115 P. 356 | Okla. Crim. App. | 1911
We will consider the various assignments of error in their order as presented by plaintiff in error's brief.
The information was demurred to on several grounds: First. "For the reason that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a crime against the defendants." It is urged that "it must be alleged in the information, not only where the deceased received the mortal wound, but also where death ensued, and that the information does not allege where said Cordell died" — citing the case of Ball v. U.S.,
"In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the county in which the crime shall have been committed. Provided, that the venue may be changed to some other county of the state, on the application of the accused, in such manner as may be prescribed by law."
The statute provides that (section 6568, Snyder's Sts.):
"The jurisdiction of an indictment for murder or manslaughter, when the injury which caused the death was inflicted in one county, and the party injured dies in another county, or out of the state, is in the county where the injury was inflicted."
In the case of Albright v. Territory,
"We think that the indictment sufficiently alleges that the deceased was shot and killed in Payne county; but, even if it did not, under the provisions of our organic act and the statutes of this territory, an indictment for murder is sufficient which charges that the injury which caused the death was inflicted in the county in which the prosecution is had, and it is not necessary to specifically allege the place of death. The demurrer to the indictment was therefore properly overruled."
See, also, 12 Cyc. 212, and authorities cited.
As we read it, the information here sufficiently alleges the place of decedent's death as follows: "Of which mortal wound he, the said W.E. Cordell, then and there on the 24th day of December, A.D. 1908, did die." "Then and there," read with the context, refers back to the place where he was fatally shot; that is, in Latimer county.
Second. "For the reason that said defendants have not had a preliminary examination upon the offense charged in the information." In support of this ground it is argued: "That, as the original complaint did not include `certain other evil-disposed persons' as charged in the information, therefore a different offense is now charged." A question of this kind is properly raised *456 by a motion to set aside the information. This contention, however, is without a shadow of merit. The information sufficiently charges the crime of murder, and the demurrer thereto was properly overruled.
The second assignment is: "That the refusal of the trial court to so grant defendant a change of venue was a plain abuse of the sound discretion of the court." The application for a change of venue is not in proper form. The statute requires that the affidavit of the defendant must aver (section 6766, Snyder's Sts.) "that the minds of the inhabitants of the county in which the cause is pending are so prejudiced against the defendant that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had therein. Such order of removal may be made on the application of the defendant by petition, setting forth the facts verified by affidavit." The defendant's affidavit merely avers "prejudice existing among such citizens as compose the juries of said county," and contains no statement of facts rendering a fair and impartial trial improbable. The application for a change of venue was supported by the affidavits of numerous other persons in proper form, and was resisted by seven controverting affidavits. On the issue thus joined the defendant called as witnesses three of his supporting affiants, who testified as follows:
J.H. Francis, called by defendant, testified that he was a member of the jury that tried his codefendant C.E. Thames in March, which resulted in a mistrial, and that the jury in that case stood six to six; that he believed the defendant could get a fair and impartial trial like any other ordinary citizen, but that he had heard some say that the defendant ought to be tarred and feathered, and that he had heard others say that they believed the defendant was innocent.
L.G. Highsmith, postmaster at Wilburton, called by the defendant, was asked if in his opinion the defendant could get a fair and impartial trial in Latimer county. He answered, "I hardly think he could," and that this opinion was based upon what he heard people say, but could not name those people. *457
Mr. Poe, called by defendant, testified that he lived in Wilburton. Asked if he thought the defendant could get a fair and impartial trial in Latimer county, he answered, "No, sir; I do not." He admitted that he was the defendant's bondsman, and some of the people he talked to were those who had indemnified him to make the defendant's bond.
The state called seven witnesses as counter evidence of the truth of the application, and to show that a change of venue was not necessary to secure to the defendant a fair and impartial trial.
J. Mahan, county commissioner, and F.A. Skinner, Ben Davis, J. Mackey, William B. Fields, C.S. Hilburn, and J. Coffey, called as witnesses on the part of the state, each testified, in substance, that he did not know of any prejudice in the minds of the people of Latimer county against the defendant, and did not know any reason why Bandy Starr could not get a fair and impartial trial in Latimer county. The statute provides that in such cases the court may in its discretion grant or refuse the change of venue.
It was said by this court in the case of Turner v. State,
"The application for change of venue in a criminal cause is addressed to the sound discretion of the court, and this court will not reverse the ruling of the trial court denying an application for a change of venue, unless it is made to appear that there has been such an abuse of discretion as to constitute a denial of a substantial right. When counter affidavits are introduced `to show that the persons making affidavits in support of the application for a change of venue are not credible persons and that the change is not necessary,' it then becomes a question of fact for the court to determine upon a hearing whether the defendant's supporting affiants are credible persons within the requirement of the statute, and whether a change of venue is necessary to secure the defendant a fair and impartial trial."
See, also, Johnson v. State,
By "abuse of discretion" is meant a clearly erroneous conclusion and judgment — one that is clearly against the logic and *458 effect of such facts as are presented in support of the application, or against the reasonable and probable deductions to be drawn from the facts disclosed upon the hearing. We believe defendant's affidavit fails to set forth facts sufficient as a basis on which to move for a change of venue, and from an examination of the affidavits and the testimony submitted to the court, and the further fact that the trial of his codefendant seven months previous in the same county resulted in a mistrial, we are clearly convinced that the ruling of the court in refusing to grant the change of venue was eminently correct, and, in so far as we can determine from the record before us, the challenge to the special venire of jurors drawn to try the cause was properly overruled.
"Third. That it was manifest error to admit the testimony of John Dameron as to a conversation which he had with C.E. Thames in the absence of B.D. Starr, defendant, just prior to the killing of W.E. Cordell, at the railroad crossing, and that it was manifest error to admit as evidence a conversation between C.E. Thames and Jim Woods at the engine house just prior to the killing of W.E. Cordell, and in the absence of defendant B.D. Starr, and it was error to admit the testimony of Mrs. Laura Woods as to a conversation alleged to have taken place between C.E. Thames and W.E. Cordell on Sunday evening, in the absence of B.D. Starr, and it was likewise error upon the part of the court to admit the statements of C.E. Newsome as to matters occurring in the Miners' Convention at Ft. Smith, Ark. All the above testimony was irrelevant and incompetent and immaterial because no conspiracy had ever been proved to exist between B.D. Starr and C.E. Thames to kill and murder W.E. Cordell, and none ever was shown to exist at any time in the trial."
It was the theory of the prosecution that the murder was committed by the defendants and others unknown, in pursuance of a conspiracy to kill and murder Cordell. The statement made by Thames to Dameron, "Hurry back, I have just sent a fellow after a pint of whisky, and we are going up to the engine house, too," is very significant, when we consider that as a witness for his codefendant he admits this conversation, but testifies that his *459 meeting the defendant Starr, a few minutes later, was accidental, and their going to the engine house together was not prearranged. Yet, he further admits that his codefendant Starr had the only whisky that was carried there by them. All the circumstances and the uncontroverted facts tend to prove that the death of Cordell was due to a conspiracy. The rule of law applicable to questions of this kind is well settled. In a trial for murder any evidence which fairly tends to prove a conspiracy between persons to commit the murder and the motive for the murder is admissible, although not tending directly to prove the murder charged in all cases, where such testimony tends to corroborate the testimony tending directly to prove the murder charged. It is not necessary that the prosecution establish beyond peradventure that the acts, declarations, or conduct of the alleged conspirators were based upon the conspiracy or in reference to the crime charged. It is sufficient if they harmonize with and tend to confirm the charge of conspiracy, or show motive for the crime. If such acts, declarations, or conduct of the alleged conspirators could not be shown, unless the motive therefor, or the connection between the same and the crime, were made undisputably clear, the range of inquiry would be very limited. It is sufficient that such acts, declarations and conduct have an apparent or probable connection with the crime.
The general rule is that where there is evidence of a conspiracy to commit a crime, and of its subsequent commission, the prosecution may in support and corroboration thereof show acts, declarations, or conduct of the alleged conspirators intermediate of the conspiracy and the crime which apparently recognizes the existence of the conspiracy, or reasonably indicates preparation or motive to commit the crime.
"Where a conspiracy is shown to exist, which is usually inductively from circumstances, then the declarations of one conspirator in furtherance of the common design, as long as the conspiracy continues, are admissible against his associates, though made in the absence of the latter. The least degree of concert or collusion between the parties to an illegal transaction makes *460 the act of one the act of all." (2 Wharton's Law of Evd. par. 1205.)
"Slight evidence of collusion is all that is required." (2 Rice on Evd. 865, § 333; 1 Greenleaf on Evd. [13th Ed.] § 111;Anarchist's Case,
The same reasoning applies to all the testimony objected to. Our conclusion is that the testimony here objected to was clearly admissible.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth assignments are based upon the instructions given and instructions requested and refused by the court. These assignments are not supported by authorities. Nevertheless, we have carefully examined the instructions given, and we are of the opinion that they constitute a correct and complete statement of the law applicable to the facts of the case.
Seventh. Error is assigned on the alleged misconduct of counsel for the state by making the remark in the presence and hearing of the jury during the progress of the trial "that the state would show that B.D. Starr used a sawed off shotgun." The question cannot be considered by this court because it is not properly presented by the record. A careful examination of the record shows that there is nothing contained therein showing such a remark outside of the naked statement in the motion for a new trial.
Eighth. Error is assigned upon the alleged fact that the officer appointed by the court to conduct the jury to the scene of the tragedy was not sworn as prescribed by the statute. From an examination of the record, we find that it fails to sustain this contention, as it affirmatively shows that the officer appointed was duly sworn.
"Ninth. That it is error for which a new trial should be granted immediately, that the trial court accompanied the jury to the premises where it is alleged W.E. Cordell was killed, said court leaving the court room with the jury, and viewing the premises at the time the jury viewed said premises, and returning to the courtroom with the jury."
In support of this contention is cited the case of Hays v. *461 Territory,
"The Court: Now, gentlemen, now I suppose there are some things that will have to be said to the jury. It is the order of the court that you go and examine his place where this thing occurred. It is about two miles from here. The house will be pointed out to you. You, gentlemen, have no objection to them taking these plats? Mr. Jones: Not a bit in the world. The Court; Take these plats along with you and examine the premises as carefully as you can in that way, remembering the testimony with regard to its condition at the time of the shooting and its condition at this time. I believe a witness has testified that the windows have been taken away and canvas put up where the window was, but there has been no other change according to the testimony. In examining the premises in the light of the testimony and these plats introduced in evidence, you will not talk among yourselves there about the disputed point at all. Look at the place until you are satisfied where the various places are, but do not have any conversation among yourselves with reference to the direction the shot came from — nothing like that. Go and examine the premises, and make any examination necessary. Make an examination among yourselves without any talk about it, and, as soon as you have done that, return to the courtroom, and get back as rapidly as you can get the liveryman to bring you. [The jury left in a body at 2:30 p.m. accompanied by Judge Rosser and the bailiff and returned back into court at about 4:15, after having visited the premises.]"
The recital in brackets is all the record contains tending to show that the court or trial judge was present when the jury viewed the place where the fatal shot was fired. Upon this recital alone this assignment is predicated. No affidavit or other evidence was offered in support of this ground of the motion for new trial. We do not think this is sufficient in the absence of direct proof to the contrary, the proceedings of a court are presumed to have been regular and in due form of law, and we must presume that the court below or the trial judge was not present with the jury at the place of the homicide, or, if present, did not speak to or communicate with the jury on any subject connected *462 with the trial. While the personal knowledge of the trial judge may be applied and relied upon in support of a motion for a new trial in the court below, the motion must be supported by competent evidence showing the facts, and such evidence must be incorporated in the record; otherwise the action and ruling of the trial court in relation thereto cannot be reviewed upon appeal. The case of Hays v. Territory, supra, is not in point. There the court compelled the defendant over his objection to accompany the jury, the judges, the court stenographer, the county attorney, and counsel for the defendant to the place of the homicide, and, while viewing the place, one of the witnesses testified as to the location of certain objects and of the position of certain persons at the time of the homicide. The Supreme Court of Oklahoma Territory held this proceeding to be prejudicial error. Mr. Justice Burwell, delivering the opinion of the court, used the following language:
"These two section of our statute are decisive of the question presented. Section 5222 (section 6849, Snyder's Sts.) provides that no person can communicate with the jury on any subject connected with the trial while they are absent from the courtroom, and section 5269 (section 6896, Snyder's Sts.) provides for a new trial when the jury has received any evidence out of court other than that resulting from a view of the premises. In this case evidence was received out of court. It is true the court, and all of the court officers, attorneys for both parties, and the defendant were all present; but we do not think that a session of court can be legally held in a country place or on a public street. In our opinion it does not need the citation of authorities to support this proposition. Courthouses are built, at an enormous expense, so that the court may be held in one place. Litigants, jurors, and witnesses all know where to go under our present system, when required to be present during any litigation; but, if sessions of court can be held outside of the courthouse in one particular case, the judge can at his will change the trial of any cause or of all causes in a county to any locality to suit his own convenience. The trial court in this case cautioned all of the parties before leaving the courtroom not to talk about the case in the presence of the jury while they were out viewing the premises, and it *463 conducted the entire proceedings at that place. This course was possibly more prejudicial to the defendant than it would have been if defendant's counsel could have cross-examined the witness Newton at the time he gave his direct evidence in answer to questions asked him by the court. The object of sending a jury out to view the premises is to enable them to better understand the evidence given on the trial. Even what they see cannot be considered as original evidence."
We come now to a consideration of that which in our judgment is the most important assignment of error alleged in the petition: "That it was error to allow the jury to view the premises where the alleged killing occurred, in the absence of the defendant B.D. Starr." In support of this assignment, it is urged that, "this being a capital case, the defendant could not waive his constitutional right to be present at the proceedings under section 20 of the Bill of Rights, providing that the accused shall have the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him" — citing the cases of Benton v. State,
In the case of Benton v. State, supra, under the same provision of the statute, it was held that: "The defendant must be permitted to accompany the jury." Chief Justice English, delivering the opinion of the court, said:
"By the Bill of Rights (section 10) the accused must be confronted with the witnesses against him, but the statute authorizing a view does not contemplate or permit the examination of witnesses at the view. The jury is merely to be conducted to, and shown, the place to be viewed, and the view is made by the jurors to enable them the better to understand the testimony *464 given by the witnesses in court; but, though no witnesses are examined at the view, yet the jurors from their observation of the place and its surroundings may receive a kind of evidence from mute things, which cannot be brought into court to confront the accused, and are in their nature incapable of cross-examination. * * * The view of the place where the crime is alleged to have been committed by the jury is part of the trial, and may be an important step in the trial, and the presence of the prisoner at the view, in a case involving life or liberty, that he may have an opportunity to observe the conduct of the jury, and whatever occurs there might be of the utmost consequence to him. The judge who presides at the trial, and hears the evidence, must determine whether or not a view be necessary; and if, in the exercise of his discretion, he deems it necessary to order the view to be made, it would be better and safer for him to accompany the jury, if convenient, to see that nothing improper occurs at the view; if not convenient, he may appoint a person to show the jury the place to be viewed, sworn as directed by statute. If the jurors are familiar with the place, they may be conducted to it by a sworn bailiff in charge of them, and there could be no necessity for the appointment of another person to show them the place. The accused should be permitted to be present at the view, and, if not on bail, should be in charge of one or more sworn officers to prevent escape."
In the case of People v. Bush,
"These arguments are specious but unsound: (1) As to the argument that the jury are receiving evidence, it is in substance sound. To view the thing itself in issue — i.e., the premises — is undoubtedly to consult a source of proof (ante, pars. 1168). But it by no means follows that the right of cross-examination is infringed. The rule applies solely to testimonial evidence only(ante, paras. 1362, 1395), and no testimony is taken at a view. The premises themselves are not witnesses. To term them `dumb witnesses' (as in the passage above quoted) is merely to misuse words. The function of cross-examination, as a requirement for testimonial evidence, is to ascertain in detail *465
the elements of weakness that detract from the trustworthiness of a person's statement. Where human credit is not involved, cross-examination has no place. The constitutional sanction of that principal applies solely to testimonial evidence, to `witnesses.' No one supposes that it applies to circumstantial evidence, and no one should suppose that it applies to that third source of proof, namely, autoptic preference, real evidence, or the tribunal's observation of the thing itself (ante, para. 1150). How could the place viewed be cross-examined? What human credit does it have that makes cross-examination necessary? The hearsay rule simply has no application to that source of proof. (2) As to the argument that the jury's view is a part of the trial and that the accused is entitled to be present at every part of the trial, the answer is that the accused might equally well claim to be present at the jury's deliberations over their verdict, for that is equally a part of the trial. If there is no inherent and invariable necessity for that part, neither is there for this. As for the related suggestion that the holding of a view in the absence of the defendant is the holding of a part of the trial `away from the place appointed for the holding of the court,' it would follow from this that the judge and other court officers should be present also; but no one has ever supposed this necessary. It would be, on the contrary, much easier to question the propriety of the court's adjourning and traveling in a body to the place of a view, for such a proceeding would be more open to the criticism that it took the trial `away from the place appointed for the holding of the court.' It is impossible to argue in the same moment both that the court must be held at the place appointed and that it must be held in part somewhere else. (3) As to the suggestion, based on mere general considerations of fairness and policy, that the defendant's presence is necessary because `the jurors may receive erroneous impressions' which `cannot be corrected or removed' and therefore the defendant should have `an opportunity to observe the conduct of the jury and whatever occurrs there,' there are two answers: First, the defendant, though present, could not lawfully ask questions or make statements; so that the sole value of his presence would lie in the opportunity to see that nothing irregular was done and to obtain such a knowledge of what was done as would assist him in the subsequent conduct of the trial. Secondly, this very opportunity *466
he already fully possesses, for he is represented at the view by a shower, selected by himself and formally appointed by the court. This shower points out such parts as the accused has directed, and does so with reference to the forthcoming testimony for that party, and this shower is in a position, not only to observe all that is done, but to make all of his observations useful later to his party as may be needed. Every practical advantage to be gained from the accused's presence is already his by virtue of the ordinary proceedings at a view; and if, in any court's practice to-day, the defendant is not allowed to have one shower appointed as his representative, then the unfairness and disadvantage in such a court arises from the improper procedure observed in the view, and not from inherent defects in the orthodox method of view. There is therefore no ground, either upon legal principle or upon practical fairness, for holding the presence of the accused himself to be essential. (4) There remains only, as a reason for allowing it, the natural desire which any accused person might have to attend the proceeding. Ordinarily, no judge (it must be supposed) could wish to disappoint such a desire, if duly expressed to him; but conceivably he might refuse to satisfy it for prudence sake, perhaps because of the danger of escape or of mob violence. Certainly no legal rule granting the right of attendance can be founded on such a consideration. In some jurisdictions it is properly maintained that the defendant is not entitled to be present at the view; but the opposite rule has been accepted in other jurisdictions." (Wigmore on Evidence, par.
The Criminal Code of this state provides (section 6849, Snyder's Sts.):
"When, in the opinion of the court, it is proper that the jury should view the place in which the offense was charged to have been committed, or in which any other material facts occurred, it may order the jury to be conducted in a body, in the custody of the proper officers, to the place which must be shown to them by a person appointed by the court for that purpose, and the officers must be sworn to suffer no person to speak to or communicate with the jury, nor to do so themselves, on any subject connected with the trial, and to return them into court without unnecessary delay, or at a special time."
There is no provision in the statute that the defendant shall *467 or may accompany the jury upon such view. It is not our purpose here, nor is it material to the determination of the case at bar, that we should attempt to lay down any definite rule of procedure under this provision of the statute further than to say that, where a defendant under the statute requests that the jury view the place, the view, if allowed by the court, should be conducted as prescribed by the statute. In making such request, the defendant thereby expressly waives the right of being present at the view. Where the view is had on the request of the prosecution or the court on its own motion directs a view, the safe practice is to permit the defendant to accompany the jury and be present, unless he expressly waives this right.
Assuming that the defendant, under the constitutional provision, had the right to be present when the view was had, the single question presented is, "Could the defendant waive this right or privilege?" The provision of the Bill of Rights that the accused shall have the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him is merely declaratory of the common-law rule requiring an opportunity of cross-examination. Generally speaking, the constitutional provisions guaranteeing to every accused person in a criminal action certain rights may be separated into two classes: First, those in which the public generally, and as a community, is interested, as well as the accused, and which are jurisdictional as affecting the power of the court to try the cause; second, those more in the nature of privileges which are for the benefit of the accused alone, and do not affect the general public. The former cannot be waived. Jurisdiction to try the cause is conferred by the law. Consent cannot confer jurisdiction, but the accused may waive a constitutional right or privilege designed for his protection, where no question of public policy is involved. The public as well as the accused have an interest in every criminal trial. The life and liberty of the citizen is a matter of supreme importance to the state, and it should not allow him to throw either away by a failure, intentional or otherwise, to take advantage of his constitutional safeguards. It will not do, however, *468 to say that because the state has a peculiar interest in protecting the citizen accused of crime to the extent of his constitutional rights that he shall in no case be allowed to waive them, for in some cases it may be to his interest to waive them, and the denial of the right to do so would defeat the very object in view when the rights were given, and cause them to operate to the injury rather than to the benefit of the accused. Says Mr. Bishop:
"Jurisdiction comes solely from the law, in no degree from the consent of the litigants, so that neither consent nor anything else can authorize a court to act in a cause outside the sphere which the law has ordained for it. But where the subject-matter is within the cognizance of the tribunal, and the right to take jurisdiction of it in the particular instance depends on facts in pais — such as the residence of parties, and others within the like reason — consent will, in the absence of any special circumstances forbidding, establish the required fact, the same as would the verdict of a jury; so that, in such case, there may be a waiver." (1 Bish. New Crim. Proc. par. 123.)
"In natural reason, one should not complain of a thing done with his consent. And the law in all its departments follows this principle. It is analogous to estoppel, or a species of it. Like any other legal doctrine, the circumstances of a particular instance may compel it to give away to another.
"If, except where some counter doctrine presses with a superior force forbidding, a party has requested or consented to any step taken in the proceedings, or if at the time for him to object thereto he did not, he cannot afterwards complain of it, however contrary it was to his constitutional, statutory, or common-law rights.
"Necessity is the chief foundation for this doctrine, without it a cause could rarely be kept from miscarrying. The mind, whether of the judge or the counsel, cannot always be held taut like a bow about to send forth the arrow; and, if every step in a cause were open to objection as well after verdict or sentence as before, a shrewd practitioner could ordinarily so manage that a judgment against his client might be overthrown. Even by lying by and watching, if he did nothing to mislead, he would and something amiss to note and bring forward after the time to correct the error had passed. Should the pleadings be right, *469 and only proper evidence be admitted, some question to a witness would appear in an objectionable form, or the judge would have dropped some word not absolutely square with the books, or omitted some explanation of law to the jury." (1 Bish. New Crim. Proc. pars. 117, 118, 119.)
Where a constitutional right in a criminal cause is largely for the benefit of the accused or in the nature of a personal privilege, the law is well settled that an accused may waive such right. In the case of State v. Adams,
"So far as the provision in the Bill of Rights is concerned, there are two questions: (1) Is it anything more than the grant of certain privileges, which an accused may waive? And, where the record shows no application for the benefit of such privilege, and no refusal of the court to grant them, and no objection to any action of the court thereon, is there any error? (2) Does the sending of a jury to view the place of the alleged crime, in the absence of the defendant, trespass on any of its guaranties? First. The language is permissive. `The accused shall be allowed'; that is, he may have if he wishes. If he does not wish he may forego. If he does not wish, then he cannot complain that they were not forced upon him. Generally that which is a mere personal privilege, which is not essential to jurisdiction, which is not absolutely and peremptorily required by statute or public policy, may be waived. In the case of State v. Polson,
In the case of State v. Mortensen,
"Upon examination, it will be noticed that the right of the accused to be confronted by the witnesses against him secured by the constitutional provision above referred to falls within the class personal to the accused. It is a personal right, a personal privilege of which every defendant in a criminal proceeding may avail himself. It is limited to criminal prosecutions, and in no way affects the jurisdiction of the court to try the cause or to pass a valid judgment. Nor is the provision which secures to the accused the right in the nature of an inhibition upon a proceeding not authorized by law. Nor is it in the nature of a limitation *471 restraining the court from exercising its power in a place or manner prohibited by law, or without its jurisdictional limits. It is not very unlike the right which every one accused of, and being prosecuted for, a crime, has to plead guilty, and thereby waive the production of any evidence by the prosecution, and surely all agree that in such case, where a plea of guilty is entered, a court of competent jurisdiction has power to pass judgment and authorize the penalties of the law to be executed. Nor is it much unlike a case where the prosecution makes application for the continuance of a criminal cause on the ground of absent witnesses. Here the accused may admit that such witnesses, if present, would testify to the statements set out by the prosecution and consent to their use as evidence against him, and thereby secure a speedy trial. In such event, the accused consents to the use of the evidence without being confronted by the witnesses, and yet we know of no case where such action had in good faith, and not forbidden by express provision of law, was held to be in excess of the power of the court to permit. Such are simply instances, similar to the one at bar, where the accused waives his personal privilege to be confronted with the witnesses against him, and from them it seems apparent that in proper cases, where no harm can result to the accused, he may voluntarily waive his constitutional right of confrontation. The main reason for the confrontation of witnesses is to afford the accused an opportunity for cross-examination, and this is a privilege which he may waive. So when, at a trial, a prisoner sits by and permits inadmissible evidence to be received without objection, he cannot afterwards complain of the action of the court in receiving it."
In Williams v. State,
"It is well settled that the accused may waive his right to be confronted with the witnesses on the trial."
In Perteet v. People,
"A prisoner in a capital case is not to be presumed to waive any of his rights; but that he may, by express consent, admit them all away, can be neither doubted nor denied. He may certainly plead guilty, and thus deprive himself of one of the most valuable rights secured to the citizen, that of a trial by jury. If he can expressly admit away the whole case, then it follows that he can admit away a part of it, but he will not be presumed to have done so. The consent must be expressly shown."
In the case of Shular v. State,
"The court on the motion of the appellant sent the jury to inspect the premises where the homicide was committed, and did not direct that the defendant should be present when the inspection was made, but no request was made by the defendant that he should be allowed to be present; nor was there ever a suggestion to the court that he desired to accompany the jury; nor did he, although he was present when the jury left the courtroom, ask that he be permitted to go with them; nor did he object in any manner to their making the inspection. But the record shows more than this, for it shows that the court directed the attention of the defendant and his counsel to the statute, and stated that it required the consent of the parties, and inquired if they consented to the order, to which inquiry, as the record recites, the defendant's counsel responded `by renewing their request, and defendant indicated his assent.' Many authorities are cited by counsel in support of the general principle that the defendant must be present when evidence is given against him, and that this is the general rule we have no doubt, but the question here is whether the case is within the rule, not what the general rule is. Whether the case is within this general rule must depend upon the provisions of our statute and the conduct of the appellant. Our statute [Rev. St. 1881, § 1827] provides that `whenever, in the opinion of the court, and with the consent of all the parties, it is proper for the jury to have a view of the place in which any material fact occurred, it may order them to be conducted in a body, under the charge of an officer, to the place, which shall be shown to them by some person appointed by the court for that purpose. While the jury are thus absent, no person, other than the officer and the persons appointed to show them the place, shall speak to them on any subject connected with the trial.' This statute does not intend that the view of the premises where a crime was committed shall be deemed part of the evidence, but intends that the view may be had for the purpose of enabling the jury to understand and apply the evidence placed before them in the presence of the accused in open court. Deferring, for the present, the consideration of the authorities, and reasoning on principle, we shall have no difficulty in concluding that the statute does not intend that an inspection of a place where a crime was committed shall be taken as evidence. It cannot be seriously doubted that evidence can only be delivered to a jury in the criminal case in open court, *473 and, unless there is a judge or judges present, there can be no court. The statute does not intend that the judge shall accompany the jury on a tour of inspection. This is so obvious that discussion could not make it more plain. The jury are not, the statute commands, to be spoken to by any one save by the officer and the person appointed by the court, and they are forbidden to talk upon the subject of the trial. It is the duty of the jurors to view the premises, not to receive evidence, and nothing could be done by the defendant or by his counsel if they were present, so that their presence could not benefit him in any way, nor their absence prejudice him. The statute expressly provides who shall accompany the jury, and this express provision implies that all others shall be excluded from the right or privilege. It is quite clear from these considerations that the statute does not intend that the defendant or the judge shall accompany the jury; and it is equally clear that the view obtained by the jury is not to be deemed evidence."
See, also, Wills v. State,
The Legislature cannot take away nor abridge the constitutional guarantees, nor can the courts. The Constitution is the paramount law and binds all departments of the government. A statute repugnant to the constitutional guaranties would be absolutely void; still the Legislature may provide by law for the manner of asserting and exercising those rights, and, in the absence of constitutional direction, the authorities uniformly hold that such statutes are enacted for the purpose of enforcing the constitutional right, and that they constitute a legislative construction or definition of the constitutional provision. Stateex rel. Eubanks v. Cole, District Judge,
We are of opinion that the provision of the Bill of Rights conferring upon the accused the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him is not disparaged or abridged by this provision of Criminal Procedure, which, at most, only confers upon an accused the right to waive this constitutional right or privilege. Two things concur in this provision — the waiver by the accused and the consent of the state that an accused may make such a waiver. Where the statute so provides, a constitutional right or privilege may be waived by the accused.
It is finally contended that the verdict is contrary to the evidence. In this respect, we need only to state that we have set forth a full statement of the testimony in the statement of facts. The weight and credibility of the evidence were for the jury. In view of the fact that another trial is pending upon the same information, we doubt the propriety of expressing an opinion upon the evidence further than to state that the verdict rendered has our unqualified approval.
From that careful examination and consideration of the record which the consequences of a conviction of this kind demand, our conclusion is that the case has been well and fairly tried, and the defendant had a fair and impartial trial as prescribed by law.
Wherefore the judgment of the district court of Latimer county is in all things affirmed.
FURMAN, PRESIDING JUDGE, and ARMSTRONG, JUDGE, concur. *475
