Commonwealth v. Duff

245 Mass. 81 | Mass. | 1923

Carroll, J.

These are two indictments charging the defendant with carnal abuse of Agnes Hall, alleged to be under sixteen years of age at the dates of the alleged offences, on February 15, March 15, April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15, September 15, in the year 1921. The cases were tried together and a verdict of guilty on each indictment was returned.

1. An examination of the girl in 1922 by a medical expert, indicated that sexual intercourse had been had with her. The Commonwealth, subject to the defendant’s exception, asked Agnes Hall if she was in “ a family way about December 1, 1921 ” and “ had a child taken from her.” She answered in the affirmative and said that the child taken from her in December, 1921, was “ two or two and one half months along.” The Commonwealth had the right to prove by proper evidence that sexual intercourse had been had with the girl; and as showing that such intercourse had taken place, the Commonwealth could show that in December, 1921, she was in a family way and had a child taken from her. This evidence tended to establish the fact that someone, prior to December, 1921, had carnally known her, and the evidence was admitted properly. Commonwealth v. Bemis, 242 Mass. 582.

2. The defendant, on cross-examination of Agnes Hall, offered to show that during the period of the offences alleged in the indictment, and “ from two to two and one half months before December 1, 1921,” she had sexual intercourse with a man other than the defendant. To the exclusion of this evidence the defendant excepted. This evidence was not admissible to show consent by Agnes Hall, Commonwealth v. Murphy, 165 Mass. 66; and ordinarily evidence of specific acts of unchastity with other men is incompetent in cases like the present. Commonwealth v. Harris, 131 Mass. 336, and cases cited. But in the case at bar evidence of pregnancy and miscarriage had been admitted as a fact of the government’s case, against the objection and exception of the defendant; it was evidence of probative force against the defendant and tended to corroborate her testimony. As it was competent for this purpose, it was proper for the defendant to meet it by being permitted to show that another than he was responsible for her condition. This evidence was admissible and it was error to exclude it. People v. Flaherty, 79 Hun, 48; affirmed in 145 N. Y. 597. State v. Bebb, 125 Iowa, 494, 499. People v. Craig, 116 Mich. 388. State v. Danforth, 73 N. H. 215, 221.

3. There was no error in excluding the question asked of Mrs. Hall, the mother of Agnes Hall, on cross-examination by the defendant, whether she instituted criminal proceedings against the defendant. Even if the fact were as claimed by the defendant, the ruling was within the discretion of the presiding judge.

4. The birth certificate of Agnes Hall, which was admitted without exception, showed the date of her birth to have been October 6, 1905. Her mother testified that she had three children, that the youngest had died and that Mary Hall was the eldest of the three children. The defendant offered the birth certificate of Mary, showing her birth to have occurred January 16, 1904, and that she was the second child of the father and mother of Agnes; and further offered to show by the attending physician at the birth of Mary, that the statements in Mary’s birth certificate were given him by Mrs. Hall shortly after the birth- of Mary. This evidence was excluded. Even if this certificate, which is not a domestic certificate, were admissible, see Derinza’s Case, 229 Mass. 435, 442, 445, the fact that Mary Hall was the first and not the second child of the father and mother of Agnes Hall, was of no material importance. The birth certificate of Agnes showed that she was under sixteen years of age when the crime was alleged to have been committed. The fact that the mother stated to the attending physician that Mary was the second child when she was in fact the first child of the marriage, had no bearing on the defendant’s guilt. The evidence offered by the defendant that Agnes appeared to be two or three years older than her sister Mary was properly excluded. The defendant could show by competent evidence that Agnes Hall was more than sixteen years of age at the time of the offence; but the fact .that Agnes appeared to be older than Mary had no tendency to prove that Agnes was, at the time of the offence, more than sixteen years of age. There was no error in this ruling.

5. The judge in his charge to the jury said that the best evidence of the age of Agnes was the testimony of Mrs. Hall. According to the record the only evidence showing the age of Agnes was the birth certificate. E in addition to this, the mother also testified to the age of her daughter, there-was no error harmful to the defendant in this instruction.

6. The record shows that a witness, Mrs. Flanders, was called by the defendant to show bias on the part of Mrs. Hall, the mother of Agnes. Mrs. Flanders was asked in direct examination what was said by Mrs. Hall in reference .to a card which had been posted on her (Mrs. Hall’s) house. Mrs. Flanders replied that Mrs. Hall said that the Duffs (the defendant and his wife) did the posting disgracing her daughter, and that she (Mrs. Hall) “ would make the posting cost the Duffs every cent they had.” . Mrs. Flanders was asked on cross-examination, against the defendant’s exception, “ Did Mrs. Duff ever tell you that she suspected Agnes Hall and her husband of having improper relations? ” The witness answered “ Yes.” This evidence was not admissible. The admission of Mrs. Duff that she suspected her husband, the defendant, of having improper relations with Agnes Hall was harmful to the defendant, and it was error to permit it. Mrs. Duff could not prejudice the defendant’s case by such statement of her suspicions; she was not a witness; the evidence could not be used on the ground that it tended to contradict her, even if admissible for this purpose; and Mrs. Flanders could not testify to what Mrs. Duff had said. It in no way tended to show that Mrs. Hall was biased or had any ill will against the defendant. Mrs. Hall was not shown to have been in any way connected with the answer of Mrs. Duff. It was a statement of the defendant’s wife in his absence. See Commonwealth v. Nelson, 180 Mass. 83; Commonwealth v. Mooney, 110 Mass. 99.

The exceptions must be sustained.

So ordered.