194 P. 48 | Cal. Ct. App. | 1920
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *599 The defendant was indicted for violating chapter 188 of the Statutes of 1919, commonly known as the Criminal Syndicalism Act. He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison. This appeal is from the order denying the motion for a new trial, and in arrest of judgment, and from the judgment of conviction *600 and sentence. The appellant contends that the indictment does not charge a public offense with the degree of certainty required, and that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction. He alleges that error was committed in the introduction of certain exhibits which were subsequently withdrawn, and complains of the action of the trial court in reading the entire statute in its charge to the jury.
The indictment charges that the defendant circulated and publicly displayed certain books, papers, pamphlets, documents, and other printed and written matter, in his possession and custody, and under his control, containing and carrying written advocacy, teaching and advising of criminal syndicalism. The defendant interposed a demurrer to the indictment which was overruled. It is contended, on this appeal, that the ruling of the lower court was erroneous, appellant claiming that the indictment does not state facts sufficient to constitute a public offense, and that it does not contain a statement of the acts constituting the offense charged, in ordinary and concise language, in such manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended; and further, that it is faulty in neither setting out nor identifying the books, papers, pamphlets, documents, and other printed and written matter the defendant is charged with circulating and publicly displaying.
Section 1 of the act defining criminal syndicalism and sabotage, and prescribing what acts and methods in connection therewith amount to a violation of its provisions (Stats. 1919, p. 281), defines the term "criminal syndicalism" to be "any doctrine or precept advocating, teaching or aiding and abetting the commission of crime, sabotage (which word is hereby defined as meaning willful and malicious physical damage or injury to physical property), or unlawful acts of force and violence or unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing a change in industrial ownership or control, or effecting any political change." It is declared in section 2, subdivision 3, that any person who "3. Prints, publishes, edits, issues or circulates or publicly displays any book, paper, pamphlet, document, poster or written or printed matter in any other form, containing or carrying written or printed advocacy, teaching, or aid and abetment of, or advising, criminal syndicalism . . . is guilty of a felony and punishable by imprisonment in the *601 state prison. . . ." Other acts constituting separate offenses under the statute are set forth in section 2, under appropriate groupings. Subdivision 1 relates to any person who by spoken or written words, or personal conduct, advocates criminal syndicalism. Subdivision 2 deals with those who in like manner justify, or attempt to justify, such doctrines. Subdivision 4 refers to those who organize or become members of societies formed for the purpose of teaching criminal syndicalism. Subdivision 5 relates to those persons who advocate criminal syndicalism for the purpose of accomplishing a change in industrial ownership or control, or for effecting political changes.
[1] Omitting the necessary formal parts, the indictment charges that the defendant did "willfully, unlawfully and feloniously circulate and publicly display, certain books, papers, pamphlets, documents and other printed and written matter, then and there in the possession, custody and under the control of him, the said James P. Malley, containing and carrying written advocacy, teaching and advising of criminal syndicalism, to wit: advocating, teaching and advising the commission of crime, sabotage and other willful and malicious damage and injury to property, and unlawful acts of force and violence, and unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing a change in industrial ownership and control, and effecting political changes." This averment, it will be noted, substantially follows the language of section 1 and section 2, subdivision 3 of the statute, by the terms of which the commission of the acts, alleged in the indictment, is made a criminal offense. In support of the sufficiency of the indictment the attorney-general cites In re McDermott,
To hold that the indictment does not state a public offense would be to say that the statute defines none, for, as we shall presently show, the former follows and employs almost the precise language of certain sections of the act. The language of the statute and of the indictment being the same, the latter must be understood in the same sense as the former. (People v. White,
"It is the exclusive province of the legislature to declare what acts, deemed by the lawmakers inimical to the public welfare, shall constitute a crime, to prohibit the same and impose appropriate penalties for a violation thereof. With the wisdom and propriety thereof the courts are not concerned. (State v. Shevlin-Carpenter Co.,
The supreme court of California has said that no reason for holding the act beyond legislative power is obvious to it. (In re McDermott,
The rules by which the sufficiency of the pleadings in criminal actions is to be determined are those prescribed by the Penal Code of this state. [3] Under its provisions an indictment or information is only required to contain a statement of the acts constituting the offense, with which a defendant is charged, in ordinary and concise language, and in such manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended. If the particular circumstances of the offense charged are necessary to constitute a complete offense, the pleading must be direct, and certain in that regard. The words used are to be construed in their usual acceptance in common language, except *604
such words and phrases as are defined by law, which are to be construed according to their legal meaning. Words used in a statute to define a public offense need not be strictly followed, but other words conveying the same meaning may be used. The degree of certainty must be such as to enable the court to pronounce judgment, upon a conviction, according to the right of the case. When these simple requirements have been complied with the indictment, or information, is sufficient as to the statement of the act, or omission, charged as the offense (Pen. Code, secs. 948, 950, 952, 957, 958, 959). These sections were taken almost verbatim from the first "act to regulate proceedings in criminal cases," passed by the legislature in 1850 (Stats. 1850, pp. 275, 293, 294), under which it was almost immediately held that the "subtle distinctions and nice technicalities usually observed in an indictment at common law" had been abolished, and that only the substantial facts necessary to constitute the crime charged must appear. (People v. Thompson,
In keeping with the broad construction placed by it upon the action of the legislature, in establishing the more liberal method of pleading in criminal cases, the supreme court, from the start uniformly held, in respect to indictments generally, that they were sufficient, in matter of averments, if they contained allegations of all the acts, or facts used by the legislature in defining the particular offense charged. (People v. Cronin,
[4] As corollary to these rules of construction, and ever mindful of the lack of care on the part of prosecuting officers, in the preparation of pleadings in criminal matters, to which Chief Justice Murray called attention in the early case of People v. Thompson, supra, the court has as consistently held that while it is a fact that the rules of the common law with respect to criminal pleading have been greatly relaxed in this state by legislation and judicial decision, and many of the formalities and particulars formerly deemed necessary are not now required, there are certain fundamental principles which have neither been abrogated nor modified. A defendant is still entitled to be apprised with reasonable certainty of the nature and particulars of the crime charged against him, that he may prepare his defense, and, upon acquittal or conviction, plead his jeopardy against further prosecution. A defendant is entitled, under any statute, to a clear statement of the offense with which he is charged. (People v. Lee,
Several separate, different, and distinct acts are enumerated in the Criminal Syndicalism Act, the commission of each or any of which constitutes a specific offense, though the same crime, and the defendant, in order to make his defense, was entitled to know what wrong he was charged *606
with. The indictment, as already pointed out, follows substantially the language of section 1, and section 2, subdivision 3 of the act, by the terms of which the commission of the acts there enumerated is made a criminal offense.[5] As the statute defines, and describes, the acts constituting the particular offense, it was sufficient to describe those acts in the indictment in the language employed in the statute, applying them, of course, concretely to the defendant. (People v. Ward,
Had this defendant been charged with merely committing an act of criminal syndicalism in general terms, his objections would be well taken, but he was charged with the commission of a public offense by an indictment, the words of which he, and all others, were bound to construe in their usual acceptance in common language, except the word "sabotage," which carried with it the definition and legal meaning given to it by the statute. (Pen. Code, sec. 957.) He was informed in ordinary and concise language of the acts constituting the alleged crime. No other circumstances were necessary to constitute a complete offense. Bound, as we are, by the unbroken line of authorities in this state to the effect that only in exceptional cases, of which this is not one, is it necessary to do more than set out the offense in the language of the statute, we must hold this indictment sufficient. It contains, in a clear and concise statement, allegations of all the acts and facts used by the legislature in defining the particular offense with which the defendant is charged. According to the established rules of pleading the defendant was informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him. (Burton v. United States,
[6] The indictment did not specify or identify the books, papers, pamphlets, documents, and other printed matter *607
which it is alleged the defendant circulated and publicly displayed, and no copies are attached. Appellant therefore urges the contention that the allegations that the defendant circulated and publicly displayed books and other matter "containing and carrying written advocacy, teaching and advising of criminal syndicalism" states but a conclusion of law, and also that unless the books and other matter so circulated and displayed be identified, or particularly described, the defendant is without means of knowledge sufficient to enable him to prepare a defense. We are not wholly satisfied with the indictment in this respect. We have examined a number of the decisions dealing with prosecutions similar to the one at bar. In nearly every instance, so far as we have gone, some means of identification of the documents in question was adopted. In some cases copies of publications, circulars, and pamphlets were attached to the indictment. (Abrams v. United States,
Even though the indictment was defective in not identifying the matter circulated and displayed by the defendant, which we do not in the least admit, it was but an error in pleading and following the mandatory direction of the constitution (sec. 4 1/2 of art. VI), the judgment should not be reversed unless the error of pleading has, in the opinion of this court, formed after an examination of the entire case, resulted in a miscarriage of justice. (People v. Griesheimer,
It was not necessary to specify the books, papers, pamphlets, or documents alleged to have been circulated and displayed by the defendant, in order to protect him from a second prosecution for the offense. If he should be again prosecuted for the offense, he may plead his conviction in the manner provided by the code, and establish the identity of the cases by evidence, the burden being upon him. (People v. Faust,
The appellant contends that the evidence in this case is insufficient to warrant his conviction. He was shown to be a member and the secretary of the San Francisco branch of the Industrial Workers of the World, an international organization, or movement, commonly known and designated as the "I. W. W." As such secretary he was in charge of its headquarters and the place of assemblage of the members of the organization. On tables and in bookcases in the rooms were openly displayed, and exposed for sale, large quantities of pamphlets and other printed matter, in order to purchase any of which it was necessary to consult the defendant, who stated to a number of persons previous to his arrest that it was "for sale." There were introduced in evidence as being part of the printed matter thus offered for sale by the defendant: A copy of "The One Big Union Monthly," a magazine published by the General Executive *609 Board of the Industrial Workers of the World, and devoted to the dissemination of the preamble and doctrines of the organization, and manifestly devoted to advancing the "triumph of the one big Union"; "The Liberator — a Journal of Revolutionary Progress," a considerable portion of which publication appears to be devoted to extolling Eugene V. Debs and "the invincible I. W. W."; a pamphlet entitled "The Revolutionary I. W. W.," by Grover H. Perry, from which it appears, according to its author, that "the I. W. W. is fast approaching the stage where it can accomplish its mission"; "The Red Dawn — The Bolsheviki and the I. W. W.," in which "the lesson of the Bolsheviki and the road to power of the I. W. W." are offered as a means of advancement to industrial freedom; a leaflet entitled "Poison Gas and Violence"; two books of songs, one entitled "I. W. W. Songs — To Fan the Flames of Discontent," and the other bearing a frontispiece depicting a female figure bearing a shield on which are the words "Solidarity, Class Consciousness," holding aloft a blazing torch, and standing on a platform upon which are the words "I Will Win"; a pamphlet entitled "I. W. W., One Big Union of all the Workers, The Greatest Thing on Earth"; a Russian revolutionary pamphlet, entitled "Lessons of the Revolution, by Vladimir Oulianow (N. Lenin), translated from the Russian original and published by the Bureau of International Revolutionary Propaganda attached to the Commissariat for foreign affairs of the Provisional Workmen's and Peasants' Government of the Russian Republic." This pamphlet, which bears a rubber stamp indorsement "I. W. W. Hall, 1135 Mission St.," accords "all power to the Soviets," which "means a complete surrender of the administration of the country and of control over its economic resources to the workmen and peasants, whom no one would dare to resist, and who would soon learn by experience, from their own practice, justly to distribute the bread, the land, and the necessities."
We do not think it is necessary to make long quotations from these various publications, which were introduced in evidence, in order to illustrate the nature of their contents. One excerpt from the pamphlet "The Revolutionary I. W. W.," by Grover H. Perry, will suffice. The pamphlet de fines the I. W. W. organization as a "labor union that aspires *610 to be the future society," sets forth the "interests in common" of all workers and the power that the I. W. W. would have if, when a strike is called, a whole industry could be paralyzed, and thus an employer "would be forced to accede to the demands of the workers. That is the way the I. W. W. proposes to organize." Further along we find this language:
"The Industrial Workers of the World is an international movement; not merely an American movement. We are 'patriotic' for our class, the working class. We realize that as workers we have no country. The flags and symbols that once meant great things to us have been seized by our employers. Today they mean naught to us but oppression and tyranny. As long as we quarrel among ourselves over differences of nationality, we weaken our cause; we defeat our own purpose. The practice of some craft unions is to bar men because of nationality or race. . . .
"Organizing a New Social System. — The I. W. W. is fast approaching the stage where it can accomplish its mission. This mission is revolutionary in character. The preamble of the I. W. W. constitution says in part: 'By organizing industrially we are forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old.' That is the crux of the I. W. W. position. We are not satisfied with a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. Such a thing is impossible. Labor produces all wealth. Labor is therefore entitled to all wealth. We are going to do away with capitalism, by taking possession of the land and the machinery of production. We don't intend to buy them, either."
As was well said by the writer of the opinion inKumpula v. United States, 261 Fed. 49, 52, [171 C. C. A. 645, 648], in commenting upon this identical language: "If the preamble and constitution of the organization are correctly expounded by the Perry pamphlet, the flag of the nation means only 'oppression' and 'tyranny,' and the 'mission' and purposes of the I. W. W. organization are to be accomplished by force, violence, and other unlawful means."
We have already alluded to the design and purpose of the legislature in the enactment of the statute. "Sabotage," in the ordinary sense of the word, means the "malicious waste or destruction of an employer's property by workmen during labor troubles." (Webster's New International Dictionary, *611
1919.) Its legal meaning, as applied by the legislature, is found in the statute which defines criminal syndicalism as "any doctrine or precept advocating, teaching or aiding and abetting the commission of crime, sabotage (which word is hereby defined as meaning willful and malicious physical damage or injury to physical property), or unlawful acts of force and violence or unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing a change in industrial ownership or control, or effecting any political change." The circulation or display of printed matter, in any form, containing "advocacy, teaching or aid and abetment of, or advising criminal syndicalism" is prohibited by the act, the incentive for the adoption of which, as stated in one of its sections, was the fact that large numbers of persons were then going from place to place in this state, advocating, teaching, and practicing the doctrine of sabotage, and other unlawful acts of force, violence, and unlawful means of terrorism, employed in furtherance of industrial demands, and in settlement of alleged grievances against their employers. So insistent was the danger that the legislature departed from its usual course, and provided that the act, destined to put a stop to the practices therein made unlawful, should have immediate effect. It was the unlawful acts of force and unlawful methods of terrorism that the legislature struck at, not acts which are permissible and within the law. (In re Hartman,
Appellant's arrest, and subsequent conviction, followed not long after the enactment of the law. When arrested, the defendant declared that he was not a citizen of the United States, and that he had no desire to be one. A copy of the Criminal Syndicalism Act, under which this prosecution is lodged, was posted conspicuously upon the wall in the headquarters. We are satisfied from the record that the defendant distributed the literature under his control and in his possession with full understanding of its nature; and this, of itself, furnished a ground for attributing to him an intent to bring about, and for finding that he was thereby attempting to bring about, any and all such consequences as might reasonably be anticipated from its distribution. (Pierce v. United States,
[9] During the trial the court admitted in evidence on behalf of the prosecution certain translations from Russian writings, and a copy of "I. W. W., Its History, Structure and Methods, by Vincent St. John," which were found in the desk of the defendant. Later, upon the suggestion of the district attorney, they were withdrawn. The court thereupon ordered the exhibits stricken out, and instructed the jury to disregard them. Defendant contends that prejudicial error resulted from the admission of these exhibits, which was not cured by their subsequent withdrawal, and the instructions of the court. He fails to point out, however, where any error resulted, relying merely upon People v. Derbert,
[10] Appellant's last contention is that the court erred in reading all of sections 1 and 2 of the Criminal Syndicalism Act in its charge, instead of instructing the jury that the defendant was only charged with violating subdivision 3 of said section 2, which specifically relates to the printing, publishing, and displaying of certain printed matter. The court, however, read the indictment in full, and charged the jury that it must find the defendant guilty "of the crime as set forth in the indictment beyond all reasonable doubt," or not at all. This was a sufficient express limitation of the terms of the act to the allegations contained in the indictment. (Hargrave v. State (Tex. Cr.),
The defendant was charged with a public offense in an indictment which was sufficient for that purpose. His guilt was established to the satisfaction of the jury upon evidence of sufficient probative force to warrant the conviction. No miscarriage of justice resulted from any matter occurring in connection with the overruling of the demurrer or rulings of the court during the trial.
The orders denying defendant's motions for a new trial, and in arrest of judgment, and the judgment are and each is affirmed.
Richards, J., and Beasly, J., pro tem., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing of this cause was denied by the district court of appeal on November 6, 1920. *614