People v. West, 73 Cal. 345

People v. West

73 Cal. 345 | Cal. | 1887

Paterson, J.

— The defendant was charged with the crime of assault with intent to commit murder. The jury found the defendant guilty in the following language: “ We, the jury in the above-entitled case, find the defendant guilty.” It is claimed that this verdict is contrary to law; does not find the defendant guilty of any offense; and that because the lesser crime of simple assault is included within the crime charged in the information the verdict is ambiguous and uncertain. The jury were *346given four forms of verdict, the court saying: “ I have prepared forms of verdict for you. You will find that they conform to the definition of the crime and the different offenses which I have defined to you. If your verdict be that the defendant is guilty of the offense charged in this information, then it is simply essential for you to find a verdict like the following: ‘ We, the jury in the above-entitled case, find the defendant guilty/ and that imports the conviction of the offense with which the defendant is charged in the information. If, however, you should in your wisdom arrive at the conclusion that the defendant is guilty of the lower crime of assault, which I have defined to you, then in that event it will be essential that you designate the character of the offense; and your verdict in that case would be: ‘ We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of assault/ ” In the. case upon which appellant relies (People v. Ah Gow, 53 Cal. 628), the form of the verdict was: “Guilty of the indictment as charged to him.” It was there held that the jury had failed to find the defendant guilty of anything. An assault with intent to commit murder is not divided into degrees, and the general rule is, that a verdict of guilty is a conviction upon every material allegation in the information. (People v. March, 6 Cal. 543.) Section 1151 of the Penal Code provides that a verdict of- guilty upon the general issue imports a conviction of the crime charged in the information. Under the instructions given by the court, the jury could not have been misled, and the verdict is sufficient in form and substance.

Immediately upon the conclusion of the charge of the court to the jury, one of the jurors said: “I would like to ask one question, if the court please, about which there is a conflict among the jury. The evidence of the two men who swore that they saw this man West at six o’clock or a little after that going through that lane, and that of the defendant with regard to it, is not clearly *347understood. The question is, whether he swore that he was there at all, and the two men swore that they saw him in there at that time.” It is not pretended that the jurors in any material respect disobeyed the admonition of the court .not to talk about the merits of the case, and this question itself indicates nothing prejudicial to the rights of the defendant. It is simply an inquiry on the part of one of the jurors, and indicates only that there was a misunderstanding as to the testimony of one or more of the witnesses. The inquiry of the juror was answered by stating the testimony to him, to which there was no objection. During the progress of a trial a juror may not hear clearly what has been said, and without impropriety may ask a fellow-juryman whether the testimony is as he understands it. In the absence of something more than the showing that is made here, we must hold that the defendant was not injured. (People v. McCurdy, 68 Cal. 576.)

There was no error in permitting the witness Ward to answer the question, “How did it come up?” The defense had attempted to show by him that the prosecuting witness did not know whether it was West or another person who had committed the assault; and for that purpose had been permitted to show that Weyman had said to him on the morning after the commission of the offense that he (Weyman) did not know whether it was West or a white man. We think it was legitimate cross-examination of the witness to inquire whether, in the conversation had with the same party the evening before, he had not said that it was West who assaulted him.

Judgment and order affirmed.

Temple, J., McFabland, J., Seakls, C. J., McKinstky, J., Thoknton, J., and Shakpstein, J., concurred.