John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance v. Davis

Guerry, J. 1. A charge by the court to a jury as follows: “Gentlemen, take this ease as it has been presented to you from the witness stand, and see what the facts are, and make your verdict,” is error, when the evidence for the complainant consists of documentary evidence and depositions as well as testimony from witnesses on the witness stand. See McLean v. Clark, 47 Ga. 24 (12); Bowden v. Achor, 95 Ga. 243 (22 S. E. 254) ; Myers v. State, 97 Ga. 76 (25 S. E. 252) ; Byrd v. Byrd, 22 Ga. App. 354 (96 S. E. 10) ; English v. Poole, 31 Ga. App. 581 (121 S. E. 589); Atlanta Gas-Light Co. v. Cook, 35 Ga. App. 622 (134 S. E. 198) ; Darden v. Washington, 35 Ga. App. 777 (134 S. E. 813) ; Western & Atlantic R. Co. v. Tate, 129 Ga. 526 (59 S. E. 266) ; Stiles v. Shedden, 2 Ga. App. 317 (58 S. E. 515) ; Blandon v. State, 6 Ga. App. 782 (65 S. E. 842); Hilton v. Sylvania & Girard R. Co., 8 Ga. App. 10 (68 S. E. 746); Middleton v. State, 29 Ga. App. 375 (115 S. E. 277); Sikes v. DeLoach, 166 Ga. 887 (144 S. E. 655) ; Hendrix v. Bank of Portal, 169 Ga. 264 (149 S. E. 879). 2. In view of the above ruling, we make no ruling on the general grounds of the motion for a new trial, or on any of the remaining special grounds, which will not likely occur on a retrial of the case. Judgment reversed. Broyles, G. J., and Maelnlyre, J., eoneur.