Crim. No. 311. | Cal. Ct. App. | Nov 28, 1913
The defendant, having been convicted of the crime of incest, appeals from the judgment on the verdict, and from an order denying his motion for a new trial.
On behalf of appellant it is claimed that he was prejudiced by certain questions, insinuations and remarks by the district attorney, which occurred during the cross-examination of the defendant, all of which it is claimed caused passion and prejudice against the defendant in the minds of the jury. During said cross-examination the defendant had testified to the fact that while under arrest he was taken from the city jail and was kept for some time in the county hospital, and that he was filled full of whisky and questioned by a certain policeman. The alleged misconduct of the district attorney, if confirmed at all by the record, is covered by the following:
"Q. by District Attorney: They treated you pretty bad down there, did they, Mr. Smith?
"Defendant's Attorney: If the court please, I object to this conduct on the part of counsel and assign it as error. It is not proper or ethical.
"District Attorney: I admit I should not smile, but some things are too funny.
"The Court: Counsel should not express their feelings that way. The jury will judge.
"District Attorney: I understand that, your honor. I don't want the jury to convict anybody because I smile."
It is possible that the manner of the district attorney, his tone of voice, and smile of incredulity were subject to criticism, and the judge was evidently of that opinion. But the incident standing alone is of minor importance and does not relate to a material matter, and cannot appropriately be magnified by imagining evil effects. The facts shown are not sufficient to raise a presumption that this imprudent conduct of the district attorney "caused passion and prejudice against this defendant in the minds of the jury." Where a district attorney by his conduct surrounds a case with an atmosphere of adverse comment, remark, and running argument throughout a trial, or takes unfair advantage of the defendant by intimating to the jury something that is either not true or not capable of being proven in the manner attempted, such misconduct may become such serious error that it may be presumed to have caused prejudice against the defendant and to *384
have prevented him from having a fair trial. (People v. Grider,
The only other ground suggested on which a reversal of the judgment might be urged is that the verdict is based on the uncorroborated testimony of an admitted accomplice. It is admitted by the defendant, as well as shown by the testimony of his daughter (who was nineteen years old and a married woman), that during a period of several weeks they had occupied the same room at a hotel and had slept in the same bed. The defendant had registered them at the hotel as husband and wife and had introduced his daughter to others as his wife. These facts furnish ample legal corroboration and justify the verdict. The excuses offered by defendant for occupying the same room and bed with his daughter and her infant child, were for the jury to consider and no doubt were duly weighed and found wanting.
The judgment and order are affirmed.
James, J., and Shaw, J., concurred.