State v. Butler

67 Mo. 59 | Mo. | 1877

Sherwood, O. J.

The defendant, indicted and convicted of stealing a horse, appeals to this court.

I. The chief point urged.upon our attention is the uneonstitutionality of the statute under which the defendant was indicted. The substance of that statute is, that persons obtaining property in another State or county, by theft or robbery, and bringing such property into this State, may be indicted and punished for larceny in any county in this State, into or through which such property may be brought, in the same manner as if the property had been feloniously taken or stolen in this State. (1 Wag. Stat., 511, § 3.) The constitutionality of this statute was affirmed by this court some.twenty-nine years ago, in the case of Hemmaker v. The State, (12 Mo. 453). In the State v. Williams, (35 Mo. 229,) although the constitutional validity of the act was not discussed/yet it was. said there that whether larceny committed in another State could be punished in this, did not arise, since the statute made it a punishable offense to bring stolen property into this State. The Supreme Court of Michigan has held a similar statute valid. The People v. Williams, (24 Mich. 156). In Ohio, (Hamilton v. State, 11 Ohio 435), Iowa, (State v. Bennett, 14 Ia. 479,) and Mississippi, (Watson v. State, 36 Miss. 593,) it is held that by the common law, and independent of statutory provision, where property is stolen in one State or jurisdiction,and brought into another,it isa new, fresh and distinct larceny. The case cited from Mississippi, considers the authorities and discusses the question with distinguished ability, showing that the great current of authority gives recognition to the view just noted. But, as shown .in Hemmaker v. State, supra, we are relieved of any necessity of discussing the common law rule, as .our statute has made the offense with which the defendant stands charged, punishable as larceny, and this is sufficient for us. If the defendant, by bringing stolen property into this State, has rendered himself amenable to our laws, it is a matter of no concern to us, nor justification to him, that he had elsewhere, and in another jurisdiction, committed a separate and distinct felony respecting the same subject matter. And if we accept the evidence as true, and the verdict based thereon as correct, he has done this, whether regard be had to our statutory rule, or that of the common law. At the present term of the court we held that our statute allowing conviction for larceny in the county into which the stolen property was brought from another county in this State, was but declaratory of the common law that the bringing of stolon property into such county, was larceny in the latter, (State v. Smith,) and we there further held, that the indictment properly charged the larceny as done in the county where the thief was taken with the property. As to that provision of the constitution which allows the accused to have compulsory process for witnesses, we discover not the slightest antagonism between that and the statute under consideration. ' It is of frequent occurrence in criminal prosecutions, that witnesses are beyond the reach of compulsory process of that'jurisdiction where the prisoner is arrested, and yet this is never deemed to be an obstacle in the way of ultimate conviction. If it were, many a felon would escape punishment altogether. That constitutional provision has evident reference to only such process as the State, where the prosecution is had, can execute within her.owxx borders. If the ai’gument that de1 fendant cannot be tx’ie'd but where he caxx have compulsory process for his witnesses, be sound, then when taken to Kansas to be tried for the ox’igiual larceny, precisely the same difficulty-would be encountered, for on arrival there, the State of Kansas would possess no power to execute criminal .process within our border’s for defendant’s witnesses resident in this State; so that the result would be the defendant could not be tried at all. The bare statement of such an argument, and the results which would flow from its being successful, constitute and accomplish its ample refutation.

II. The principal witness, Edward Young, resides in Kansas City, and he it was whose testimony identified the prisoner; and that the horse was stolen in Kansas and brought into Jackson county, is abundantly established. The prisoner’s own testimony is unsatisfactory and somewhat contradictory, and notwithstanding his attempted proof of an alibi, we think now, as we did when applied to for a supersedeas, that the testimony was sufficient, the cause fairly tried and the verdict should not be disturbed;

III. As to the motion for a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence, it is sufficient to say that it discloses not the slightest attempt at diligence. Although witnesses in Kansas could not be reached by our process, yet under the statute, their depositions could have been taken. (2 Wag. Stat. 1096, § 11, et seq.) But no effort, in this direction was made. The defendant, too, as well as his father, must have been as conversant with the hostile feelings of some of the witnesses towards him before, as after the trial. And as to any intimidation, it seems to have occurred after the trial, and against those who had already testified. Besides, the testimony was merely cumulative, and its effect would have been merely to discredit or impeach a former witness. (State v. Carr, 1 Fost. N. H. 166; Richardson v. Farmer, 36 Mo. 35; State v. Ray, 53 Mo. 345, and cases cited.) As to the affidavit of John Butler, the father, he only speaks of a witness whose name he does not give, who resides in Johnson county, Kansas, who, if present, would only have sworn to good character. When this witness was called upon, does not appear; nor is the affidavit of the witness produced. (See authorities above cited.) In addition to the above, both defendant .and his father could have testified to his good character, which was not done, and if done, would not have ■ availed anything, if the jury regarded the evidence of defendant’s guilt as clear. We-discover no error in the record, and affirm the judgment.

All concur, except Hough, J., who was not present at the argument. ■

Affirmed.