7 Neb. 320 | Neb. | 1878
This is a proceeding in error, brought to reverse the judgment of the district court for York county, and before proceeding to consider the matters alleged to be erroneous I wish to say a word relative to the record of the case, as made up and submitted for our examination. It consists of a bundle of closely written manuscript covering over eleven htmdred pages, and being at least double the quantity actually necessary or proper for a full and complete presentation of the questions brought here for review. For instance, there is page on page taken up with the arguments of the respective counsel on the numerous questions constantly raised during the trial as to the admissibility of testimony, and also with the remarks of the court in assigning reasons for the rulings thereon, all of which serve no useful purpose, but tend materially to encumber and obscure the record,’ and to increase the expenses of a trial far beyond what is legitimate.
In reporting the testimony of a trial care should be taken to give the questions and answers verbatim,' and when an objection is made it should be briefly! noted, together with the decision of the court thereon. For example, if, on the examination of a witness for the' prosecution, a question be objected to by the defend-j ant’s counsel as being leading, or irrelevant, all that is' necessary is to note at the end of the question: “Ob-i
It not unfrequently happens that quite lengthy arguments are made by counsel on questions thus raised, and in deciding them the judge may see fit to give elaborate reasons for. his decisions, but neither of these has any business whatever in the record, nor should the stenographer be permitted to encumber his report with them, when it can only result in augmenting his compensation, with nothing valuable given in return.
I have been led to make these remarks, not alone because of the unsightly appearance of the record in this particular case, but also because of the very frequent carelessness and inattention that seems to characterize the making up of records for this court, and in the hope that hereafter we shall be spared the task of being compelled to rummage as in a “waste-basket,” in order to discover those matters which have a legitimate bearing upon the questions to be decided.
- In the consideration of the alleged errors it will be most convenient to take them up in the order observed in their assignment; and the first to be noticed is that relating to the suppression of the deposition of A. W. McDonald, taken on behalf the prisoner, as to his good character while living in Iowa. As to the ruling of the court in suppressing this deposition, no exception seems to have been taken at the time it was made; it must therefore be regarded as having been acquiesced in, and its correctness cannot now be questioned. By Sec. 482 of the criminal code it is provided that the taking and preserving of exceptions shall be governed “ by the rules
The second and third assignments, relating to the mode of impaneling the jury, are substantially the same, and may be considered together. The substance of these objections is, that whe^five of .the original panel of twenty-four jurors had been excused for cause, the court did not require their places to be filled before proceeding further in the selection of the jury to try the case. The short answer to this objection is the same as given to the one just disposed of, viz: That no exception was taken at the time, and even if the course pursued were irregular, the irregularity was waived, and could not afterwards be taken advantage of. "We desire to add, however, that the method adopted in the selection of the jury conformed to the prevailing practice in this state, and has our entire approval. Until the original- panel were completely exhausted, the court could not have known that there would be any necessity for a further call, as it can never be known in advance to what extent the parties will exercise their privilege of challenge.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth assignments all pertain to the-same subject, and may be disposed of together. The record shows that on the conclusion of the arguments in the case, on the thirty-first day of January, the jury were instructed by the judge, and sent out in charge of a sworn bailiff to consider of their verdict, and thereupon the court adjourned until nine o’clock on the following morning. The next step in' this case, as shown by the record, was taken on the second of February when the jury, having agreed, came into court with their verdict, and delivered it in the presence of the prisoner and his counsel. It is now objected, that inasmuch as the
The seventh assignment consists of no less than eighteen sub-divisions, and relates exclusively to alleged erroneous admission of testimony at various stages of the trial. We have examined the record as to each of these objections, but in this opinion shall notice particularly those only in which counsel for the prisoner seemed to place some confidence, as being good ground for reversal of the judgment.
Q. You may state to the jury what you know about Nate (the deceased) drawing $1,000 from the bank, and the time?
A. On the Thursday before the murder was committed Nathan Olough desired me to loan some money, or rather, I spoke to him about a party, a Mr. Lyons, who was in town, who desired some money, and I told him I guessed I could get it from Mr. Olough; that he had some money. I saw Nathan Olough in the post* office, and I went with him from the post-office down to his barn to see his horse, and Mr. Lyons remained in the post-office until I came back. I spoke to him about the money and Nathan Olough then went in the direction of the bank, or to the hotel, from the corner where Redfield’s store is, and he came back with $1,000 in money.
Q. What time in the day was that?
A. That was, perhaps, in the middle of the afternoon.
Q. Did you loan Some money?
A. I loaned $150 to Mr. Lyons for the deceased, on six months time. The mortgage I either delivered to Mr. McKillop, the administrator, or to Mr. Lyons when paid off.
Q. You may state to the jury what Nathan said about the $1,000 when he brought it into your office?
Objection by defendant’s counsel. This is Thursday, and he now asks what Nathan said about the $1,000 that he brought into his office. Objection overruled and exception entered.
Q. Where did you say the money had come from?
Objection by defense. Objection overruled and exception entered.
A. I understood that the money came from the bank. The State Bank of Nebraska, at Seward; Mr. Jones’ bank.
As to the testimony we have quoted, it will be noticed that not a single valid reason was given for the several objections made. This fact of itself is a sufficient ground for upholding the ruling of the court in its admission. Horbach v. Miller, 4 Neb., 31. But further, even conceding that, according to the rules of evidence, the testimony as to what Nathan said in the absence of the defendant ought not to have been admitted, still it is very clear that its admission could have worked no possible prejudice, for the reason that it was established beyond all question, by other testimony, especially by that of O. W. Barkley, the cashier of the bank, on his cross examination by the prisoner’s counsel, that the' deceased did draw this $1,000 from the bank on the twenty-seventh of April, the same day the $150 loan to Lyons was made, and on a certificate of deposit that had been issued to the prisoner, and which was indorsed by him so as to enable the deceased to draw the money on the very day it was paid. The exclusion of this testimony of the witness Norval, as to the declarations of the deceased, would therefore still leave the fact which it tended to prove clearly established by other incontrovertible evidence, and to which no objection was made. Where such is the case, the error is without prejudice, and is no ground for setting aside the verdict. It is
A witness named Newton, called on behalf of the state, having testified that on the morning after the murder was committed he saw the prisoner, and noticed that he had “ a peculiar looJc, as 1 have mawy times before,” was then asked this further question:
Q. Tou stated to the jury that you noticed a peculiar look at that time, as you had at other times. Now state to the jury the circumstances under which you saw that peculiar look at those other times?
Objection by defense, as leading, irrelevant, and incompetent. Objection overruled and exception entered.
A. I noticed while living with Mr. Clough whenever there was anything troubled him, he had a different look from what he did at other times. If he had any difficulty with any one, his manner, — his appearance, was altogether different from what it was at other times. I suppose it would be with most anybody, too.
It does not seem to us that there is anything in this testimony at all prejudicial to the prisoner. The witness noticed that he had “a peculiar look,” but this he had observed “ many times before,” especially whenever he had a “ difficulty with any one.” But of what this peculiarity consisted the witness in his direct testimony does not tell us, nor but partially on his cross examination. It would have been entirely proper for the prosecution to have shown by this- witness, if he knew, just
This witness was also asked to relate a conversation he had with the prisoner, concerning the property of the deceased, some three years before the murder was committed. This was objected to on the part of the defendant, not on the ground that his declarations on this subject were irrelevant, or immaterial, but simply because they were made so long previous to the homicide.
The object of the testimony thus called for, as stated by counsel for the state, was to show that the prisoner then controlled the property of the deceased, and that it was the purpose of the prosecution to show that he had continued to hold and control it up to about the time his brother was killed, when certain arrangements were entered upon by which the deceased was depriving him of that control. The theory of the prosecution being that the prisoner committed the murder in order to possess himself of his brother’s effects, we think the question was proper, especially so in view of the answer which followed. The witness answered: “ Mr. Olough said to me that he had got Nathan’s property in his hands, and that if he ever lived with his wife again he would be d-d if he should ever have a cent of it.”
The case being one of circumstantial evidence entirely, it was very proper to show both the business and social relations subsisting between these brothers, not only just about the time of the alleged murder, but also for a reasonable time before. In respect to this sort of testimony it may be said, that it would be exceedingly difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to set a limit as to the time within which it must have occurred, inasmuch as whatever took place between them, having a direct tendency to show a motive on the part of the prisoner
As to the testimony of the witness Leese, respecting his footings of some figures found on a card in the pocket-book of the deceased, we fail to see wherein it was relevant, or valuable for any purpose connected with the trial. It showed merely that these figures probably referred to the amounts of a number of promissory notes belonging to the deceased, and which were also in the book when found. While we fail to discover how this testimony could have benefited the prosecution, we are equally at a loss to see wherein it could, in the least degree, have prejudiced the prisoner.
The testimony of the witness Herrick, who was the deputy treasurer of Seward county, as to the amount of taxes paid by the defendant a few days before the murder, was objected to on the ground that it was “incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial.” The reason urged upon the attention of the court for this objection was, that it was a transaction occurring before the homicide, admitting, at the same time, that payments of money made after the homicide would be competent evidence. The o'hjection was overruled, and as we think rightly; and thereupon the witness testified to the payment by the prisoner of something over two hundred dollars on his tax account.
This testimony was certainly admissible. The theory of the prosecution was that the deceased was killed for his property, and especially for the obtaining of the money that he was then supposed to have in his possession; and the design of this evidence was to show that the money expended by the prisoner just about that time, together with what was found upon him, greatly exceeded all that he honestly possessed.
After this witness had testified fully to the payment
It is true that, under our statute relating to evidence, a duly certified copy from the “ treasurer’s cash book ” might have been used to prove these payments (Sec. 408, Tit. 10, Rev. St.), but this would not preclude the state from proving them by the oral testimony of any witness who saw them made.
An objection was made to the testimony of the two witnesses, Bailey and Johns, concerning a pair of bloodstained pantaloons introduced in evidence, on the ground that they had not then been identified as the ones worn by the prisoner. It is not pretended that they were not fully identified before the close of the testimony by other witnesses. Indeed, the testimony, especially that of the witness Leese, shows that their identification was com-' píete. The question raised was one of the order in which the testimony should be produced, and was
It is claimed also that the court erred in the admission of the testimony of the witness Carnes as to his examination of a bloody foot-print upon a piece of oil cloth that was found lying beside the' bed on which the deceased was murdered, and his comparison of this trade with the prisoner’s boot. The witness was asked: “ Did you compare that boot with the track?” Answer: “ I did, sir.” Question. “ State to the jury how it compared with the track?” It was objected to this question that the witness should state the manner “ in-which he made the comparison and not his conclusion.” This objection was overruled, but, as the witness did not answer, it presents no question for this court to review. Thereupon this question was put, which it will be noticed conformed strictly to the suggestion just made by the prisoner’s counsel: “State to the jury how you compared it with the track? ” And there being no objection the witness answered: “I had a piece of oil-cloth before me with the imprint upon it, and upon taking the boot —it was a peg boot — upon examination I found that the heel had nails protruding from it; they were not regular, but protruding from the heel, the leather having been worn off faster than the iron; and by placing this upon the nails of the heel, and bringing them down where the nails struck, it covered the imprint, and the probability seemed to be that that boot made the track. I don’t think I could say, and I don’t think anybody could say, but a similar boot made the track.”
That portion of this answer which we have italicised was very clearly incompetent, but there was no motion made to exclude it, nor was the attention of the court in any way called to it until after verdict. This testimony falls within the general rule of evidence that the opinions of witnesses, except in the case of experts called to testify
A witness named Osborne was called on behalf of the state to testify, among other things, of a conversation that took place a few days after the murder, between the widow of the deceased and the prisoner, and having stated that he “ could not hear all the conversation,” it was objected that he should not be permitted, for this reason, to give in evidence that which he actually heard. This objection was very properly overruled. It implied that in no case should a witness be permitted to testify of a conversation between the prisoner and another person unless he happen to have heard the whole of it. This clearly is not the law. If what the prisoner is heard to say in such a conversation be sufficient to convey an intelligible idea respecting the commission of the offense with which he is charged, it may always be given in evidence against him. To this rule, as applied to voluntary statements, we know of no exception.
It is also urged as error, that evidence was admitted as to certain declarations made by the defendant before the coroner’s jury. This was objected to on the ground that they were “ not the voluntary declarations of the prisoner,” and that he could not be compelled to “produce evidence against himself,” etc.
It would be a sufficient answer to this objection, that
The next assignment in order relates to the exclusion of an interrogatory propounded to the witness Lee Weldon on his cross-examination as to certain declarations claimed to have been made by the prisoner and his wife to the deceased, relative to his first going to the barn to sleep. It appears from the record that this witness had testified in chief of the deceased going to the barn, where he was murdered, to sleep, as follows:
Q. When was it that you said Nate slept in the barn?
A. The Friday night before the murder.
Q. Do you know when that bed was taken up there?
A. I think the bed had been there and that the clothes had been taken up that day.
Q. Friday?
A. Yes, sir.
On the strength of this direct testimony the following cross-examination took'place:
Q. You say that on the Friday previous Nathan Clough had moved this bed out to the barn to sleep?
*341 A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now state to the jury at whose instance he took that bed and went to the barn to sleep?
A. I think it was his own.
Q. State if it is not the fact, and if you don’t know it to be the fact, that both Warren Clough and Warren’s wife expostulated with and protested against Nathan going to that barn to-sleep?
This question was objected to by counsel for the state, “on the ground that the statements of Warren Clough, and his wife, are not admissible in his favor.” The court sustained the objection, and this is alleged as error.
We think the court ruled correctly. There was nothing stated in the direct examination as to why the deceased went to the barn to sleep. The simple fact that he went there to sleep, and the time when, were all. There was nothing that tended to show that he was induced to go there by anything either said, or done, by the prisoner or his wife. Besides, by going beyond the strict limit of a cross-examination by the question preceding this one, the defense had proved that the deceased went to the barn to sleep at his own instance. In this he made the witness his own, and on this point should not be permitted to cross-examine him.
The governing rule on this point is: “ That a party has no right to cross-examine any witness, except as to facts and circumstances connected with the matters stated in his direct examination; and that, if he wishes to examine him as to other matters, he must do so by making the witness his own, and by calling him as such in the subsequent progress of the cause.” 1 Greenleaf on Ev., Sec. 445.
It is further complained, and assigned as error, that after the testimony for the state had closed, and the defendant had introduced the testimony of a number of witnesses, the prosecutor was permitted to open his case
In this .we see nothing to complain of. It is a practice well supported by authorities, and we think that the court exercised its discretion in the matter with marked caution, by requiring the notice of what the witness would testify to, so that the prisoner should not be placed at a disadvantage. In criminal as well as in civil cases it is within the discretion of the court to receive further evidence on the part of the prosecution, even after the summing up has been commenced. But this discretion should be exercised with the utmost caution. Kalle v. The People, 4 Parker Crim. Repts., 591.
The record further shows that the verdict, as presented by the jury, although signed by all of' the individual jurors, was not signed by any one of them as “ foreman.” By direction of the judge this omission was thereupon at once supplied by the foreman, in the presence and by the consent of all the other jurors, without returning to the jury room. And this is assigned as error. There was no necessity for sending the jury out again to cure 'this technical defect. Indeed, we think the verdict was good as first presented. It was signed by each one of the jurors personally, and that was sufficient to show that they had all agreed to it, which is all that the law requires.
Another ground upon which error is alleged is: “ That
The supreme court of California, speaking on this subject, say: “If upon the examination of the instructions given we see that all, in substance, which the defendant asked for, and was entitled to, was fully and fairly submitted to the jury, we cannot presume that he was injured by the refusal of the court to reiterate the same thing, even though submitted in a different form.” The People v. Strong, 30 Cal., 151. And following what we conceive to be a sound rulé of practice, this court held in the case of Curry v. The State, 5 Neb., 412, in substance, that an instruction need not be repeated, although expressed in language somewhat different from that used by the court in its charge already given. See also on this point: State v. Volmer, 6 Kan., 371. State v. Schlagel, 19 Iowa, 169.
But, it is urged, that if the court is at liberty to refuse an instruction merely because it has been once given, the refusal must be placed strictly on that ground; and so it was held in the case of The People v. Hurley, 8 Cal., 390, and also in one or two other cases cited by the defendant’s counsel. The reason given by the supreme court of California for the enforcement of this rule is that: “Unless this is done in the presence of the jury they may be misled by the refusal.”
But, under the practice which now very generally prevails in this state, and that was evidently contemplated by the passage of the act of February 25th, 1875, we do not think that the non-observance of this rule can be regarded as any cause for complaint even, much less for setting aside the verdict of a jury. By section three of this act (Laws 1875, p. 77) it is provided that: u The court must read over all the instructions which it intends to give, and none others, to the jury, and must announce them as given, and shall announce as refused, without reading to the jury, all those which are refused, and must write the words ‘ given,’ or £ refused,’ as the case may be, on the margin of each instruction.” And by section one it is provided that££ all instructions asked shall be in writing,” so that if the statute is observed it is hardly probable that the jury can know what disposition the court makes of instructions requested by counsel on either side of the case.
Of the instructions which it is complained that the court refused to give, it is only necessary to say that we have examined each one of them very carefully., and find that they are all very fully and fairly covered by the charge as given to the jury, so far at least as they state the law correctly. As to thQfov/rtk instruction refused we think it erroneous; It was in these words: “ If the
Of the instructions given, no complaint is made in the brief, except to the eighth, twenty-second, and twenty-fifth. The objection raised to the first of these instructions is, that in speaking of the effect of the legal presumption of innocence the court said: “Unless this presumption is overthrown by sufficient evidence the defendant must be acquitted.” Implying, as is claimed, that the jury were at liberty to convict on a mere preponderance of evidence. But this is not a fair construction of the language when taken in connection with another portion of the charge, wherein the jury are told what amount of evidence may be regarded as sufficient. Toward the close of the charge this language is used: “And as the defendant’s guilt is only established by sufficient proof of several material particulars, the proof must satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable floubt of the existence of such facts necessary to constitute guilt, or the defendant must be acquitted.” And in other portions of the charge similar language is used, so that it must have been very firmly impressed upon the minds of the jury that before they could rightfully convict the prisoner of the crime charged against him, they must be satisfied to a moral certainty of his guilt, from a consideration of all the evidence produced before them on the trial.
The twenty-second instruction relates to the comparison between the foot-print and boot, made and testified to by the witnesses Carnes and Agur. It was in these words: “ If you believe, from the evidence, that the footprint which has been described by the witnesses Carnes, Agur, and others, as found by the bed of the deceased the morning on which the murder was discovered — I say if you believe that such track was made at the time of the murder, then the question, who made this track, becomes of the highest importance as á means to assist you in your deliberations.
“ And in determining on the evidence which has been given on this subject, you should inquire from the evidence whether one of the persons who went to the barn on the morning of the discovery to see the dead body, or for other lawful purposes, might not have made the track. Also, whether the defendant might not have made the track at the time he first went into the room on the morning of the discovery.
“ If you determine that it could not have been so made, then the care, accuracy, and honesty of the comparison of the boot with the track is of the greatest importance. And as a means of guarding against mistake, the law requires that the boot or shoe which the prosecution claims made the impression should be compared with the foot-mark before the boot is placed on the track. Otherwise the track might be fashioned so as to fit the boot at the time of making the comparison. But if, after giving the defendant the benefit of all doubts and precautions upon this question, you believe that the prisoner’s boot, when carefully and correctly compared with the foot-print, corresponds with such track both in size and shape, this would be a circumstance for you to consider. And if you should find that there were impres
The only fault that we can see in this instruction is found in the third paragraph. If the track had been made in dust, or other substance easily imprinted, then what is said as to the legal effect of placing the boot on the track, before making the comparison, would have been applicable and proper. Rut the testimony shows that the track was evidently made by a boot, or shoe, which had just before been stepped in blood, of which there was a pool on the floor near the head of the bed; and that a portion of the blood sticking to the sole, together with the heel nails, composed the track in question, and was left upon the hard surface of a piece of oil-cloth, the blood having become perfectly dry, and the imprints of the nails being plainly seen by the witnesses, and evidently requiring considerable pressure, in addition to the mere weight of the boot, to have made them. Under these circumstances, when taken in connection with the fact that there was testimony tending to show that the boot may have been placed on the track before any other comparison was made, we think this portion of the instruction was calculated to prejudice the prosecution by possibly leading the jury, without a sufficient reason, to reject the testimony respecting the track altogether. We think the instruction, therefore, more favorable to the prisoner than he could of right have demanded, and that in the giving of it he has not the slightest cause for complaint.
It only remains now for us to dispose of the questions raised as to the alleged bias of the two jurors, Finley C. Ferguson, and J. F. Conway, for which it is claimed the verdict ought to have been set aside. The objection
On the part of the state the counter-affidavit of the juror Ferguson was produced, supported in several particulars by that of his wife. Ferguson in his affidavit completely contradicts in every particular the material statements of White, Gue, and Richardson; and even White himself comes forward with a second affidavit wherein he contradicts nearly every statement which he first made, and declares that in his first affidavit “ he intended to testify that he thought he had heard the said Finley C. Ferguson express opinions on the question of the guilt or innocence of the said defendant Warren Clough, but that this affiant did not remember at the time he made the said affidavit what these opinions of the said Finley C. Ferguson were, but that this affiant’s impressions are that said Ferguson expressed a doubt as to the defendant’s guilt.”
After a careful examination of these several affidavits we are satisfied that Ferguson was a competent and unbiased juror, and that the motion to set aside the verdict on account of the declarations imputed to him was properly overruled.
The matter respecting the juror Conway was brought
Rut the court having made this summary disposition of this supplemental motion, necessitates an examination of the record for the purpose of seeing whether it were not well taken, precisely the same as if it had been overruled.
Turning to the examination of the juror Conway when called to the jury-box, we find that the only questions put to him were by the district attorney. In answer to the question whether he had “ formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt ór innocence of the defendant,” he said: “No, I don’t believe I ever have.” He was also asked whether he had “ ever talked with the neighbors about the case?” To this he answered: “Yes, sir. I have explained to some since it occurred.” Question. “ Persons who knew or claimed to know anything about it?” Answer. “No, sir.” He further stated
But there is still another sufficient reason why the objection to these jurors cannot be permitted to prevail. Before a motion for a new trial can be properly granted on the ground that a juror has expressed an opinion unfavorable to the prisoner, “ it must appear by the affidavit, of both the prisoner and his counsel, that neither of them had knowledge before the verdict of the declarations made by the juror.” Anderson v. The State, 14 Geo., 709. Parks v. The State, cited above. As to the
After a careful review of the record we are satisfied that the prisoner has had a fair trial, and the judgment of the court below must be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.