told the jury in the other instructions that the act must be forceably and against the will of the female, and evidently the only purpose in the court giving this instruction was to explain that in a child of tender years it was not necessary to show that it was against her will. The court said: \u2018 \u2018 Gentlemen of the jury, the instruction which I gave you used the words, \u2018forceably and against the will of the female, or without her consent.\u2019 \u201d Then follows the instruction above quoted. We do not think there was any error in giving this instruction.\nWe find no error, and the judgment is affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mehaeey, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Floyd Terral, for appellant.",
      "Carl E. Bailey, Attorney General, and Guy E. Williams, Assistant, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "DeVoe v. State.\nCrim. 4012\nOpinion delivered October 19, 1936.\nFloyd Terral, for appellant.\nCarl E. Bailey, Attorney General, and Guy E. Williams, Assistant, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0003-01",
  "first_page_order": 21,
  "last_page_order": 23
}