People v. Kennedy

| Mich. | May 21, 1895

Long, J.

Respondent was informed against in the recorder’s court of the city of Detroit for an assault upon one Frank Grabowski, with intent to do great bodily harm less than the crime of murder. He was impleaded with one George Gannon, who was acquitted upon the trial. The parties had an examination in the police court, and were hound over for trial. On the trial it appeared that respondent was the overseer upon a paving contract. Grabowski and about 20 others were under his supervision. The people’s contention was that some altercation arose between Kennedy and one Peahalski, which resulted in a fight between them and others of the workmen; that, while this was in progress, respondent Gannon came running up, and struck Grabowski on the head with a hoe, and that, while he was down, Kennedy kicked him, and inflicted great bodily injuries. The respondent Kennedy contended that, if any wounds were inflicted upon Grabowski, it was by Gannoii or some other party, and not by himself.

On the trial Grabowski testified that, while Kennedy was fighting with Peahalski, he went up, and attempted to pick Peahalski up, when he was struck on the head by Gannon with a hoe, and then Kennedy commenced kicking him; that he saw Gannon strike him with the hoe. The defense called the deputy clerk of the police court, who testified that he wrote down the testimony of Grabowski in the police court. He was asked:

“Q. Do you recollect what he testified to there, as to whether he could tell who struck him or not?

“A. I do not remember whether he said he did or did not. The testimony will show.

“Q. Would your recollection be refreshed if you looked at the testimony?

“A. Well, if in the testimony it said that he knew, why I would know.

“Q. Would your recollection be so refreshed that you would remember it aside from the testimony, if you looked over the testimony?

“A. I think it would.”

It was contended on the part of the respondent that the testimony given in the police court by Grabowski was that he could not say who hit him on the head with the hoe; and that he now changed his testimony upon the trial; and that, if the testimony were permitted to he given, it would contradict the witness upon a material point, and support the theory of the defense that, in the general melee, he could not tell who hit him or who kicked him.

The court was in error in refusing to permit the witness to refresh his recollection from the testimony he had so taken. The rule is stated by Mr. Greenleaf in his work on Evidence as follows:

“Though a witness can testify only to such facts as are within his own knowledge and recollection, yet he is permitted to refresh and assist his memory by the use of a written instrument, memorandum, or entry in a book.” 1 Greenl. Ev. § 436.

The same question was before this Court in Caldwell v. Bowen, 80 Mich. 382" court="Mich." date_filed="1890-05-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/caldwell-v-bowen-7934673?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7934673">80 Mich. 382, and Robinson v. Mulder, 81 Id. 75; and it was held that the .witness had the right to refresh his recollection from memoranda which he had made.

The depositions of the witnesses taken in the court below were offered in evidence by the respondent for the purpose of showing contradictory statements of the witnesses. This was excluded. The depositions of witnesses taken upon the preliminary examination before the examining magistrate are admissible as original evidence. Lightfoot v. People, 16 Mich. 507" court="Mich." date_filed="1868-04-28" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/lightfoot-v-people-6634095?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6634095">16 Mich. 507; People v. Butler, 55 Id. 409.

The conviction must be reversed, and a new trial granted.

McGrath, C. J., Montgomery and Hooker, JJ., concurred. Grant, J., did not sit.