Staples v. State

89 Tenn. 231 | Tenn. | 1890

LuRTON, J.

The appellant in error lias been convicted of manslaughter. He did not testify as a witness in his own behalf. The attorney representing the State, in his argument to the jury, commented upon certain threats testified to as having been made by the deceased in the presence and hearing of the 'defendant, by saying that “Mr. Henderson argued that Staples heard the threat that he (Hall) ‘ would cut his throat before sundown.’ Now, he never heard it. If he did, little Sam did not tell you so, and Staples himself did not tell you so.” “ Now Mr.' Staples, the defendant, could tell you, if he could speak, that the blow he got did not hurt him.” “He [Staples] does not tell yo.u that he did that stabbing in self-defense.” It is not distinctly stated in the bill of exceptions that this language was at the time excepted to, but the Circuit Judge, in the bill of exceptions, annexes an explanation in these words: “ The language of counsel for the State seemed to the Court subject to different constructions, and, not understanding with certainty that he should be understood as referring to the fact that defendant had not testified, no interruption was had.” From this we infer that defendant’s counsel did object, and that his objection was ovenuiled for the reason stated above. This was error. The Act of 1887, Ch. 79, permits the defendant in a criminal trial,, “ at his own request, but not othei’wise,” to testify as a witness therein. The Act further provides “that the failure of the parties defendant to make suet request and to testify in his own behalf shall not create any presumption against him.” This provision is in accord with the hill of rights, wherein it is provided that in all criminal prosecutions the defendant “shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself.” hTo inference of guilt can be drawn from the failure of a defendant to testify for himself. "Were it otherwise, a defendant on trial might be put in the awful situation of being required to commit perjury to avoid the consequences of his failure to avail himself of the privilege extended him by the statute. The statute might thus become an in-, genious machine to compel a conscientious defendant to testify against himself. The 'Circuit Judge should have promptly interfered and checked any line of argument based upon the failure of Staples to testify. The language used by the State’s attorney was, in fact, susceptible of no other construction than that guilt was to be inferred from the failure of the appellant to testify. Similar statutes are in force in many of the States. The question here presented has arisen many times, and the decisions of the Courts have been practically unanimous in holding that no argument to the jury based upon the failure of a defendant to testify is permissible. State v. Brownfield, 15 Mo. Appeals, 593; Showalter v. State, 84 Ind., 563; 123 Mass., 239; State v. Mosely, 31 Kan., 355.

An argument based upon the failure of the de-“ fendant to testify cannot but be most prejudicial to the defendant, and where the attention of the trial Judge is called to such argument, and he fails to interfere - and fully instruct the jury, it is reversible error.

Eor this error the judgment will be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial.