Commonwealth v. Lewis

Spalding, J.

The defendant was convicted on an indictment which charged that on August 28, 1961, “in the daytime [he] did break and enter the . . . dwelling house of John Scanlon . . . with intent therein to commit larceny.” Gr. L. c. 266, § 18. He has appealed pursuant to Gr. L. c. 278, §§ 33A-33Gr, assigning as errors the denial of his motion for a directed verdict, various rulings on evidence, and other matters.

1. We are of opinion the defendant’s motion for a directed verdict (first assignment of error) was properly denied. Mrs. Anastasia Scanlon, called by the Commonwealth, testified as follows: She first saw the defendant about noon on August 28, 1961, at her residence on North Avenue, Weston. She had been bathing her mother in a bathroom not far from the kitchen when she heard a noise, went into the kitchen, and saw the outer door of the kitchen, which led to a “breezeway,” slowly opening. She slammed the door shut and then, looking up, saw the defendant standing in the breezeway. A conversation ensued, apparently conducted through the closed door, and the defendant, when asked by the witness what he wanted, asked her whether he could mow the lawn. She inquired of the defendant whether he had any equipment with him and he replied that he had none. She suggested that he “go next door,” and he left. The breezeway, which was between the kitchen and the garage, had a front door, and a rear door leading to a yard, in addition to the door to the kitchen. There was no door between the breezeway and the garage. The kitchen door and the front breezeway door had been locked just before the occurrence of the foregoing events. There was a bell outside the breezeway and another outside the kitchen. Both bells were in working order, but Mrs. Scanlon had not heard any bell ring about this time. Later that day she observed notches, which she had not seen earlier, near a lock; it is not clear whether this observation referred to the front breezeway door or to the kitchen door.

Emma Lee DeCrosta, who lived in the second house away from Mrs. Scanlon’s, testified that she first saw the defend ant running from Mrs. Scanlon’s boundary line toward the street, and after attempting, without success, to “thumb” a ride in a passing automobile, run across the street and into the woods. She thereupon called the police.

Thomas Healey, a Weston police officer who lived near by, testified as follows: Around noontime on August 28, while off duty and at home, he saw the defendant walking fast across a ridge on the swampy side of an old pasture. The defendant, upon observing him, ran into the woods. Healey went into his house, put on his uniform and set out to find the defendant. He “spotted” the defendant in a swamp. At that time the defendant was up to his knees in water and was pushing brush away. While he was so engaged, he was wearing gloves. A search of the defendant by Officer Healey revealed two small knives and $57. At the time of the search the defendant was not wearing gloves. The defendant was placed under arrest and taken to the police station. Later, Officer Healey returned to the swamp and found a pair of gloves in a “round spot where [the defendant] had thrashed around.” The defendant, when asked about the knives, stated that he used them to manicure his fingernails. During the course of an interrogation by the police, the defendant stated that he went to Weston looking for “lawn work,” although he had never done such work before and had no equipment; he admitted that he had been hi the Scanlon house and stated that he went there looking for work.

On the basis of the foregoing testimony the jury could have found that the defendant entered the breezeway of the Scanlon house, went to the kitchen door, unlocked it with a knife and caused the door to open, and then, after a conversation with Mrs. Scanlon, left the premises. The question presented by the motion for a directed verdict is whether this evidence is sufficient to support a conviction under Gr. L. c. 266, § 18, which defines the offence: “Whoever, in the night time, enters a dwelling house without breaking, or breaks and enters in the day time a building . . . with intent to commit a felony . . ..” The defend ant’s acts, committed in the daytime, required a breaking and an entry, as in the case of burglary at common law, 1 to constitute the offence charged.

In this Commonwealth the opening of a closed but unlocked door or window is a breaking. Commonwealth v. Stephenson, 8 Pick. 354. But passing through an unobstructed entrance is not. Commonwealth v. Strupney, 105 Mass. 588, 590. See Commonwealth v. Trimmer, 1 Mass. 476. There was no evidence that would enable the jury, without resort to conjecture, to determine whether the defendant entered the breezeway through its front or rear door. Nor was there evidence that the rear door was closed shut either at that time or habitually. See Commonwealth v. Domanski, 332 Mass. 66, 76-77. Thus, the defendant’s entry into the breezeway was not proved to have been effected or preceded by a breaking.

Even though the defendant, by whatever means, had entered the breezeway, without breaking, there would, nevertheless, be a breaking if he opened the kitchen door. Commonwealth v. Stephenson, 8 Pick. 354. State v. Scripture, 42 N. H. 485, 488. 4 Blackstone, Commentaries, p. 226. But, as in the case of burglary at common law, there must also be an entry. “It is well settled that it is a sufficient entry ‘when the thief breaketh the house, and his body, or any part thereof, as his foot or his arm, is within any part of the house.’ 3 Inst. 64. 1 Hale P. C. 551. 2 East P. C. 490.” Commonwealth v. Glover, 111 Mass. 395, 402. We are of opinion that the jury could fairly have inferred that in the course of his opening the door some portion of the defendant’s hand or arm came within the house. That was enough to constitute an entry.

But on an indictment drawn under Gf. L. c. 266, § 18, the Commonwealth must prove not only a breaking and entering but that it was done “with intent to commit a felony.” “When a person, by the use of force, enters a dwelling house in the middle of the night it may ordinarily be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that his intent is to steal.” Commonwealth v. Ronchetti, 333 Mass. 78, 81. Even though the breaking and entering occurred during the daytime, the intent to commit a felony could be inferred from the defendant’s conduct (taking to the woods after being refused work) immediately thereafter. In this respect the case at bar closely resembles Commonwealth v. Shedd, 140 Mass. 451, where it was said that the jury “might well have inferred, from the circumstances attending the act, and from the conduct and declarations of the defendant [flight and contradictory statements], that the act was done for the purpose of stealing from the building.” (P. 453.)

The defendant argues that the Commonwealth has not introduced any evidence to show that he had an intent to commit a larceny which amounted to a felony. A felonious larceny must involve property in excess of $100 in value. Gr. L. c. 266, § 30. If the jury believed that the defendant entered the Scanlon home to steal, they were not required to find that he intended to limit his stealing to property under $100 in value.

2. The second assignment of error asserts that “The cumulative effect of tension between the Court and the defendant’s trial counsel deprived the defendant of a fair trial.” 1 In support of this assignment of error, the defendant refers to forty or more instances in the transcript. These must be read in context and it would greatly prolong this opinion to discuss them specifically. That there was tension between counsel and the court cannot be denied. From a careful reading of the transcript, we are of opinion that the tension of which the defendant complains was created by his counsel. 2 It is difficult, of course, to capture the atmosphere of a trial from the printed record. But even from the record certain conclusions are inescapable. Repeatedly in the course of the trial, the defendant’s counsel ignored or flouted rulings of the judge. It thus became necessary for the judge to warn or rebuke counsel. At times counsel’s defiance of the court’s rulings went so far that the judge threatened to adjudge him in contempt. Some of these rebukes and warnings were not in the presence of the jury; others, unavoidably, were. Often during colloquies counsel did not “maintain [the] respectful attitude” toward the court enjoined by the canons of the profession, and at times he was downright discourteous. 1 We are convinced that trial counsel embarked in a deliberate and studied attempt to antagonize the judge with the hope that he would be goaded into some action that would result either in a mistrial or a reversal. Conduct of this sort is not to be tolerated, and when it occurs it should be dealt with, as it was here, with firmness. A judge in this Commonwealth in order to discharge properly the function of his office must be “the directing and controlling mind at the trial, and not a mere functionary to preserve order and lend ceremonial dignity to the proceedings.” Whitney v. Wellesley & Boston St. Ry. 197 Mass. 495, 502. Possibly some of the remarks made by the judge during the colloquies were not as judicial as they might have been. But, considering the provocation, we are of opinion that he showed great patience and restraint. It would be a reproach to the administration of justice if a defendant, through his counsel, could pollute the atmosphere of a trial and then turn this to his own advantage on appeal. The judge in his charge warned the jury not to be influenced in any way by what had occurred between him and counsel. 2 The defendant takes nothing by the second assignment of error.

3. The defendant’s third assignment is based on certain questions, alleged to be leading, which the judge permitted to be put to a principal witness for the Commonwealth. This assignment is lacking in merit. “We are aware of no decision in this Commonwealth in which exceptions have been sustained because of the allowance of leading questions.” Guiffre v. Carapezza, 298 Mass. 458, 460.

4. As stated above, there were three doors in the breezeway, a front door and a rear door and one leading to the kitchen. There was evidence that the front door and the door to the kitchen were locked immediately prior to the alleged offence. On direct examination Mrs. Scanlon was asked whether later in the day (after the defendant had departed) she had examined “the portion of the breezeway door, or the kitchen door near where the lock is, ’ ’ and she replied that she and her husband had done so. The following then occurred: “Q. And what did you observe ? A. Notches in the front of the breezeway.” Counsel foe the defendant : “I object.’’ The Court : “I will take the answer.” Counsel foe the defendant: “May I take an exception?” The Court: “Exception may be noted.” We put to one side the fact that the objection was not made until after the witness had answered (see Commonwealth v. Geagan, 339 Mass. 487, 513), for it is conceivable, as is often the case, that the answer was made so soon after the question that counsel did not have sufficient opportunity to object. The defendant now urges (assignment No. 4) that it is not clear whether the answer referred to the front breezeway door or the kitchen door. If, he argues, the notches were made on the front door the evidence was immaterial, since there was no evidence that he came in by that door. Nor, he contends, was there any evidence as to the nature of the notches or their connection in opening the lock, or whether they could have been made by a pocket knife. We are of opinion that the admission of this evidence was not erroneous. The question was proper. If the answer was ambiguous the defendant had ample opportunity to clarify it, for he cross-examined Mrs. Scanlon at some length about the locks.

5. At this, the third trial, counsel for the defendant asked Mrs. Scanlon whether, during a portion of her testimony at the incompleted second trial, she had made any mention of the notches she had observed at the door. We assume that evidence of this sort might, if the circumstances were fully explained, be admissible for purposes of impeachment. See Commonwealth v. Homer, 235 Mass. 526, 532-533. But there is nothing to show what the posture of her testimony was (whether complete or incomplete) at the time the second mistrial was declared. The defendant has the burden of showing that the ruling was erroneous and this he has failed to do. We are of opinion, therefore, that the exclusion of this question was not prejudicial.

6. Mrs. DeCrosta, a witness for the Commonwealth, was permitted to testify, subject to the defendant’s exception, that after seeing the defendant running from the Scanlon house, she telephoned to the police. Assignment of error 8. This evidence did not harm the defendant, for it added little or nothing to her testimony that she had observed the defendant running away. No part of the conversation between her and the police was introduced.

7. The Commonwealth, subject to exception of the defendant, introduced a pair of gloves in evidence. Assignment of error 12. The defendant argues that this evidence was obtained by an illegal search in violation of his constitutional rights. The undisputed evidence shows that the gloves were found by the police officer in a swamp located near the Scanlon property. Finding the gloves violated no rights of the defendant. In Hester v. United States, 265 U. S. 57, it was said per Holmes, J., at page 59, that the ‘ ‘ special protection accorded by the Fourth Amendment to the people in their ‘persons, houses, papers, and effects,’ is not extended to the open fields.” See Abel v. United States, 362 U. S. 217, 241. There was no evidence that unlawful actions of the police led to the defendant’s abandoning the gloves. See Commonwealth v. McCleery, 345 Mass. 151, 153.

The defendant also contends that the gloves were not “adequately connected” with him. Officer Healey testified that the defendant wore gloves while in the swamp and that he was not wearing gloves when he emerged. In addition, the gloves were found in the area where the officer has said he noticed the defendant had “thrash[ed] around.” The gloves were adequately connected with the defendant and the trial judge did not err in admitting them. See Commonwealth v. O’Toole, 326 Mass. 35, 39.

8. The defendant excepted to the denial of his motion to strike certain testimony relating to his possession of two penknives. Assignment of error No. 14. Even though a hearing had been held in the District Court and two previous trials had ended in mistrials, the defendant made no motion to suppress the evidence before the present trial commenced. Generally, an attempt to exclude such testimony is not timely if made for the first time when the evidence is offered at the trial. Segurola v. United States, 275 U. S. 106, 111. See Commonwealth v. Spofford, 343 Mass. 703, 708; Commonwealth v. Laudate, 345 Mass. 169. Assuming, however, that an objection would be proper if the defendant first learned of the illegal search and seizure during the course of the trial (Gouled v. United States, 255 U. S. 298, 305; Agnello v. United States, 269 U. S. 20, 34; Rule 41 (e) of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 18 U. S. C.; Maguire, Evidence of Guilt, pp. 233-234) he still was required to make a timely objection to the evidence when first offered. This he did not do; the evidence was first admitted without objection. It is conceivable that the defendant could not assert any constitutional right until he first learned from the arresting officer the circumstances of the arrest. The defendant first moved to strike the evidence when the officer testified that he made the arrest without a warrant. But the fact that the arrest was made without a warrant does not necessarily render the evidence objectionable. Not all arrests need be made pursuant to a warrant. Commonwealth v. Phelps, 209 Mass. 396, 410. Commonwealth v. Holmes, 344 Mass. 524. But if the arrest is made without a warrant, the evidence, “to be admissible, must be the product of a search incident ... [to an arrest] based upon probable cause.” Ker v. California, 374 U. S. 23, 34-35.

We need not consider whether the defendant was arrested without probable cause because he did not raise that point at the trial. There he urged the exclusion of the evidence on the ground that the arrest was made without a warrant. Here, he argues that it should be excluded on the ground that the arrest was made without probable cause. This he cannot do. United States v. Jones, 204 F. 2d 745, 748-749 (7th Cir.). See Kagan v. Levenson, 334 Mass. 100, 106; Foster v. Everett, 334 Mass. 14,18.

9. The defendant’s fifteenth assignment is based on a general exception to the charge on the ground that it was “improperly weighted” in favor of the Commonwealth. Concerning a similar exception we said, “ [t]he exception to the entire charge and the assignment of error based thereon are of no avail.” Commonwealth v. McDonald, 264 Mass. 324, 335. We might add that an examination of the charge convinces us that it was not “weighted” in favor of the Commonwealth; on the contrary it was eminently fair.

Judgment affirmed.

Notes

1

Burglary at common law is the breaking and entering into the dwelling house of another in the night time with intent to commit a felony. 4 Blackstone, Commentaries, p. 224.

1

Prior to the trial under consideration there had been two mistrials; one of these occurred before another judge about three months before the present trial; the other took place on the same day that the present trial commenced, and both were before the same judge. What brought about these mistrials does not appear and we mention it only to show the setting in which the trial commenced.

2

The defendant’s trial counsel did not argue the appeal in this court.

1

Canon 1 of the Canons of Professional Ethics of the American Bar Association reads in part, “It is the duty of the lawyer to maintain towards the courts a respectful attitude, not for the sake of the temporary incumbent of the judicial office, but for the maintenance of its supreme importance.”

2

This portion of the charge reads: ‘ ‘ The only matter that you are to consider is the evidence that you have heard on this witness stand from these four witnesses who appeared. Nor is this defendant to be punished because of the colloquies that I have engaged in with his counsel. I require no protection from a jury. This jury knows that I am fully able to protect myself. And, therefore, in so far as the discussions between . . . [defence counsel] and myself and the actions that took place here, this has nothing to do with this defendant. ’ ’

Case Details

Case Name: Commonwealth v. Lewis

Court Name: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Date Published: Jul 9, 1963

Citation: 191 N.E.2d 753

Court Abbreviation: Mass.