40 Ala. 9 | Ala. | 1866
The record purports to set out all the evidence introduced on the trial, and it shows that the prisoner offered none. Upon a demurrer to the evidence, and a joinder therein, the court should have given judgment for the prisoner; or, if a charge had been asked, that the prisoner could not be found guilty upon the evidence, the court should have given it. In the first case, no exception was necessary, in order for this court to revise the ruling of the court, if the demurrer had been overruled; in the latter, it may have been necessary that an exception should have been taken, if the charge had been refused, in order for this court to revise the refusal of the court to give the charge.
The prisoner, in his bill of exceptions, “assigns as error” the refusal of the court to give a charge asked, and also “the conviction and sentence”. This must be taken as equivalent to an exception to the conviction and sentence. Sackett & Shelton v. McCord, 23 Ala. R. 851. By section 3663 of the Code, it is provided that, in criminal cases, this court must render such judgment as the law demands; and by this may be understood such judgment as the law demanded the court below to render. By section 3650, it is provided that, “if such question” (that is, a question of law) “does not distinctly appear on the record, it must be
At common law, venue was matter of substance, and must be averred; and if omitted, the judgment was reviewable on error, although no objection was made in the court below.—1 Archb. Crim. Pl. (Waterman’s Notes,) p. 64, note 1; 2 Hale, 180; Hawk. Pl. Or. b. 2, c. 25, §34.
It therefore becomes a very grave question, whether, in a case where all the evidence is set out, the record must show affirmatively that the venue was proven on the trial, not only to give jurisdiction to the court, but to authorize the jury to find a verdict of guilty.—Noles v. The State, 24 Ala. 692. Where all the evidence is not set out in the record, we might presume that it was shown on the trial that the offense was committed in the county where “ the indictment is preferred.”
In the case of Noles v. The State, (supra,) the court say, “ But the particulars, as to the time, place, and circumstance, not constituting essential elements of the crime, may be dispensed with in the indictment, by statute, and be left as matter of proof, as establishing or not the juris
This court will not reverse for a defect of evidence to sustain the verdict, unless the question is raised on demurrer to the evidence, or in some other appropriate manner ; but must reverse, whenever the record fails to show that the court had jurisdiction of the cause. It is the duty of this court, mero, motu, to arrest a cause, and reverse the judgment, whenever it does not appear that the court below had jurisdiction; and it does not so affirmatively appear on the record in this cause.—Commissioners’ Court, v. Thompson, 18 Ala. 694; Long v. Commissioners’ Court, 18 Ala. 482; Wilson v. Judge Pike Co. Ct., 18 Ala. 757; Wightman v. Karsner, 20 Ala. 446; Lamar v. Commissioners’ Court, 21 Ala. 772; Molett v. Kenan, 22 Ala. 484; 25 Ala. 480; 26 Ala. 568; Owen v. Jordan, 27 Ala. 608; Wyatt’s Adm’r v. Rambo, 29 Ala. 510; ib. 391, 663; 26 Ala. 247; 17 Ala. 430; 19 Ala. 171; 20 Ala. 387; 23 Ala. 155 ; Wyatt v. Judge, 7 Porter, 37.
It is true, that if a court has jurisdiction of the subject-matter, although some fact necessary to give jurisdiction of the particular cause may not be shown by the record, its judgment cannot be attacked collaterally; but it can always be attacked by a direct proceeding, or on appeal, unless the party has waived such matter of fact. But, in criminal causes, such waiver is not to be inferred from the failure of the party to raise the question in the court be
The court, in the case of Noles v. The State, (supra,) went as far as we are disposed to go, in holding that the statute which dispensed with the averment of venue in an indictment, did not conflict with the constitution of the State, which, in effect, secures to an offender a trial by jury, and on an indictment; and this jury and indictment must be, in substance, at least, such as was authorized by the common law. In the case of Noles v. The State, the court seem to have held the indictment good, because the Code (§ 3514) required proof of venue to show that the offense was “ within the jurisdiction of the county in which the indictment was preferred ” ; and that, therefore, the prisoner was not deprived of a right secured by the common law and the constitution. The language of the Code is imperative, as to the proof of venue, and so it seems to have been considered by the court in the case of Noles, supra.
We hold, therefore, that whenever the indictment* is in the form prescribed by the Code, and the bill of exceptions sets out all the evidence, and it does not affirmatively appear that the offense was committed in the county where the indictment is preferred, and the prisoner excepts to the conviction and sentence of the court, there is error, distinctly appearing on the record, fatal to the conviction and sentence, on appeal.
No case has been found on record like this, for the reason, we suppose, that no State has ever enacted such a statute as section 3514 of the Code. We do not hold that the verdict of the jury can be reversed, on such a bill of exceptions as this; but we hold that, the record setting out all the evidence, and failing to show that the court had jurisdiction of the cause, as required by section 3514 of the Code, the judgment of the court below must be reversed, and the cause remanded; and so let it be entered.
The bill of exceptions professes to set ont all the evidence. It is silent upon the subject of proof of venue. It is therefore to be inferred, that the venue was not proved. There was no objection in the court below on account of the absence of proof of venue; no charge given, to which objection was made; and no charge ashed, which raised the point of the want of such proof. The question thus arises, whether we can reverse the judgment, because there appears to have been no proof of venue, when the omission was not made the subject of objection in the court below. I think this question should be decided in the negative.
At common law, in criminal cases, only those errors which were apparent on the record, were cognizable in the revising tribunal. No bill of exceptions, for the presentation of questions arising on the trial, could be taken, either in misdemeanors or felonies. The English statute (18 Edw. 1, ch. 31) on the subject of bills of exceptions is confined to civil cases; and no revision of points arising on the trial of a criminal cause can, even at this day, be had in England, unless under some late statute, which I have not discovered.—Regina v. Alleyne, 29 Eng. Law &Eq. 179; 2 Bacon’s Abr., Bill of Exceptions, 112, 114; Ned v. State, 7 Porter, 187; Bourne v. State, 8 Porter, 458; State v. Jones, 5 Ala. 666.
As bills of exceptions were unknown at the common law, this court only has such power to revise the proceedings on the trial of a criminal cause as is given by statute. The authority given is set forth as follows in the Code: “ § 3649. Any question' of lato, arising in any of the proceedings on an indictment, may be reserved by the defendants, but not by the State, for the consideration of the supreme court. ” “ § 3650. If such question does not distinctly appear on the record, it must be reserved by an exception, taken and signed by the judge as in civil cases.” “ § 3651. When any question of lato, in a criminal case, is reserved for the determination of the supreme court, the clerk of the court must make out a complete transcript of the record, attach his certificate thereto, and transmit it to the clerk of the supreme court, by the first day of the term
These sections of the Code constitute the warrant to this court for a reversal, in criminal cases, for matters transpiring on the trial, and not regularly belonging to the record. This warrant, the legislature, under its constitutional authority to restrict and regulate the jurisdiction of this court, has prescribed. The sections quoted bestow a privilege, which before did not exist, upon persons charged by indictment; and, in doing so, innovate upon the common law. This privilege admeasures the authority of this court to revise. The privilege, as very distinctly declared, is to reserve questions of law by exception which arise in the proceedings. The privilege has this extent, and no more, unless, in violation of an established principle, an addition is made to a statute which is in derogation of the common law. In the language of this court, in Palmer v. Bice, (28 Ala. 430,) “ as the right is the creature of the statute, its extent must be determined by the statute.”
The question that no proof of venue was made in this case, was not reserved by exception; and it is a question of fact, and not of law. Whether the venue was proved, was a question of fact, determinable by observation; and not a question of law, addressed to, and determinable by the legal judgment. It was a question for the jury, under the guidance of proper instructions, and not a question for the court. No objection to a conviction, in the absence of such proof, was made; no charge was asked; and the attention of the court was not called to the point.
It may be said, that the rule which would exclude the consideration of the point in this case, is tolerable in civil, but not in criminal cases. The reply is, that the law has made no distinction, and this court has no legislative authority. But the law has not only made no distinction between civil and criminal cases, as to the revision of questions presented by bill of exceptions, but it has directed that the point “ must be reserved by an exception, taken and signed by the judge as in civil cases.” Neither this,
The language of the statute construed in the case of Palmer v. Bice, (supra,) was, that “ the facts, point, or decision, may be reserved for the decision of the supreme court, by bill of exceptions, as in other cases.” This language was held to preclude the authority of revision over any question not presented by exception; and the emphatic remark was made, that “ as the right (of revision) is the creature of the statute, its extent must be determined by the statute.” That remark is as apposite here, as in the case in which it was made. The right of revision is given
The rule is, that the matter to be revised must be excepted to below; and there is no exception, where the entire evidence is set out.—2 Bacon’s Abr., Bill of Exceptions, 114.
The decisions in other States fully sustain the argument of this opinion.—State v. Jenkins, 5 Jones' Law, 19; Keithler v. State of Miss., 10 Sm. & M. 192; People v. Stockham, 1 Park. C. R. 424; Wash v. State, 14 Sm. & M. 120; Walton v. United States, 9. Wheaton, 657; Sheppard v. Wilson, 6 How. 275; Haynie v. State, 32 Miss. 400.
The rule which requires a party to except to an adverse ruling of the court, is reasonable, and conservative of justice. If an exception is made, the court may correct its error; and it is waived by a failure to except.—Chamberlain v. Masterson, 29 Ala. 299. In Wright v. Sharp, (1 Salk. 288,) it was said: “ You should have insisted upon your exception at the trial. You waive it, if you acquiesce, and shall not resort back to your| exception after a verdict against you.”
It may be objected to this argument, that the proof of venue must be made, in order to show the jurisdiction of the court, and that an exception must be dispensed with, when the question is jurisdictional. The answer to this suggestion is, that it is always necessary to prove the jurisdiction of the case to the jury; and that it is for the jury to determine, whether the fact, upon which the jurisdiction of the case depends, is established; and that there is no reason why the defendant should not be required to except, in reference to any absence or deficiency of proof on this point, as well as on any other. The question of jurisdiction over the subject-matter can never come before the jury. That is given by the constitution, and laws passed in pursuance of it. The venue is a question only as to the jurisdiction of the case in reference to the locality of the court. This question is one to be determined upon the evidence, by the jury. If it were a question of jurisdiction over the subject-matter, there could be no change of venue, for consent can not give such jurisdiction.
The remark in Noles v. State, (24 Ala. 672,) that the venue
The opinion in the case of McCauley v. The State, (26 Ala. 135,) held, that the constitution secured a right to a continuance of the deliberations of the jury, in a criminal case, until the occurrence of a sufficient legal reason for its discharge ; but that this right could be waived by the prisoner’s consent to the discharge of the jury. Bramlett v. State, (31 Ala. 376,) was tried after a change of venue; and after the trial, a motion in arrest of judgment was made, on the ground that the transcript from the court where the indictment was found did not show the organization of the grand jury. Rice, C. J., the other judges delivering no opinion upon the point, held, upon authorities which fully sustained him, that the prisoner, by a failure to object until after the verdict, waived the right to have affirmative evidence in the transcript of' the organization of the grand jury. Paris v. State, (36 Ala. 232,) maintained the well-established doctrine, that a defendant, who has been arraigned and pleaded not guilty, without objection to the preliminary proceedings, waives all right of exception to them. In Rosenbaum v. State, (33 Ala. 354,) it was decided, that the accused, in a criminal cause, could waive his constitutional right to be
Upon the arguments and authorities which I have adduced, I think I have maintained the following propositions: 1st, that there is no right, either in a criminal, or in a civil case, to revise a matter presented only by bill of exceptions, which was not objected to in the court below; 2d, that this court can only revise questions of law, in such a case as this; 3d, that it is competent for the accused to waive the proof of venue; and, 4th, that such proof is waived by a failure to raise the point in the court below. In my judgment, (and I say it with the utmost respect for my brethren,) the decision of the majority of the court is without precedent, and unsustained by any correct principle, and initiates a doctrine which I think ought to be resisted at the outset. The ruling of the court allows a party to take advantage of an omission which may have been the result of mere inadvertence, and which could have been easily supplied, or to avail himself of a deficiency in the bill of exceptions, which was probably the result of carelessness incident to the haste withywhieh it was prepared.
