45 Fla. 46 | Fla. | 1903
Judson Mathis, one of the plaintiffs in error, and Lewis Hogans were jointly indicted for murder in the first degree, and in the same indictment Luther Mathis, the other plaintiff in error, was charged with being accessory before the fact of such murder, said indictment being found at the Fall term, 1902, of the Circuit Court for Hamilton county. A severance was granted as to the said Lewis Hogans, and, at the same term oí court at which the indictment wa's found, the plaintiffs in error, hereinafter referred to as the defendants, were tried together, whicli said trial resulted in the said Judson Mathis being convicted of murder in the third degree and the said Luther Mathis of being accessory before'the fact, and each of said defendants was sentenced to be confined in the State prison at hard labor for a term of twenty years. From this judgment and sentence the defendants seek reversal by writ of error.
The first assignment offrerror is that “the court below erred in refusing to grant the motion of the plaintiff in error, Luther Mathis, for a bill of particulars.”
“The grand jurors of the - State of Florida, duly chosen, empannelled and sworn diligently to inquire and true presentment make in and for the'body of -the county of Hamilton, upon their oath present that Judson 31a-tliis and Lewis Hogans, on the third day of- May, A. I). 1902, in the county of Hamilton -and State of Florida, with force and arms and a certain deadly weapon, to-wit: a rifle, loaded with gunpowder and leaden bullets, which the said Judson Mathis then -and there had and held in his'hands, in and upon one William Massey unlawfully and from a premeditated design to effect the death of the said William Massey did make -an assault; and the said Judson Mathis did then and there unlawfully and from a premeditated design to effect tlie death of the said William M-assey shoot off and discharge the rifle aforesaid against, upon and into the body of one George Riley, and the said Judson Mathis did then and there unlawfully and from a preméditated design to effect the death of the -said William Massey, strike, penetrate and wound the said George Riley with one of the leaden bullets aforesaid so shot off and discharged out of the rifle aforesaid, thereby giving and inflicting unlawfully and form a premeditated design to effect the death.of the said William Massey, to and upon the said George Riley, in and upon the body of the said George Riley, one mortal wound of depth and breadth to the grand jurors unknown, of and from.-which said mortal wound- the said George Riley did languish, and languishing did live till the 4th day of May, A. I). 1902, on which said 4th day of May, A. I). 1902, the said George Riley
The motion interposed by the defendant Luther Mathis, the overruling of which is made the bas:s of the first error assigned, omitting the formal parts, reads as follows: “Now comes the defendánt Luther Mathis- and shows to the court that he is indicted in the above entitled prosecution as an accessory before the fact to the alleged murder of one George Riley, and that the said indictment charges him with accessorial acts beginning on the first day of February, 1902, „and ending on the third day of May, 1902, and on divers other days between the said first day of February, 1902, and the said thirl day of May, 1902; that in the said indictment the nature and character of the said acts are not set out or stated and that he is not prepared to defend himself against
To' this motion was appended the affidavit of said defendant to the effect that the statements made therein were true. ■
The following ruling was made by the trial judge upon said motion: “There being nothing presented to the court except what appears upon the fact of the affidavit and the indictment, the court overruled defendant’s motion, to which ruling the defendant Luther Mathis by counsel then and there excepted and exceptions were duly noted.”
Prior to the interposition of said motion each of the defendants had been arraigned and each had interposed a plea of not guilty We are of the opinion that the motion was made too late and that it should have been interposed prior to pleading to the merits, and that by so pleading the right to a bill of particulars, if any such right existed in the instant case, was waived. We have examined a large number of cases in. which the right to a bill of particulars was considered and passed upon, as will appear later on in this opinion, and it seems to be established by the great weight of authority that the proper time to apply therefor is before pleading to the merits. This court has held in a civil case that “it is too late after plea to the action, for the defendant to demand a bill of particulars.” Waterman v. Mattair, 5 Fla. 211. We know of no reason why a like rule should not apply in a criminal case. 3 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 522, 554.
We might stop here and refuse to- further consider this error, but, in view of the fact.that the decision of this court in the case of Thalheim v. State, 38 Fla. 169, 20 South. Rep. 938, wherein the practice of allowing bills of particulars in criminal, cases was discussed, seems to have been' misconstrued by some members of the bar, we deem it well to further examine the question. Counsel for defendants has cited a number of cases in his brief upon this point, every one of which we have carefully examined and find that not one of them sustain» his contention. We have also examined all the authorities- bearing upon this point in the full and able brief of the Attorney-Gten-er-al, as well as a number of additional authorities. We think it well to- give a summary of our investigations- as well,-as the conclusion which we have reached.
One of the earliest English cases which we have been able to find upon -the subject, and which seems to be a leading case, is Rex v. Hodgson, 3 Carr. & P. 422, decided in 1828. Thi-s was a prosecution for embezzlement, and the defendant filed -an affidavit in which he recited,"that he was wholly unacquainted with the particular acts of embezzlement intended to be charged against him. -and also that he was advised, and verily believed, that, in order to .his defence, it w-a-s necessary that he should be furnished with a particular- of the. specific, charges intended to be brought forward. Counsel thereupon moved •for an order directing the prosecutor to furnish a particular of the charges, arguing that, as the indictment gave
In the case of Reg. v. Flower, reported in 3 Jur. 558, decided in 1839, which was a prosecution for a nuisance, defendant, before the trial, moved for a rule requiring the prosecutor to give him a note of the several acts of nuisance he intended to prove, and of the dates on which they were alleged to have been committed. The motion was granted as to the acts but denied as t<rthe dates. Also see, to the same effect, Rex. v. Curwood, 3 Adolph. & E. 815, prosecution for a nuisance; Goddard v. Smith, 6 Mod. Rep. 373; prosecution for barratry; Reg. v. Rycroft, 6 Cox Cr. Cas. 76, prosecution for conspiracy to cheat and defraud; Reg. v. Stapylton, 8 Cox Cr. Cas. 69, prosecution for conspiracy to defraud; Rex v. Bootyman, 5 Carr. & P. 300, prosecution for embezzlement; Rex v. Hamilton, 7 Carr. & P. 448, prosecution for conspiracy to defraud. The question- seems to have been oftener before the court of Massachusetts than any of the other courts of this country. In Commonwealth v. Davis, 11 Pick. 432, which was a prosecution for being a common bar
From our investigation of these authorities we have reached the following conclusions, which we believe to be supported by reason as well as the weight of authority: The proper time to interpose a motion for a bill of particulars is before pleading to the merits; that in certain classes of cases, such as are set forth in the foregoing authorities, where the counts or charges in- an indictment or information are so general in their nature that they do not fully advise the accused of the crime with which he is charged so that he could properly prepare his defense, upon a proper showing being made to the trial court by the defendant in a motion, verified by affidavit; the court has the power to order the furnishing of a bill of particulars by the prosecution and should do so; such an application or motion, however, is not founded upon a legal right, but is a matter resting within the sound judicial discretion of the court, depending entirely upon the nature and circumstances of each particular case as they appear to the court before whom the trial is had, and the refusal of the trial judge to grant said motion will not be disturbed or reversed by an appellate court, unless there was axi abuse of such discretion; such motion should particularly set forth the portions x of the indictment or information which the defendant claims to require amplification by bill of particulars and point out to the court wherein he desires a fuller statement of the facts. We will add that under the system of criminal pleading prevailing in this1 State, the forms of indictments and informations generally used, we can conceive of but few criminal cases wherein it would be necessary to order a bill of particulars.
The second error assigned is that “the court below
The third, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, twenty-fifth, thirtieth, thirty-third and thirty-sixth errors assigned are all expressly abandoned by counsel for defendants in his brief.
The fourth, fifth and sixth errors assigned are all based upon the action of the trial court in denying the defendants the right to peremptorily challenge' certain jurors after they had been sworn in chief. No error was committed in so doing. As was said in Bradham v. State, 41 Fla. 541, 26 South. Rep. 730, “while defendants upon trial for crime should be protected in. the proper exercise of tlicir right of peremptory challenge, yet such right must be seasonably exercised before the jurors are sworn in chief; otherwise it is waived.” Also see O’Connor v. State, supra; Wharton’s Case, Yelverton, 24.
The eighth error assigned is that “the court below erred in sustaining objection of the State to the voir dire examination of the venireman N. W. Marion by counsel for plaintiffs in error.” In referring to the record we do not find that the State interposed any objection to any question propounded to said venireman, but that the tidal judge did refuse to allow him to answer a certain question. It is sufficient to say that no error was committed here, for the reason that said juror was afterwards peremptorily challenged, and said, challenge did not exhaust the peremptory challenges of defendants, nor were they exhausted when the panel ivas completed. Green v. State, supra.
The ninth error assigned is that “the court below erred in challenging for cause the venireman Moses Frink.” In turning to the record we find that the challenge to said juror was made by the 'State and the court sustained the challenge, holding that said venireman was not. a competent juror. Said venireman had testified on voir dire that he had formed and expressed an opinion, had “heard all about it and had spoken to one of the witnesseshe talked to me about the case.” He was properly excused. It is
The' seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth errors assigned are grouped together in the brief of counsel for defendants and no argument is made concerning them; therefore we treat them as abandoned. Mitchell v. State and Williams v. State, each decided at the present term; Thomas v. State, 36 Fla. 109, 18 South. Rep. 331; Porter v. Parslow, 39 Fla. 50, 21 South. Rep. 574.
The twenty-ñrst error assigned is as follows: • “The court below erred in refusing 'to admit in evidence the testimony of the witness Geo. H. Wynn, in answer to the question, “I will ask you to state the exact words you used a while ago.” It is sufficient to say that this question was hut. a repetition and was unnecessary. The question was answered by the witness both before and after the objection, so no injury could have resulted to the defendants. Baker v. State, 30 Fla. 41, 11 South. Rep. 492.
Tiie twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth error's assigned are grouped together with the twenty-first error by counsel for defendants in his brief and all argued together. Upon examination we find that the several questions propounded by counsel for defendants to the witnesses, Homor Cribbs, and George H. Wynn, the sustaining of objections to which by the State forms the basis of these errors, were confusing and not calculated to properly inform the witness as to the information sought to he elicited. No error was committed. They
The twenty-sixth assignment of error is as follows: “And the plaintiffs in error say that they were denied the full exercise of the right of counsel in their trial and that their said trial was prejudiced by the court in this: first, in sustaining objection of the 'State to the cross-examination of witness Homer Cribbs, on the ground that -such examination was unfair in using towards defendants’ counsel, R. B. Bullock, these words, 'If you say he said something when you know he did not you are not fair to the witness, then you are unfair to the witness.’ ” To say the least of it, this assignment is not very carefull,-y worded and it is not very clear just what counsel means. We have already held that the court did not err in sustaining the objection of, the State to the question propounded to the witness by counsel for defendants, and, for that reason, we might well refuse to examine the assignment further. However, on turning to the record, we find that the counsel for defendants stated that he knew1 when he asked the question that the words- repeated by him tl srein were not the exact words used by the witness, whereupon the court stated that if tlie attorney had intentionally stated to the witness that he had used certain words when he knew that the witness had not used them, it was unfair to the witness. No error wras committed here. It is apparent that the witness was quite illiterate and had difficulty in grasping and understánding the questions propounded to him b^ the counsel for the defendants.
The twenty-seventh error assigned is not borne out by the record. The court did not -say that the question propounded- by counsel for defendants to witness was “unintelligible,” as set forth in said assignment, but that it
The twenty-eighth error- assigned is as follows: “And .the plaintiffs in error say that thej^ were denied the full exercise of the right of counsel, -their trial prejudiced and its fairness impaired, in this, that the court below used towards their counsel, R. B. Bullock, these words,. 'I think, Mr. Bu-lloc.k, your head is full of cob-webs.’ ”
While-we do not declare that the-remark thus- made, to counsel constitutes reversible error,-we’are- of opinion that it was ill-advised and unfortunate. • As was ¡said -by this court in Hubbard v. State, 37 Fla. 156, text 159, 20 South. Rep. 235, “the utmost care should always be used-;., by the -triad * judges, especially-in cases where human life is involved, not to let any expression fall/ either" by ques-tions or otherwise! that is capable of being ¡interpreted by the jury as an index of what he. thinks-of the prisoner, his counsel qr.Jiis. case.”., Also, see Lester v. State, 37 Fla. 382, 20 South. Rep. 232. As was., said ip State v. Allen, 100 Iowa, 7, text 12, 69 N. W. Rep. 274,’.“it nra^t'be.', remembered that- jurors watch courts closely, and place great reliance on what a trial court says and does.. They;., are quick to perceive the leaning of the court. They are prompt'to notice the 'inclination, even, of the'court, and. from his conduct, whether properly or not,' they will almost invariably arrive at a conclusion as to what the court'thinks about the case.' ; Every remark 'dropped11'by the cofifct, every act done by him during the progress of the trial, is the subject of coniment and - conclusion by jurymen. Hence it is that judges presiding ■ at trials should be exceedingly discreet in what they say and do in the presence of a jury, lest they seem to-lean toward 'or'
ífe' t^entymihth’ értoi* a'ssignPd id that “the court below éhifé'd11 in;'- declating, otér. the objection1 of - plaintiffs iii érrpr, tÜ!é; crbss-eSkmlhatiPh, pf' W'íthéss;' Homer' (jribbs. dcteépí' AV alfeády1 saidj we find that' thfe crosspxamihatiPh[of tfaiá; Chess'lxád;b'éé'h;m'ucb! protracted; and wé fürítífer'flín'á ’tiiht cPúitsél -f br défendaiits 'had 'been aífbrdé'd ámjjlé oppoiitínity for ciPss^éikffiln'áfioh, It is'within thp sohnd:judibiá 1 discretion. of' the.c’oiirt to control: the déjtiaíled; ekahúñ'htibn of' vdtn'essé'á, and, unless" an' abuse of'this judicial discretion is sho wn tó .thq, appellate court, it'will' n!qt: disturb, or: reverse thé ruling. No error is shown hete. Baker v. State, 30 Fla. 41, 11 South. Rep. 492; Jenkins v. State, 31 Fla. 196, 12 South. Rep. 677; Buck v. Maddock, 167 Ill. 219, 47 N. E. Rep. 208; Abbott’s Trial Brief, Crim. Cases, (2nd ed.) 319.
The thirty-second error assigned is based upon a charge of the court defining murder in the thiid degree. Counsel for defendants in error contends that there can not
The thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth errors are based upon the refusal of the trial court to give certain requested instructions. We find that no exceptions were taken to the refusal to give these instruction." They could not be excepted to- in a motion for a new trial. Lester v. State, 37 Fla. 382, 20 South. Rep. 232.
The thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth errors are based upon tlie action of the court in giving certain portions of instructions to tlie' jury. We have e-arefully examined sáid instructions and áre of the opinion that, taken as á wliole, they were 'not .erroneous. Gray v. State, 42 Fla. 174, 28 South. Rep. 53 ; Kennard v. State, 42 Fla. 581, 28 South. Rep. 858.
The thirty-ninth error is based upon a charge given .by the court to the effect that there may' be -an accessory be: fore the fact to the offense of manslaughter. Under Re-' vised Statutes, sections 2354,- 2355, whoever counsels’ hires or otherwise procures a felony to be committed may be indicted -and convicted as an accessory before tlie fact.' -Murder in the third degree is a felony. Rev... Stats., secs.'2380 and 2352, constitution of 1885, Article XVI- section 25, Chap. 4988 -of acts of 1901, make the wanton or malicious shooting at or into any dwelling or' any other house Avhich is being used or occupied á felony. The unlawful killing of a human being without any design to effect death by one who wantonly or maliciously, shoots at or 'in any dwelling or any -other house which is
The fortieth error assigned.is that the court erred in not sustaining the motion.for a new tria.1 on the twenty-, eighth ground .thereof, This ground of said motion is not the one discussed by counsel in his- brief under this assignment, and.hence we treat it as abanaoneff , .
The forty-first error is not nientioned by counsel in his brief, and is, therefore, abandoned.. '.........
The forty-second,, forty-third and forty-fourth ...errors are based upon, the refusal of the trip] c.gurt -to give certain charges-.in .the' form in which they, were ¡asked, .and in modifyinig and then .givinig them.. N.o harm could have resulted to defendants from this. The charges as asked were erroneous and as.modified and.given.they relate to a higher offense than that .of which they were convicted. Richard, v. State, 42 Fla. 528, 29 South. Rep. 413.
The forty-fifth and forty-sixth errors are also based upon the refusal of the trial court to give certain requested charges, winch charges we have examined and find to be clearly erroneous, and, therefore, they were properly refused. '
The forty {seventh and forty-eighth errors are based upon the action of the trial court in overruling the motions in arrest of judgment interposed by the defendants. The defendant Luther Mathis interposed a motion, and
The forty-ninth error is based upon the action of the court in sustaining the objection of the State to the examination of a venireman, and we have already discussed and disposed of same.
The only remaining error to be considered is the overruling of the motion for a new trial. It contains, as we have said, forty grounds, but most of them have already been considered in disposing of other errors. The defendants introduced no evidence at the trial. We have carefully examined the evidence introduced by the State, arid are of the opinion that it is amply sufficient to sus
Finding no reversible error, the judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.