Johnson v. State

Jan 15, 1877

Reporters:
Before:: Jackson

Jackson, Judge.

The defendant was indicted for stealing a cow, and convicted of that crime. He moved for a new trial on three grounds ; the motion was denifed‘,’ and he excepted.

1. The first ground was, that two witnesses were absent, and he moved to continue the case, and the court refused it. He had continued before for the absence of these two witnesses ; they had gone to Alabama, beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and the court declined to grant another continuance. We shall not interfere with the discretion of the court in this matter, but hold that the judge did right — certainly he did not abuse his discretion.

2. The second error assigned is, that the court permitted the solicitor general, after a juror was put upon the prisoner, but before he was sworn, to inquire if the juror was naturalized, the information that the juror had never been naturalized having that moment come to the knowledge of the solicitor, and that the coürt then excused the juror for cause. Again, we hold that the judge did right. The point was settled in 3 Kelly, 453, and the law to the same effect will be found re-enacted in the Code, §1681.

3. The third and only remaining ground insisted upon here is, that the court charged the jury as follows : “ if you should find him guilty, you may inquire what were the circumstances under which he stole this colored man’s cow, and brought her to town to sell her. Were they such as to justify you in recommending him to the mercy of the court ? What mitigating circumstances, if he is guilty, are there to warrant you in recommending him to the mercy of the court ? If any, he is entitled to their benefit. If, in your judgment, he stole the cow, and there were any cir*493cumstances connected with it such as to warrant you in recommending him to the mercy of the court, why then it would be your duty to do it; but if there be none to justify you in recommending him to the mercy of the court, why then you ought not to do it.” This charge is assigned as error. This offense is cattle-stealing, and the punishment thereof is found in the Code, section 4399. It is confinement in the penitentiary from “two to ‘four “years, “ unless the jury trying the case shall recommend the prisoner to mercy; in that event he shall he punished as prescribed in section 4310 of this Code.” Section 4310 prescribes punishment not more severe than the chain-gang, fine of a thousand dollars, and imprisonment six months. So that a recommendation to mercy grades this offense as less than felony, keeps the prisoner out of the penitentiary, and is a great right to which the defendant is entitled by law. What is that right ? It is a right for the jury to say whether he shall be sent to the penitentiary or not. Under what circumstances? Under all circumstances. The law does not limit it to a case of- mitigating circumstances, or any peculiar circumstances whatever. But the mercy of the jury, the neighbors of the man, is free; and freely it may be bestowed in any case. It is lodged, too, by the general assembly, whether wisely or not we are not called upon to say, in the jwry, and not in the judge. Ordinarily, punishment, its degree and extent, is vested in the court, the occupant of the circuit bench; but the statute, in these offenses, vests it in the jury, to the extent of saying that this man shall not go to the penitentiary. Whether they ought or ought not to be merciful, is for them to say, independently of directions from the court as to the circumstances which would justify them in so saying. Inasmuch as the effect of the charge of the court was to restrict a right in the jury which the law did not restrict, and as it might have prevented this jury from saying, by their verdict, that the defendant shall not be sent to the penitentiary, we feel ob*494liged by tbe law to reverse tbe judgment, and to grant a new trial.

Judgment reversed.