Hale v. United States, 242 F. 891

Hale v. United States

242 F. 891 | 8th Cir. | 1917

STONE, Circuit Judge.

Error from conviction for having counterfeit national bank note in possession, with knowledge of its spurious character and with intent to pass the same.

The indictment was drawn against this plaintiff in error and one John Doe (Robert E. Winters). It contained other counts not involved in this writ. The assignments of error may be grouped as follows: Insufficiency of evidence to sustain the verdict and judgment; refusal to grant continuance when, at the opening of the case, there was dismissal as to the codefendant, Winters; case not delayed overnight to permit investigation of credibility of witness Hammond, introduced in rebuttal by the government; improper conduct of counsel in stating before jury during the testimony that he would show that the defendant, when arrested, had in his possession a leaden dollar, and in stating during the argument that the assessment of the penalty was for the judge.

[1,2] The error mainly insisted upon in brief and argument was the insufficiency of the evidence. This insistence cannot prevail for two reasons: First, it cannot be considered by the court, because not properly raised by a motion for directed verdict after all the evidence. It is true that such a motion was made at the close of the evidence, just before argument; but during the argument the case was reopened, and plaintiff in error permitted to introduce the testimony of a new witness. Thereafter the motion was not renewed. Simpson v. U. S., 184 Fed. 817, 107 C. C. A. 89 (8th Circuit). Second, it is not the province of this court to pass upon the weight or sufficiency of the evidence, but solely upon the presence of any substantial evidence to sustain .the verdict. A careful reading of the entire evidence shows substantial evidence upon which to base the verdict. Therefore, irrespective of the proper preservation of this point, it could not be allowed.

[3, 4] Objection is made that the court should have granted a continuance when the government dismissed as to the other defendant, Winters, who- afterwards testified as a witness for the United States. It is said that plaintiff in error might have obtained testimony to affect his credibility or might have ascertained a defense to his testimony. This case came on for trial May 2d. At once the government dismissed as to John Doe (R. E. Winters). Thereafter a jury was impaneled, the indictment read, and defendant’s plea stated to the jury, counsel for each side stated his case to the jury, and, the hour of adjournment having arrived, the court recessed until the next day. Upon resumption of the case next day, the application for continuance was presented and denied. Waiving any question of the delay in presenting this application, there was no error in refusing it. Applications for continuances address themselves to the sound judicial discretion of the trial court. The appellate court can never have mirrored to it the exact situation in the trial court. It is therefore cautious in substituting its own discretion, and will not do so unless it appears clearly that the trial court has erred. No such abuse of discretion is found here.

[5, 6] Error is claimed because in rebuttal the government placed on the stand a witness,- Hammond, and the court refused to hold the *894case until the following morning to permit investigation of this witness. Counsel for plaintiff in error frankly stated:

“I do think that your honor ought to give me until to-morrow morning. I may not find a thing on earth that can do this court or jury any good.”

At the evening session, during the argument by the government, the case was reopened to enable plaintiff in error to put on a witness in an endeavor to impeach Hammond. What has just been said regarding the discretion of the trial court applies to this objection. We find no error in refusing the delay.

[7] Error is urged in the conduct of counsel for the government in statements made during the testimony that possession of a leaden dollar by plaintiff in error at the time of his arrest would be shown. During the examination by the government of the witness Mulkey, a deputy United States marshal who aided in the arrest, occurred the following:

“Q. What did you find in that search of the defendant? A. Oh, I don’t remember what all I did find. I found some money — X found a piece of money •on him that I have in my possession.

“Defendant objects: This is six months after the alleged offense in this case; irrelevant, incompetent, immaterial, too remote, and has no bearing on this transaction.

“By the Court: The question will be stricken out, and given no attention by the jury, or any remarks made about it.”

This is the entire content of the record. The last portion of the quoted ruling makes it evident that remarks were made by the district attorney regarding this matter. But no such remarks are preserved in the bill of exceptions. This court can act only upon the transcript brought here. This‘also applies to the suggested error concerning alleged prejudicial statements in course of argument, no part of which is preserved in the transcript.

The judgment is affirmed.