Heidelbaugh v. State

79 Neb. 499 | Neb. | 1907

Barnes, J.

On the 10th day of May, 1906, the barn of one August Schmelling, situated in Nuckolls county, Nebraska, was destroyed by fire, which was claimed to be of incendiary origin. Elmer Heidelbaugh, hereafter called the defendant, was arrested, and thereafter charged with having set fire to said barn. His trial resulted in a conviction, and he brings the case here for review.

Defendant contends (1) that the district court erred in receiving the evidence of the prosecuting witness as to footprints which he claims to have found in the vicinity of his barn, and also near a building called the “Guthrie corncrib,” which had previously been destroyed by fire; (2) that the court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to the effect of the evidence which tended to establish an alibi; and (3) that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the verdict.

The record discloses that the prosecuting witness was permitted to testify in substance, over the defendant’s objections; that he found certain tracks or footprints in the sand on his premises, starting about 50 feet, from where his barn stood, leading north and west toward the river ; that he found footprints in the corn field, after the other fire' occurred, about 175 yards from bis place, leading-right through the field; that said footprints were made by the same person as those found west of his barn after the fire in question; that he had observed the shoes that the defendant was wearing after the Guthrie fire occurred, and the footprints he had described were, in his opinion, made by defendant’s shoes. It appears that he based his opinion on the fact that the footprints were made by a No. 7 or No. 8 shoe; that the defendant’s shoes were about that size, and were run down from the side. That this was prejudicial to the defendant there can be no doubt, because the state produced no other evidence by which it could be even inferred that defendant was within a mile and a quarter of the Schmelling barn on the evening when it was burned. It therefore must have been a controlling factor Avith the jury in arriving at their verdict. It also appears that no sufficient foundation was laid for its admission. The fact that the tracks were made by a No. 7 or No. 8 shoe was not sufficient to connect the defendant themvith, because shoes of that size are probably Avorn by at least two-thirds of the male population in the vicinity where the fire occurred. Again, there Avas nothing in the testimony to show Avlien the tracks found in the corn field were made. They were not traced to or from the place where the Guthrie fire occurred, and those found in the vicinity of. the fire in question were at least 50 feet from where the barn stood, and, so far as the evidence goes, they may have been made a Aveek or a month before the fire occurred. To show how unreliable this evidence was, it is only necessary to refer to the testimony of the Avitness McDade. He testified that he took the shod from the defendant’s foot and fitted it in the tracks found. He stated repeatedly that he could not tell whether the tracks were made by the defendant’s shoe or not. He further said that there was a large patch on the bottom of the shoe, and that he looked for that in the footprint and failed to find it. In conclusion, he said: “The only thing I could tell was that the shoe was about the size of the track. Just about the size; it would be impossible to tell exactly.” Not only was the evidence complained of incompetent, but it tended to show that the defendant was suspected of having been the cause of the Guthrie fire, without showing that fire to have been of incendiary origin.

Finally, the witness without qualifying himself, was allowed to express his opinion to the effect that the footprints Avere made by the defendant. This was reversible error. He should have been required to state the facts shoAving how his comparisons or tests were made, and allow the jury to determine the results thereof. The evidence complained of should have been excluded from the consideration of the jury.

It is next contended that the court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to the effect, of defendant’s evidence tending to establish an alibi. That question was before this court in Ferguson v. State, 52 Neb. 432, where it Avas said: “It is not reversible error to fail to instruct on the subject of an alibi, Avhere no request to charge upon that feature of the case has been tendered.” It appears from the record that the defendant tendered no request in this case; therefore, his contention cannot be sustained. Hill v. State, 42 Neb. 503; Housh v. State, 43 Neb. 163; Metz v. State, 46 Neb. 547; Pjarrou v. State, 47 Neb. 294.

Lastly, it is said that the evidence is not sufficient to support the verdict. It appears that the prosecuting Avitness and one McBride, Avho was working for him, left the premises in question shortly after 6 o’clock, and went on foot to the city of Superior, a distance of something ■over a mile and a quarter; that some time after arriving there they saAv the defendant on the street, going in the direction of the river. This was not earlier than half past 6 o'clock in the evening before the fire occurred. It was more than a mile and a quarter from Avhere these Avitnesses saw the defendant to the Schmelling barn. It Avas a mile and a half from the barn to the river, where the defendant was afterwards found, and that point Avas more than a mile and a half fror. the city. It appears that the defendant, Avith several others, was engaged in fishing on the afternoon and evening in question; that AArhen in town he procured a lunchec i for some of his companions at the river, which he placed in a paper sack and carried to them. Several Avitnesses saw him at the river Avith the paper sack at half past 7 o’clock. He was also seen there by others at 8 o’clock and at half past 8 o’clock, at which time he, among others, noticed the fire in question. While it Avas not absolutely impossible for him to have gone from the town to the Schmelling barn, and from there to the fishing place on the river,- where he was seen at half past 7 o’clock, yet it is quite improbable that he did so. It must be remembered that this Avas before sunset, and in the broad light of day, and it is not reasonable to suppose that he would have set fire to the barn at a time Avlien he could have been readily seen by the persons who occupied the Guthrie place, which was. only 18 or 20 rods therefrom.

An attempt was made to prove that. defendant had a motive for the commission of the crime charged. It was shown that the prosecuting witness had told certain parties that he suspected that the defendant burned the Guthrie corncrib; that this fact had been communicated to the defendant, Avho thereupon said that he would get even with Schmelling or any other man that accused him of it. On cross-examination, however, the witness testified that the defendant said he was a poor man, and that such stories would injure him and destroy his opportunity to obtain work, and that he would make some one prove it. We are unable to see how this very natural expression tended in any way to show a motive for the commission of the crime. There was no evidence offered showing or tending to show that the fire was of incendiary origin. Its origin was, in fact, unaccounted for. Having in view the rule that the state in a criminal case must show the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, it would seem that the evidence contained in the bill of exceptions is insufficient to sustain the verdict.

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.

Reverse»,