State v. Carter

121 Me. 116 | Me. | 1922

Wilson, J.

The defendant was found guilty of illegally having in possession intoxicating liquors on complaint to the Judge of the Municipal Court for the city of Belfast, and on appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court upon trial before a jury was again found guilty. Just at the close of the trial and as the presiding Justice was concluding his instructions to the jury, another jury which we shall hereafter refer to as the second jury, indicated their readiness to report the result of their deliberations in another criminal proceeding. Whereupon the jury in the case now before us vacated their seats, but remained in the court-room, while the second panel took the jury seats and in the case which had been submitted to them reported a verdict of “Not guilty.”

The presiding Justice in discharging them spoke disapprovingly of their work as jurymen, clearly indicating that in his opinion their verdict of acquittal was unwarranted. To his remarks directed to the second jury, but, as it is claimed, within the hearing of the jury having in charge the case against this respondent, counsel for the respondent requested an exception, which was allowed.

He also filed with the presiding Justice a motion for a new trial alleging as one of the grounds, that an incident which took place in the presence of the jurors in this action, and the language and manner of the presiding Justice at the time a verdict of “not guilty” was rendered by another jury in another criminal proceeding was of such a nature as to prejudice and bias the minds of the jury in the case against the respondent. His motion for a new trial was denied by the presidiug Justice and the time within which exceptions might be filed extended. Whether any exceptions were ever filed to the ruling of the court in denying the motion, the record before this court does not show. Nor is it material, as no exceptions lie in such cases.

At common law a decision by the presiding Justice at nisi prius, on a motion for a new trial was final. Moulton v. Jose, 25 Maine, 76, 85. The only redress in case of denial in this State is provided in Sec. 28, Chap. 136, R. S., in case of felonies, and that by appeal. In cases of misdemeanor, as in the case at bar, there is no redress. The decision of the Justice presiding at nisi prius is final, and it being a matter within his discretion no exceptions lie to his ruling. State v. Simpson, 113 Maine, 27. Hence, if respondent’s exception to the denial of his motion had been filed and completed, it would not have availed him.

As to his exception to the remarks of the presiding Justice to the other jury. Exceptions only lie to a ruling of the court on matters of law. Laroche v. Despeaux, 90 Maine, 178. Improper remarks by counsel, or by the court in the presence of the jury, unless within the provisions of R. S., Chap. 87, Sec. 102, which the remarks complained of are not, can only be taken advantage of by a motion for a new trial by the party claiming to be prejudiced thereby. State v. Martel, 103 Maine, 63; Sprague v. Sampson, 120 Maine, 353, 355. Certainly remarks of the presiding Justice at nisi prius, of whatever nature, though within the hearing of the jury sitting in the case in which the prejudicial error is claimed, but directed to the members of another panel and in relation to the performance of their duties in another, case, unless perchance amounting to an expression of opinion as to some of the facts in issue in the case at bar within the meaning of Sec. 102, Chap. 87, R. S., cannot form the basis of exceptions.

Exceptions overruled.

Judgment on the verdict.