115 P. 994 | Utah | 1911
Lead Opinion
The defendant was convicted of. the crime of passing a forged instrument. In the information the person defrauded, and upon whom the forged instrument was passed, was alleged to be “the Commercial National Bank, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the United States.” The instrument, as alleged, was a certificate of deposit issued at Salt Lake City, by the “Commercial National Bank,” payable to A. Nil. Bartholdi, whose name was forged on the back thereof, which instrument the defendant, with knowledge of the forged indorsement, presented to the bank at Salt Lake City for payment.
The proof showed that the corporate name of the bank was the “Commercial National Bank of Salt Lake City.” This, it is urged, constituted a fatal variance. I think not. Upon tie. record it is very clearly made to appear that the defendant well knew that the corporation to which the proof related was that to which the information referred. The alleged variance in no manner affected the identity of the bank. Neither the court nor the jury, nor the defendant,
Tbe defendant placed bis previous good character in evidence. Considerable testimony was given tending to support it. No evidence was given to dispute it. The defendant requested the court to charge as follows: “The jury are instructed that the law in a criminal case clothes the defendant with the presumption of innocence; and, when the proof tends to overthrow this presumption and to fix upon such defendant the presumption of guilt, the latter is permitted to support the original presumption of innocence by proof of good character. . Such good character, when proven, is a circumstance tending, in a greater or lesser degree, to establish his innocence. It is of value not only in doubtful cases, but also when the testimony tends very strongly to establish the guilt of the accused. Wh^i proven it is a fact in the case, and it is not to he put aside by the jury in order to ascertain if the other facts and circumstances considered in themselves do not establish the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; but such good character, if proven, should be considered by the jury in connection with all the other testimony in the case and not independently thereof, and the guilt or innocence of the defendant determined from all the testimony in the case. And when so considered, no matter how conclusively the other evidence in the case considered by itself may 'point to the guilt of the defendant, such good character, if proven, may be sufficient to create a reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt, and, too, where such doubt would not otherwise exist but for such good character, and it may lead the jury to believe, in view,, of the probabilities, that .a person of such good character would not be guilty of the offense charged, and that the other evidence in the case is not true, or that the witnesses in some way may be mistaken therein.” The court gave the request, except the portion italicized.
The defendant also requested the court to charge that: “Your axe further instructed that good character is an important fact with ¿very man, and never more so than when
The portion of the first request given by the court was the only charge given on the question of good character. The refusal of the court to charge as requested is assigned as error. The questions presented by this assignment are: (1) When evidence of previous good character is adduced, is it the duty of the court, when requested, to charge on the subject or question of good character ? (2) If so, what is meant by that? (3) Was that duty properly discharged? (4) If not, was the defendant harmed ?
A few courts have held that it is not proper to charge at all on the question or subject of good character on the theory that to do so is singling out and charging on the weight and effect of evidence, and is invading the province of the jury. Were it not that jurors can hardly be expected to properly apply evidence of good character, understand the purpose for which it may be considered and the legal'effect which they may give to it, and of the dangers of incorrect inferences and illogical conclusions from jurors, if not aided by the court, there would be much force to this theory. But for the reasons suggested, courts, with substantial unanimity, have held that it is the duty of the court when requested, - to charge on the subject or question of good character. The
Now what is meant by it ? The undoubted meaning is to state to the jury the rules applicable to that kind of evidence, the purpose for which it may be considered by them, and the legal effect which they in their judgment may give to it.
Proof of good character, in the particular that it is indirect, as distinguished from direct or positive evidence, is not unlike other evidence which is merely circumstantial. In criminal cases the rule in this, as in most jurisdictions, is that, where an essential fact is claimed to be established by circumstances, it is the duty of the court, if requested, to state to the jury the legal principles or rules applicable to that kind of evidence. As the courts say, this is for the reason that a jury of inexperienced laymen, without assistance from the court, could hardly be expected to- apply the rules applicable to that kind of evidence, and, if not so instructed and warned, there is danger of incorrect inferences and illogical conclusions from jurors. (People v. Scott, 10 Utah 217, 37 Pac. 335; 2 Colby, Crim. L. 175.) So, too, a jury of inexperienced laymen can hardly be expected to apply the rules applicable to evidence of good character, or to know the purpose or object for which it may properly be considered by them, or the effect which they, in their judgment, may give to it, without assistance from the court. Unless properly instructed and warned, there is danger of incorrect inferences or illogical conclusions from jurors, either for or against the accused. When positive or direct evidence is adduced tending to'show that the accused did or did not commit the alleged criminating acts, jurors can, without the aid of the court, readily apply it. When evidence of good character is adduced, the inquiry may very naturally arise to the inexperienced layman sitting as a juror: In what way does that tend to disprove, or controvert, or weigh against positive and direct testimony of the state, or tend to show that it is improbable, or untruthful, or for what purpose may it be considered and what effect given it ? Or, after a submission of' the case to the ju^y,
It is seen that the court gave the portion of the first request that proof of good character should be considered by the jury in connection with all the other evidence in the case in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant, but refused to charge, as was also requested in that request, that, when so considered, good character, if proven, may be sufficient to create a reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt, which, without such proof, might not otherwise exist, and otherwise failed to charge the jury that good character, when considered in connection with all the other evidence in the case, may be sufficient to create such a doubt, or the legal effect which the jury in their deliberation and judgment might give to it, or the object or purpose for which they could consider it, except in support of the original presumption of innocence. To tell the jury that they should con
Bequests, not in substance, but in language identical, word for word, with that of these requests, were requested in the case of State v. Van Kuran, 25 Utah 8, 69 Pac. 60, and were, as I think, there approved. In that case the trial court refused the requests, and charged the jury that good character, if proven,' “is a fact proper to be considered by the jury with all the other evidence in the case in determining the question whether the witnesses who have testified to facts tending to criminate him” (the defendant) have been mistaken or have testified falsely or untruthfully, and if
It, however, is urged' that the portions of the refused request were properly refused because they are argumentative, singling out a portion, and charging on the weight, of the evidence, stating mere reasons for the rule of law and misleading, because they tended to induce the jury to believe that they might be justified in acquitting the defendant on the ground alone-of good character, notwithstanding their conviction of his guilt beyond a, reasonable doubt upon all the evidence including that of good character. Substantially these contentions and arguments were made against this request in the Van Kuran Casa This court, in review
In the case of People v. Elliott, 163 N. Y. 11, 57 N. E. 103, the trial court charged the jury as follows:
“It is true that good character weighs for something, and it should weigh when a man is charged with crime. I leave it to you to say to what extent the evidence convinces you with regard to the good character of the defendant, as to what weight that character, as it is established, should have upon your consideration of the case.”
Said the Court of Appeals:
“This language is exceedingly general and is well enough so far as it goes, but it falls short of clearly stating to the jury the weight they could, in their discretion, give to evidence of good character. At the close of the charge the defendant’s counsel requested the court to charge as follows: T ash the court to charge the jury that the character of the accused may be such as to create a doubt in the minds of the jury and lead them to believe, in view of*152 the improbability of a person of such character being guilty, that the other evidence is false.’ The court declined to so charge, except as charged, and the defendant duly excepted. This refusal was obvious error, as the defendant was entitled to have the jury distinctly instructed that good character will sometimes of itself create a douht when without it none would exist.”
In that case tbe defendant’s counsel also requested an instruction in tbe following language:
“I ash the court to charge the jury that the jury may, in the exercise of their sound judgment, give the prisoner the benefit of previous good character no matter how conclusively the other testimony may appear to be.”
Tbe trial court, in response, charged:
“I leave it to the jury to say what weight good character should have in determining the question of the defendant’s guilt or innocence. I think it is a proper subject for their consideration.”
Tbe Court of Appeals said:
“The defendant was entitled to the charge as requested without change or comment,” and, approvingly quoting from a prior decision (Remsen v. People, 43 N. Y. 8), observed: “No matter how conclusive the other testimony may appear to be, the character of the accused may be such as to create a doubt in the minds of the jury, and lead them to believe, in view of the improbabilities, that a person of such character would not be guilty of the offense charged, that the other evidence in the case is false, or the witnesses mistaken.”
In tbe case of People v. Bell, 49 Cal. 485, tbe defendant requested tbe court to charge that:
“If the defendant be proved of good character as a man of peace, such good character may be sufficient to create or generate a reasonable doubt of his guilt, although no such doubt would have existed-but for such good character.”
Tbe Supreme Court said:
“This instruction embodies a proposition of law clearly correct in itself. . '. . The instruction was refused by the court below ‘because the court instructed the jury on the same subject.’ It is true that the court did instruct the jury ‘on the same subject,’ but*153 obviously not to the same import or effect. the substituted instruction referred to by the court as a reason for refusing the instruction as asked by the prisoner is in the following words: ‘the good character of the defendant is a circumstance in the case for your consideration in making up your verdict.’ As was remarked by the counsel for the prisoner in argument here, ‘to say that which the court said is not to add anything to the mere fact of letting the testimony in.’ ... It is important- in every criminal case . . . that the jury should be instructed, if the prisoner so request, that, in determining whether or not be is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, his good reputation, if be have such, as to traits involved in the charge, should be weighed as any other fact established, and that it may he sufficient to create a reasonable doubt as to Ms guilt. Whether or not, in the particular case in hand, it would do so, was a question for the consideration of the jury in deliberating on their verdict.”
In People v. Shepardson, 49 Cal. 629, tbe trial court refused to give tbe following instruction:
“Evidence of good character is evidence relevant to the question of guilty or not guilty, and is to be considered by you in connection with the other facts and circumstances in the case. One object in laying it before the jury is to induce the jury to believe, from the improbability that a person of good character should have conducted himself as alleged, that there is some mistake or misrepresentation in the evidence on the part of the prosecution, and in this connection you must take it into consideration.”
Tbe Supreme Court said:
“The court erred in refusing this instruction. . . . The counsel for the prosecution does not question the soundness of the proposition, but insists that so much of the instruction as states the ‘object in laying before the jury’ evidence of this character is erroneous, and that for this reason the instruction, as a whole, was properly refused. He construes the instruction as stating what the ‘object’ of the defendant was in laying such evidence before the jury, and contends that it is- wholly immaterial what that ‘object’ or mental purpose was. But we do not so ,read the instruction, nor could the jury have so understood it. In stating that ‘one object in laying it before the jury is to induce the jury to believe,’ etc., it is clear that no reference was had to the mental purpose of the defendant in offering such evidence, but it was only a statment of one of the reasons — the legal grounds on which and the purposes for which such evidence is admissible, in order that the jury might the more clearly comprehend its legal effect and the weight to be attached to it.”
“Good character, when proved, is a fact to he considered by the jury, just the same as any other fact in the case is to he considered as hearing upon the question of the guilt or innocence of the accused. It has been held before, and is now held in other tribunals, that good character was only applicable in doubtful cases to turn the scales, when the jury was in doubt from the evidence as to whether a defendant was guilty or not. And our Supreme Court has said that it goes in with the mass of all the other proof, to be considered by the jury in connection with all the evidence in the case, as a substantive fact bearing, or tending to bear, upon the question of guilt'or innocence.”
Tbe Supreme Court again said:
“Omitting some comments that might justly be made on this part of the charge, it is safe to say that it would be a favorable construction of it to hold that by it the court told the jury that the good character of the defendant, if proved, was a circumstance in the case for their consideration in making up their verdict. But that, as was held in People v. Bell, 49 Cal. 489, would not be adding anything to the mere fact of letting the testimony in regard to good character in. The defendant' had the right to have the jury instructed that in determining whether or not he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, his good reputation as to traits involved in the charge, if proved, should be weighed as any other fact established, and that it might he sufficient to create a reasonable doubt as to Ms guilt. (People v. Bell, supra; People v. Raina, 45 Cal. 292; People v. Asche, 44 Cal. 291).”
These California cases, in my judgment, have not been modified nor. overruled in tbe case of People v. Bowman, 81 Cal. 566, 22 Pac. 917. To tbe conrtary, tbey bave since been cited with approval by tbe same court in tbe case of People v. French, 137 Cal. 218, 69 Pac. 1063.
In tbe cáse of State v. Cushing, 14 Wash. 527, 45 Pac. 145, 53 Am. St. Pep. 883, tbe court said:
“We think it too well settled to admit of any doubt or controversy that a defendant in a criminal case may introduce evidence as to his good character as a fact to weigh in his favor, and that he is entitled, if he requests it, to have the jury advised as to the weight to be given such evidence.”
“The circumstances may he such that an established reputation for good character, if it is relevant to the issue, would alone create a reasonable doubt, although without it the other evidence would be convincing.”
To tbe same effect are also tbe cases of People v. Jackson, 182 N. Y. 66, 74 N. E. 565; People v. Hughson, 154 N. Y. 153, 47 N. E. 1092; Commonwealth v. Eckerd, 174 Pa. 137, 34 Atl. 305; Grabowski v. State, 126 Wis. 447, 105 N. W. 805; Newsom v. State, 107 Ala. 133, 18 South. 206; State v. Birkey, 122 Iowa 102, 97 N. W. 980; Commonwealth v. Leonard, 140 Mass. 473, 4 N. E. 96, 54 Am. St. Rep. 485; Howell v. State, 124 Ga. 698, 52 S. E. 649; People v. McArron, 121 Mich. 1, 79 N. W. 944.
Whatever conflict may be in tbe cases with respect to tbe particular question in band, still it is very evident that tbe ruling announced in tbe Van Kuran Case, not only as to tbe portion of tbe first request given, but also tbe substance of tbe portipns refused, is supported by good, and, as I think, tbe weight of, authority. Tbe statements of such propositions, while not perhaps stated in tbe request in tbe best language, nor in some particulars, in terms entirely free from objections of nice refinements, yet sufficient to experience no difficulty in comprehending them, and when considered in substance, not unsound in principle, were directed to tbe purpose or object for which tbe jury could consider good character, tbe effect which they, in their deliberation and judgment might give to it, and the sufficiency of it, as evidence, to create or support a reasonable doubt of guilt. A jury, not guided or instructed in such particulars, might be led to believe, as even some have thought and declared, that, as against positive and direct evidence of tbe alleged criminating acts, proof of good character is of little value or benefit, or might erroneously assume that good character alone is not sufficient even to support, or upon which to base, a reasonable doubt of guilt, or that it has no legal proba
Perhaps the most serious question is that of prejudice. But, in the language of the court in the case of State v. Cushing, supra: “What the jury would have done had they been furnished with proper lights for their guidance can only be conjectured.” To my mind it is no sufficient answer to the claim of prejudice to say that the court correctly charged on the questions of presumption of innocence, reasonable doubt, reconciliation of the facts on the assumption of innocence, or on half a dozen other questions, or that the court correctly charged on the subject of character, as far as the court went. The question is: Was the defendant denied the benefit of a principle or rule of law relating or applicable to good character which he was entitled to, and what was
I am therefore of the opinion that the error was prejudicial, and that the’ judgment of the court below should be reversed and the case remanded.
However, my associates, upon the views and for the reasons expressed by them, are of the opinion that the judgment should be affirmed. The order of this court therefore is that the judgment of the court below be, and hereby is, affirmed.
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in the affirmance of the judgment. In view of the fact that I cannot agree with Mr. Justice Straup. in all of his conclusions, however, I shall, as briefly as it is possible to do so, state the reasons that lead me to the foregoing conclusion.
The principle of law contended for, as I understand the contention, is to the effect that, in any criminal prosecution where the accused offers proof of his previous good character, he has the legal right to have the jury informed that in determining his guilt or innocence they should consider all of the evidence in the ease, including the evidence of good character, and if upon a consideration of all the evidence they entertain a reasonable doubt, or if the evidence of good character alone, when considered in connection with the.other evidence as 'aforesaid, produces
But I cannot agree with him in his reasoning that the district judge committed prejudicial error in this case because he refused to give the charge requested by the defendant in its entirety. The italicized portion of the charge which was refused by the court, while it, in legal effect^ embodied the principle of law I have outlined- above, also contained matter which, in my judgment, was improper if not vicious. Much of what is said in that portion of the charge is mere argument and does not state a proper
Moreover, an examination of the opinion in State v. Van Kuran, cited by Mr. Justice Straup, discloses that the court included in the charge there given, and which was excepted to by the defendant, that part which relates to the effect the evidence of good character may have in determining the truth or falsity of the other evidence in the case. Upon this phase of the instruction, Mr. Justice Bartch, speaking for the court, said: “On the theory of this instruction, the evidence of good character could not be considered by the jury for any purpose, except for that of determining whether the witnesses for the prosecution were mistaken or had testified falsely or truthfully.” It is accordingly held that this statement was liable to mislead the jury. I refer to the foregoing for the sole purpose of showing that in my judgment this court did not unqualifiedly approve the whole of the italicized portion of the instruction in question as is argued by Mr. Justice Straup. This, as I view the matter, is 'made more apparent still from the language used by the court in concluding the opinion, which is in the following words: “We conclude, therefore, that the court erred in its charge as to good character, and that, at least, the substance of one or the other of the requests hereinbefore quoted and referred to should have been given.” This, in my judgment, falls far short of approving the argumentative portion of the instruction requested and of which the substance only was approved. But, conceding that the court in the Van Kuran Case did approve the giving of the mere argument in which was involved no legal principle, would the refusal to embody such an argument into a charge in a. subsequent case, where
The contention that the court erred in refusing the second request quoted in Mr. Justice Straup’s opinion is, in my opinion, not tenable in any view that may be taken. In the first place, nothing is contained in the second request that was not in the first, except mere argument. Every legal principle that was contained in the second request was-, covered by the first one. No prejudicial error could have resulted, therefore, from a refusal to give the second request,, in view that the court had covered it in the first with the exception of that portion which I have referred to at the opening of this opinion. In view, therefore, that the court did not, in direct terms, inform the jury that the evidence of good character, when considered in connection with all the other evidence in the case, might alone be sufficient to create the reasonable doubt which requires an acquittal, the appellant might have good cause for complaint were it not for the fact that the court’s omission to so charge is not reviewable by us for the reasons hereafter stated, and for the further reason that the error, in view of the whole charge as given by the court, is not prejudicial. As I have already pointed out, the error assigned is that the court refused to give the charge as requested. The rule -is elementary that a court is not required to give a requested charge unless it is sound as. a whole. The court is. not bound to seperate the bad from the
Bor the foregoing reasons, and in view of the whole record, including the whole charge as given by the court, I am firmly of the opinion that the judgment of conviction should be affirmed.
The only point in the case upon which the members of the court entertain different views relates to the refusal of the trial court to charge on the question of good character as requested by defendant. That part of defendant’s requested instruction No. 1, which the court refused to give to the jury, I thinh, was properly refused, for two reasons: Birst, it singles out and gives undue prominence to the evidence of good character; and, second, it is argumentative^ and, in a sense, disassociates such evidence from the other facts and circumstances in the case for the consideration of the jury. Defendant’s request No. 2, which the court also refused to give, contains matter of this same character which to my mind is equally as objectionable as the rejected part of his requested instruction No. 1. An instruction containing any of the objectionable elements mentioned is improper and should not be given. (11 Ency.“ PI. & Pr. 142, 185; 12 Cyc. 647, 649.)
The court, at defendant’s request, instructed the jury -that the law in criminal eases clothes the defendant with the presumption of innocence; that, when the proof tends to overthrow this presumption, the defendant is permitted to support the original presumption of innocence with proof of good character; that such good character is a circumstance tending in a greater or less degree to establish the innocence of the defendant; that it is of value not only in doubtful cases, but also when the testimony tends very strongly to establish the guilt of the accused, and when proven it should be considered by the jury as a fact in the case, and it is not to be put aside by the jury in order to ascertain if the other facts and circumstances considered in themselves do not
It will thus be observed that the court not only instructed the jury (as per defendant’s request) in regard to the importance of evidence of good character, and that they should consider such evidence in connection with all the other testimony in the' case in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant, but reiterated, in other paragraphs of the instructions given, that to warrant a conviction of the defendant they must be satisfied from all the evidence in the case (including the evidence of good character) of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I am therefore clearly of the opinion that the defendant’s rights were fully protected by the instructions of the court. The charge of the court as given correctly states the law applicable to good character when proved in a case. That part of defendant’s request relating to good character which the court refused to give merely states the reason for the rule. This the cbnrt was not required to do. In this state courts are required to instruct the jury “upon the law applicable to the case” (Comp. Laws 1907, section 3147); but I do not understand that they must argue the law to the jury whenever requested so to do.
The case of People v. Bell, 49 Cal. 485, is directly in point and' supports the conclusions announced by Mr. Justice Straup, on this phase of the case; but the same court in a subsequent decision (People v. Bowman, 81 Cal. 566, 22 Pac. 917) seems to have declared a different rule from the one announced in the former ease. In People v. Bowman counsel for defendant requested the court to instruct the jury that “the defendant has introduced evidence of his good character. ... If in the present case the good character of the defendant ... is proven to your satisfaction, it is to be considered by you in connection with the other facts in the case, and it may be sufficient to create in your minds a reasonable doubt of his guilt, although no such doubt would have existed but for such good character.” The court ‘refused to give this instruction, but instructed the jury as follows: “The defendant has introduced evidence tending to show his good character. ... If in the present case the good character of the defendant ... is proven to your satisfaction, then such fact is to be kept in view by you in all your deliberations, and it is to be considered by you. in connection with the other facts in the case; and if? after a consideration of all the evidence in the ease, including that bearing upon the good character of the defendant, the jury
In the case of Edgington v. United States 164 U. S. 361, 17 Sup. Ct. 72, 41 L. Ed. 467, the trial court charged the jury that good character “is of value ... in conflicting cases in determining points in the case,” and that “good character goes to the jury with spepial force whenever the commission of the crime is doubtful,” and that, if the mind of the jury “hesitates on any point as to the guilt of the defendant, then you have the right and should consider the testimony given as to his good character.” The Supreme Court, speaking through Justice Shiras, said: “It is impossible, we think, to read the charge without perceiving that the leading thought in the mind of the learned judge was that evidence of good character could 'only be considered if the rest of the evidence created a doubt of defendant’s guilt.” The court held that the giving of the instruction with the qualifications mentioned was error. Further along in the opinion the court said: “Whatever may have been said in some of the earlier cases, to the effect that evidence of the good character of the defendant is not to be considered unless the other evidence leaves the mind in doubt, the decided weight of authority now is that good character, when considered in connection with the other evidence in the case, may generate a. reasonable doubt. The circumstances may be such that an established reputation for good character, if it is relevant to the issue, .would alone create a reasonable doubt, although without it the other evidence would be convincing.” The instruction given in that case did not contain, literally nor in substance, the language used in the rejected part of appellant’s request in this case.
Some of the New York decisions seem to. indicate that the •courts of that state are committed to the rule contended for by appellant; but I have been unable to find a case where an instruction was given on good character which covers the question as completely as the instructions given in this case, in which it was held error for the court to refuse to instruct the jury, either literally or in substance, in the language of the rejected portion of appellant’s request. In the case of People v. Hughson, 154 N. Y. 153, 47 N. E. 1092, the defendant requested the court to charge the jury that “tlv evidence of good character may create a doubt against positive evidence of defendant’s guilt.” the court replied: “It is for the jury to say. the evidence of good character is evidence which must be considered, and if, in the judgment of the jury, that good character does raise a doubt against positive evidence, they have a right to entertain that doubt, and the prisoner must have the benefit of it.” the defendant alleged error, but the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment.
In the case of White v. United States, 164 U. S. 100, 17 Sup. Ct. 38, 41 L. Ed. 365, the defendant requested the trial court to charge the jury that “the evidence of good character, when established by the evidence in a case, taken in connection with all the other evidence, may generate a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the defendants.” The court refused to give this instruction, but charged the jury as follows: “It is admitted in this case that the defendants are men of good character, the law presuming every defendant to have a good character, and the jury may consider such character and give it such weight as they see proper, under all the evidence in the case that defendant is entitled to a reasonable doubt.” the defendant excepted to the refusal of the court to charge the jury as requested. The Supreme Court, speaking through Justice Peckbam, said: “When the court told the jury it was admitted that the defendant was a man of
Pennsylvania is another jurisdiction in which the court of last resort has repeatedly held that an instruction on good character couched in the language of the one under consideration is a proper instruction. But in Commonwealth v. Beingo, 217 Pa. 60, 66 Atl. 153, recently decided by that court, the defendant requested the trial court to instruct the jury that “evidence of good character, in itself, by the creation of a reasonable doubt, may work the acquittal of the defendant.” The court refused to give the instruction, and the defendant alleged error. On appeal the Supreme Court said:
“The law of Pennsylvania as to the weight of good character is more favorable to the accused than the common law or the law of most other states, hut it has not gone so far as to give it any special prominence or superiority to the other facts in evidence in the case. The learned judge charged that evidence of character ‘ordinarily comes to the court when there is a general denial. But it is none the less important, and none the less pertinent in a ease of this kind where the defendant admits the killing, as bearing upon the question of whether the killing was, as the commonwealth contends, a deliberate, willful, premeditated, felonious killing, or whether, as the prisoner contends, it was done in self-defense. This kind of testimony is not to be made light of; it is not a mere makeweight thrown in to fill out a case; it is affirmative, substantive testimony to be considered by you fairly in connection with -all the other evidence in the case, as hearing upon the question of whether the commonwealth has or has not established the guilt'of the prisoner, as he stands charged in the indictment, beyond a reasonable doubt.’ He thus, in immediate connection with the reiteration of the duty of the commonwealth to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, charged the jury that good character was an affirmative and substantive fact to be considered on the whole question of guilt, including reasonable doubt. ■ Only a lawyer racking his ingenuity to find a flaw could say that this was not an adequate, as well as accurate, statement of the law.”
The case of Newsom v. State, 107 Ala. 133, 18 South, 206, is another case directly in point and which supports the contention of appellant on this question; but the Alabama
The following decisions are also to the same effect: Maclin v. State, 44 Ark 115; Briggs v. Commonwealth, 82 Va. 554; Hammond v. State, 74 Miss. 214, 21 South. 149; Spalding v. People, 172 Ill. 40, 49 N. E. 993; State v. Porter, 32 Or. 135, 49 Pac. 964; Heard v. State, 9 Tex. App. 1; Wilson v. State, 3 Okl. Cr. 714, 109 Pac. 289; McCall v. State, 55 Fla. 108, 46 South. 321. See, also, Morris v. Territory, 1 Okl. Or. 617, 99 Pac. 760, 101 Pac. 111; People v. Baldocchi, 10 Cal. App. 42, 101 Pac. 28; Olds v. State, 44 Fla. 453, 33 South. 296; Langford v. State, 33 Fla. 233, 14 South. 815; State v. Gustafson, 50 Iowa, 194; Anderson v. State, 53 South. (Miss.) 393; State v. Alderman, 83 Conn. 597, 78 Atl. 331; Commonwealth v. Wilson, 152 Mass. 12.
In Grabowski v. State, 126 Wis. 447, 105 N. W. 805, cited by Mr. Justice Straup, the court charged the jury touching good character in language much less favorable to the defendant than that contained in the charge actually given in this case. The concluding part of the instruction was as follows: “I may say to you, however, that the office of good character is not to create doubts of guilt. It is simply to assist the jury in solving doubts.” The defendant excepted to the instruction, and, on appeal, the Supreme Court said: “Much of this portion • of the charge (referring to the portion set out in the opinion in that case) is favorable to the accused and furnished no ground for objection or exception. The last sentence of this portion of the charge-is erroneous.” I do not think the case is in point. ' Be that as it may, as I read the decision, it is against, rather than
“Testimony has been received as to the good character of the defendant for honesty and integrity previous to the time it is alleged he committed the offense charged in the indictment. Such testimony of good reputation should be considered by you in connection with all the other evidence in the case, and, if after such consideration you entertain any reasonable doubt as to the guilt of'lhe defendant, you must acquit him; but if, from all the evidence in the case, including the testimony as to the good reputation of the defendant, you are satisfied of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, then it is. immaterial what his reputation has heretofore been as to honesty and integrity.”
Tbe Supreme Court said:
“The instructions requested by the defendant and refused by the court are not correct in law, and the subject thereof is much better covered in the charge given by the court. . . . The defendant had no more right to have this evidence separately pointed out by the court to the jury as such which ‘may be in itself sufficient to-raise a reasonable doubt’ than he would have to take any other item of evidence from which an inference favorable to the defendant might be raised and call it separately to the attention of the jury with this particular comment, almost suggestion. The charge of the court on this subject shows the proper way of presenting such matters to the jury by instruction.”
Tbe reasoning of tbe court in that case clearly illustrates tbe vice of tbe rejected part of appellant’s request in tbis case. And tbe doctrine there announced is reaffirmed in tbe case of Hedges v. State (Wis.), 128 N. W. 80.
The rule in New York and Pennsylvania as to the weight that should be given evidence of good character is much more favorable to the accused than the rule declared by the courts of most other states, and yet in each of those two states the court of last resort has held that the giving of an instruction which embraces the propositions contained in the instructions actually given in this case was sufficient, and that it was not error to refuse to, charge the jury in the language of the instruction under consideration. (People v. Hughson, supra; Commonwealth v. Beingo, supra.)
The Chief Justice, in his opinion concurring in the affirmance of the judgment tersely, and I think correctly, states the rule in the following language: “In any criminal prosecution, where the 'accused offers proof of his previous good character, he has the legal right to have the jury informed that in determining his guilt or innocence they should consider all the evidence in the case, including the evidence of good character, and if upon a consideration of all the evidence they entertain a reasonable doubt, or if the evidence of good character alone, when considered in connection with the other evidence as aforesaid, produces or creates a reasonable doubt in their minds of the guilt of the accused, that he is entitled to the benefit of such doubt and should be acquitted.'