Commonwealth v. BinkiewiczCommonwealth v. Binkiewicz
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Whittemobe
These cases arose out of the robbery of the People’s National Bank, Marlborough, on February 28, 1958. At the trial in the Superior Court, the defendants
1. Denial of Binkiewicz’s motions for continuance.
On April 9,1958, Binkiewicz was indicted for armed robbery. On May 7,1958, he was indicted for larceny and conspiracy. Binkiewicz was arraigned on May 14, at which time his attorney, Mr. Stephen L. Mitchell, filed motions for bills of particulars which were denied. The court on June 9, 1958, assigned the cases for trial on June 18, 1958. Mr. Mitchell on June 10, by motion filed in the armed robbery case (#53537), moved that trial be postponed until September, 1958, because of his illness and inability to try the case before that month. On June 12, after hearing, that motion was denied, subject to the defendant’s exception. On June 16, a second motion was filed in #53537 for a continuance to September, signed by Mr. Mitchell and indorsed from the office of George F. Himmel, 6 Beacon Street, Boston. To the motion was attached a written statement by a physician, dated June 6, 1958. Mr. Himmel may have been an office associate of Mr. Mitchell; the latter’s address was the same. On June 18, in a handwritten paper, Mr. Mitchell withdrew the defendant’s motion for continuance filed on June 16,1958, “for the reason that the court, Donahue J. has refused to hear the said motion.” On June IS, also, the court ordered in each case that ‘ ‘ George P. Lordan, Esq. ... a practicing laAvyer in this county” be appointed to represent the defendant. Mr. Lordan and Frank
Trial began on June 20,1958. The transcript shows that after the jury had been empanelled and sworn, the indictments had been read, and a recess taken, Mr. Lordan said, “Your Honor, I conferred with Mr. Binkiewiez during the recess. He wants me to put on record his objections to going forward and asks his exceptions be saved. May that be done?” The judge answered, “All right.”
In Lindsey v. Commonwealth, 331 Mass. 1, 2, we said, “The right to the assistance of counsel obtained by the accused is . . . one of the rights secured by the Fourteenth Amendment. Powell v. Alabama, 287 U. S. 45, 68-69. . . . [The State] is required to allow the accused a reasonable opportunity to procure counsel for himself and to allow such counsel a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present the defence. Allen v. Commonwealth, 324 Mass. 558. Commonwealth v. Blondin, 324 Mass. 564, 567-569. Avery v. Alabama, 308 U. S. 444, 446. House v. Mayo, 324 U. S. 42, 45-46. White v. Ragen, 324 U. S. 760, 763-764.” See Chandler v. Fretag, 348 U. S. 3, 9; Jones v. Commonwealth, 331 Mass. 169, 171; Melanson v. O’Brien, 191 F. 2d 963, 968-969 (1st Cir.).
The defendant had at least one attorney of record on June 18; we infer that an attorney acting for him was in court at some time on that day. The withdrawal on June 18 of the second motion did not add to or lessen the defend
No error is shown in respect of the denial on June 12 of the motion to continue to September. The right to representation by a particular attorney is not absolute. It must be adjusted to the reasonable requirements of other parties to the case, the orderly conduct of the courts, and the rights of other litigants. It is not uncommon, in the general interest, that an order is entered which in effect requires a much sought attorney to elect what case he will try and thus to choose, or permit the choice of, a substitute in some case. The state of Mr. Mitchell’s health as disclosed in the physician’s statement of June 6, 1958, was such that it was conjectural whether he would be able to try the case in September.
3
The denial of a continuance was within the discretion of the judge.
Commonwealth
v.
Millen,
289 Mass. 441, 463.
Commonwealth
v.
Knights,
325 Mass. 758.
Commonwealth
v.
Locke,
335 Mass. 106, 111. We assume nevertheless that the denial entailed the obligation in the court so to decide in respect of the trial date that the defendant was not deprived of the right described in the
Lindsey
case,
supra.
An important step was the appointment on June 18 of an attorney who was acceptable to the defendant. Thereupon it became the obligation of this attorney to move for a continuance if he was unable to prepare for trial in the two days available before the trial started on Friday, June 20, and in the week end break which followed the first day of trial. We discern in Mr. Lordan’s opening address to the court no suggestion of his own view that a continuance was required. The implication is otherwise. Conceivably he felt to a degree that he was appointed to try the case on June 20. But we reject the inference that he would not have
It is not clear to what action of the court the exception expressed in Mr. Lordan’s remarks was taken. At best for the defendant, what counsel said was a motion of the defendant that there be a continuance. The absence of supporting contention of counsel that he needed more time, and the implication to the contrary, are fatal.
Binkiewicz asserts no way in which he was prejudiced in fact. There is no basis for concluding that the case had not been adequately prepared. Mr. Mitchell’s appearance was entered on April 16,1958. The motions of May 14, for particulars, show that he was giving attention to the case. The defendant, after noting that the transcript may be thought to show evidence to support a guilty finding and observing that this might be attributed to inadequate preparation, says: “A continuance here certainly would have
been useful to the accused, but even if not, the importance of proper assistance of counsel in serious criminal charges is too large to permit speculation on its effect.” It is the defendant, we think, who asks the benefit of speculation. He was represented by court appointed counsel, who was acceptable to him on a condition which we must conclude was met. Mr. Lordan’s participation in the trial was such as to suggest that the defence did not suffer from lack of time. The conclusion would not be unjustified, from the events of June 12,13, 16, and 18, that Binkiewicz was seeking to capitalize on Mr. Mitchell’s illness; in any event he shows no error or prejudice.
2. Denial on June 20,1958, of Hayes’s motion for a continuance.
No error is shown. The motion recited the denial of the Binkiewicz motion and, on information, that Binkiewicz “refuses and will throughout the duration of the said trial refuse to testify or in any manner participate therein unless and until Stephen L. Mitchell is present and conducts his defence.” Without suggesting that Hayes would have had
3. Denial of Painten’s motions for particulars.
We pass the absence in the record of indication of the denial of the motions and of exceptions. The indictments were in the language of the statute and it does not appear that they were insufficient “fully, plainly, substantially and formally [to] set out” the charge.
4. Amendment of an indictment.
Hayes was indicted for stealing, on February 26, 1958, “one automobile of the property of John G. Trump.” Trump on June 24, 1958, testified that his wife owned the automobile, and on July 1 (on motion filed on June 25), subject to Hayes’s exception, the indictment was amended by inserting the wife’s name, Flora G. Trump, in place of Trump’s name.
Trump also testified that he and his wife, with their daughter, used the car on the evening of February 26,1958; he was the operator; ‘ [w] e drove . . . [the car] into the garage [of his residence, 9 Cambridge Street, Winchester]. ... We removed the key, closed the doors, and went to the house. ’ ’ When he went to the garage the next morning the car was gone. “Q. This . . . was the property of Mrs. Trump . . .? A. Yes. We consider it to be Mrs. Trump’s car. Q. . . . [Y]ou wouldn’t have any authority to let anybody take the car . .
J
A. Well, the way we operate I think either
of
us could give permission.” Mrs.
Trump’s testimony warranted the conclusion that the automobile registered to his wife was in the actual or constructive possession of himself and his wife, and was held subject to their several dominion and control. Hayes if convicted or acquitted under the unamended indictment could not have been tried on an indictment charging the theft of this automobile as the property of Elora G. Trump. The indictment, read with c. 278, § 9, charged, in effect, the theft of an automobile, the property of John G. Trump,
or of another but in his actual or constructive
possession. This amendment was not prejudicial, for it did not charge a different crime
(Commonwealth
v.
DiStasio,
294 Mass. 273, 278 — victim’s name may be substituted for “John Doe ”) and there was no material variance.
Commonwealth
v.
Harney,
10 Met. 422 (“dwelling-house . . . of . . . Walmire”; Walmire was joint lessee with another).
Commonwealth
v.
Thompson,
9 Gray, 108 (“shop of James Stubbs”;
Commonwealth v. Snow, 269 Mass. 598, relied on by Hayes, does not speak against the foregoing. There the indictment charged a malicious threat to Nora Downs to injure her person and property with intent to extort money from her. The evidence showed a threat to Nora C. Downs that her child would be kidnapped and Nora’s place destroyed. An amendment inserting the initial “C” was held immaterial. An amendment changing the charge to a threat to Nora to injure her child was held material and prejudicial. The crime first charged, and presumably intended to be charged, as the opinion noted, was a different crime from that stated in the amendment. Commonwealth v. Cooper, 264 Mass. 378, 381-382, Commonwealth v. Bracy, 313 Mass. 121, 126, and Commonwealth v. Parrotta, 316 Mass. 307, are consistent with our holding.
5. The charge to the jury.
a. The judge in the course of the charge said: “Now, was there a conspiracy? Bratkon has testified as to the plans . . . [and preliminary steps] . . . that Mike [Binkiewicz] took Bratkon to Painten’s apartment . . . where they discussed the robbery; . . . he and Painten discussed the guns . . . Painten was to furnish them , . . Mike was to get the clothing . . . they did get the clothing . . . they had three guns. The testimony was that all three at the bank had guns. Bratkon said that each one had a gun.
It’s been ashed where the third gun is. Well, you could ash where the rest of the money is, 1 suppose
—
all
This was an unexceptionable statement. Apparently it dealt with an argument which sought to discredit Bratkon’s testimony. It was not a charge on the facts. The suggestion that it may have implied that Binkiewicz had or was concealing the gun is far fetched. The judge said later, ‘ ‘ There is no evidence . . . that any money ... [or] guns [were] found on Binkiewicz.” The judge may sum up testimony.
b. Hayes excepted to two parts of the charge, emphasized below. The judge, continuing with his summary of Bratkon’s testimony, said, “[Bratkon testified that] on Wednesday night while they were waiting for Hayes . . . [they] picked out a place to drop Mike’s [that is Binkie-wicz’s] car, ... to leave Bratkon’s car ... to abandon the stolen car that was to be used in the robbery .... They waited for Hayes, the three of them got in Mike’s car, followed Hayes out to . . . Winchester . . . Hayes stopped . . . they stopped . . . [Hayes] said that he needed somebody to help him, and Mike directed Painten to go with him, and . . . Bratkon was directed to take Hayes’s car, drive up the road and then back. Mike . . . [did the same in his car] until Hayes and Painten came back with a ear, which was then identified as the car that was taken from the Trump garage . . . [and] subsequently found in Marlborough abandoned. . . . Hayes drove the stolen car to Waltham . . . but before . . . [that] they discussed the robbery and the purpose . . . [of use of the car] in the presence of Hayes. Have that in mind in passing upon the question of whether Hayes was an accessory before the fact of robbery, if he stole this car knowing that it was to be used in ... a bank robbery . . . .
4
Bratkon says he . . . drove . . . [the stolen car] to Worcester [and
The statement [a], read in context, refers to conduct from which it could be inferred that plans of all four for Hayes to steal a car were being carried out. It was sufficiently favorable to Hayes. The statement [b] was likewise proper. It reasonably included reference to Hayes having stolen a car (and hence having started it in some way), a clip being found in that car, and a like clip being found in his car and on another car which had been in his possession. 5 The inference is strong that Hayes knew how to start a car with a clip.
It is argued that in this the judge told the jury in effect that he believed Bratkon, and that they should, and that the comment was particularly prejudicial because the judge did not point out that this testimony of an accomplice was uncorroborated.
General statements in our decisions as to what constitutes a charge on the facts must be read with the particular charge commented on. In
Cahalane
v.
Poust,
333 Mass. 689, 693, we said, “Inevitably there will be emphasis by selec-
It was not error to fail to charge that there was no testimony corroborating Bratkon. Commonwealth v. Geagan, 339 Mass. 487, 518.
6. The motions for directed verdicts.
There is no merit in the assignments of error which Hayes and Painten argue in respect of the denial of their motions. Painten contends only that Bratkon’s testimony was suspect and uncorroborated. It was nevertheless evidence for the jury. Hayes’s motion was addressed to the indictment for conspiracy with the other three men to steal the property of persons unknown. Much of the evidence in respect of Hayes’s involvement with the others in the theft of the Trump car is summarized in the quotations
7. Rulings on evidence.
a. Binkiewicz called as a witness one Ronald Maricola “at present . . . across the street in the house of correction.” His only significant testimony was that in May, 1958, in the Worcester House of Correction Bratkon said he “was in there . . . for the Marlborough holdup . . . that the two men . . . that had done the job with him were going to break him out of Worcester.” Bratkon on cross-examination had testified that he did not remember a man named Ronald Maricola, “while ... in Worcester.” Later, also in cross-examination, he had answered “No” to the question “ [W]hile you were in Worcester, was there some talk of some of your pals going to free you from the house of correction?”
7
The district attorney, in cross-examining Maricola, elicited from him, subject to Binkiewicz’s exception, the testimony that while in the United States Navy he had been absent without leave and that he had been given a bad conduct discharge. The district attorney also put in evidence under Gr. L. c. 233, § 21, records of Maricola’s convictions: (a) larceny of forty-eight quarts of oil; (b) carrying a revolver in a motor vehicle; (c) steal
The rule that a witness’s credibility may not be impeached by inquiry into transactions irrelevant to the issue on trial is frequently applied where the witness is a party. See
Jones
v.
Commonwealth,
327 Mass. 491, 494, and other cases cited below. The rnle applies in the cross-examination of witnesses other than parties.
Commonwealth
v.
Schaffner,
146 Mass. 512, 515-516.
Commonwealth
v.
Churchill,
11 Met. 538.
Commonwealth
v.
Stevenson,
127 Mass. 446, 450.
Commonwealth
v.
Vandenhecke,
248 Mass. 403, 404-405. When character is in issue it may be shown (apart from
The applicable rule called for exclusion of the evidence in respect of Maricola’s absence without leave and discharge. Although the wide discretion of the judge in respect of cross-examination to test credibility has been adverted to in this connection in onr decisions (see, for example,
Commonwealth
v.
Kennon,
130 Mass. 39, 40;
Commonwealth
v.
Lammi, 310
Mass. 159, 163;
Commonwealth
v.
Makarewicz,
333 Mass. 575, 593-594; Wigmore, Evidence [3d ed.] § 987, note p. 591 et seq.), that discretion does not extend to the admission of collateral matters.
Commonwealth
v.
Schaffner, supra. Schmidt
v.
Schmidt,
216 Mass. 572, 578. In the
Schaffner
case the witness was called as an expert for the defendant who was charged with adulterating milk. It was held prejudicial to admit a letter he wrote which included a proposal derogatory to his character. “The course of the trial afforded him no opportunity
We think, however, that there was no reversible error for it appears that no prejudice could have resulted to Binkiewicz. See Schmidt v. Schmidt, 216 Mass. 572, 578; Commonwealth v. Homer, 235 Mass. 526, 537; Berlandi v. Commonwealth, 314 Mass. 424, 452. Commonwealth v. Theberge, 330 Mass. 520, 523. It was unimportant to any issue whether Bratkon was lying in the matter to which Maricola testified. It is conjectural on the evidence why a jail break, if in fact anticipated, failed. The most likely hypothesis would be lack of opportunity. Bratkon, in respect of these cases, was an admitted bank robber, and his records for other crimes were in evidence. It is beyond reasonable belief that, in determining whether Bratkon was to be believed in his account of the Marlborough crime, the jury would have paused to weigh his denial of the talk in the Worcester house of correction against another convict’s testimony, or would have found it significant (had they believed Maricola) that in respect of the matter of the alleged talk with Maricola Bratkon had lied. As it developed there was so little relevance in the alleged talk that the first ruling of the judge to exclude it (see footnote 7, supra) was soundly based; it opened unimportant collateral issues. Compare (for the rule if the derogatory evidence is presented in respect of a defendant) Holbrook v. Dow, 12 Cray, 357, 359-360; Commonwealth v. O’Brien, 119 Mass. 342, 345-346; Commonwealth v. Walsh, 196 Mass. 369; F. W. Stock & Sons v. Dellapenna, 217 Mass. 503, 506; Commonwealth v. Homer, 235 Mass. 526, 535; Commonwealth v. Danton, 243 Mass. 552, 553-554; Karaseki v. Bockus, 293 Mass. 371, 372; Jones v. Commonwealth, 327 Mass. 491, 494-495; Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed.) § 921.
b. Painten argues, but took no exception to, the exclusion of the “hospital records and other records” of Bratkon at Norfolk Prison Colony. The offer was by Mr.
c. Painten shows no error in the admission of a 32 caliber cartridge found in the stolen car. The witness described precisely where he found the cartridge and accounted for it at all times up to its being offered. Commonwealth v. Harrison, ante, 279, 283.
d. It was not error to admit the testimony of surveillance of Painten by a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agent testified that after February 28, 1958, he was assigned to watch a laundromat and the apartment where Painten lived. The exceptions were to the admission of testimony that on or about March 3 the agent saw Painten and Binkiewiez in the laundromat and thereafter he saw each one there on other occasions, about a half a dozen times in total; he also saw Bratkon there on March 11, 1958, talking to an unidentified person. The agent thereafter testified without exception that he saw Bratkon depart on a motorcycle which was later seen in front of Painten’s apartment house, and that he had learned that Painten and Binkiewiez owned the laundromat. On cross-examination the agent testified that on the preceding»
e. Hayes shows no error in the exclusion of questions to Clifford A. Scott, chief of police of Marlborough. The chief had testified to physical facts and events in Marlborough. The questions 8 were apparently designed to elicit that in undisclosed circumstances Hayes, self serv-ingly (Commonwealth v. Haddad, 250 Mass. 391, 394), had denied implication. Hayes’s assertions that he had had no part in the crime could be received as evidence only in court. There was no issue of the admissibility of a confession or admission by Hayes. There is no aspect of denial of due process of law or constitutional rights.
f. It was within the discretion of the judge to allow the district attorney on redirect examination to elicit from Bratkon that Hayes showed him how to start the “Pontiac that was taken in Framingham” by showing him “how to unclip it and touch the wire.”
Commonwealth
v.
Galvin,
310 Mass. 733, 748. The admission of the clip was proper. There was adequate verification.
Commonwealth
v.
Giacomazza,
311 Mass. 456, 470. The finding of a clip in Hayes’s car was relevant to the theft of the Trump car by
g. There was no error in the admission of a photograph showing Hayes and the witness Sarah Malizia at Blinstrub’s restaurant in Boston taken before February 28, 1958. The witness had testified to knowing Hayes for some time. The photograph was unnecessary, but there was nothing in the photograph of a derogatory nature. It showed a smiling, friendly couple at the table.
8. The indictments did not charge capital offences and thus the cases are not within the practice prescribed by
Judgments affirmed.
Notes
The defendant’s attorney has informed ns that these appearances were pursuant to the judge’s appointment of Mr. Lordan, on June 12, to represent the defendant. We have examined the motions, appearances, and withdrawals on file in the Superior Court.
“This is to certify that Mr. Stephen L. Mitchell, of 15 Copenger Street, Boxbury, is suffering from severe emotional tension and an anxiety state. He has been given strict orders to take an immediate vacation of at least six weeks, to preclude the possibility of complete nervous exhaustion. ’ ’
It does not appear that any such indictment against Hayes was being tried, but there is no exception or argument in respect of this statement.
See note 6, post.
The evidence shows that Binkiewicz undertook to procure Hayes to get the car, but this was excluded against Hayes. There was evidence that Hayes had at an earlier time delivered to Binkiewicz and Bratkon another automobile which was operated without ignition by means of a “clip.” There was a directed verdict on the count in the indictment against Hayes for stealing that car.
The objection of the district attorney to this inquiry was at first sustained, but the judge suggested that the district attorney might withdraw his objection (“He will probably answer no”), and the objection was not pressed.
‘ ‘ [I]n response to any question or accusation put by any other person to Hayes . . . concerning the Marlborough robbery, did you hear the defendant Hayes deny that he knew anything about it?” ” [D]o you wish to state . . . that during this two hours and a half . . . you at no time heard any question put . . . [to] Hayes concerning the . . . robbery?” ”... [D]id you hear any . . . question [to] . . . Hayes . . . with reference to the larceny of an automobile?” ”... whether you heard the defendant mention anything about a lie detector?” “Do you recall any conversation between . . . Hayes and Lt. Crowley concerning the search of defendant Hayes’s room .’ . . [or concerning] the keys [taken from the defendant]?” ” [W]as the defendant questioned . . . concerning a conspiracy to steal with the defendants Bratkon, Painten, or Binkiewicz?” ” [W]hen did you first hear of the name George E. Hayes?” “Prior to the 7th of May had you heard of the name Hayes in connection with . . . the larceny of a motor vehicle from Winchester on. or about the 26th of February or . . . from Framingham on or about the 30th of January, 1958?” “Prior to the 7th day of May, 1958, had you received eany information connecting the name of the defendant Hayes with any conspiracy to commit larceny with either [of the other three]?”