3 Wash. 99 | Wash. | 1891
Defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree, for the killing of one John Deletis, and was sentenced to be hanged. He appealed the case, and seeks a reversal for various reasons, among which are the following: That error was committed in the selection of the jury which tried him. After all of the defendant’s peremptory challenges were exhausted, one E. T. Biggs was called as a juror, and, in answer to questions put to him, testified:—
“ I reside in Port Townsend. "Was acquainted with deceased. He was in my employ. Heard and read of case in newspaper. Was so horrified at the murder that it made me sick. Plave formed and expressed an opinion which would require evidence to remove. Would try the case on the evidence and the law.”
This juror was challenged for cause by the defendant, which the court overruled, and an exception was taken. The challenge should have been granted. In a civil action between Deletis and defendant, Biggs would have been disqualified as a juror for implied bias, under code, § 212, he and Deletis standing in the relation of master and servant; and while, of course, the deceased could not be a party to the prosecution, yet, for the purpose of impaneling a jury he should be considered as an adverse party to the defendant. If the feelings supposed to be engendered by this relationship, or the influence that it might exert, are grounds of disqualification in a civil cause, it goes without saying that the reasons apply with much more force in a case like this. Code, § 1078, provides that the law relating to the drawing, retaining, and selection of jurors in civil cases shall apply to criminal cases as well.
The challenge should have been allowed, also, upon the ground of actual bias. Biggs’ testimony is hereinbefore given in full as it appears in the record. He did not testify that he could disregard the opinion he had formed, and
“Sec. 211. Particular causes of challenge are of two kinds: (1) For such a bias as, when the existence of the facts is ascertained, in judgment of law disqualifies the juror, and which is known in this code as ‘ implied bias;’ (2) for the existence of a state of mind on the part of the juror in reference to the action, or to either party, which satisfies the trier, in the exercise of a sound discretion, that he cannot try the issues impartially and without prejudice to the substantial rights of the party challenging, and which is known in this code as‘ actual bias.’”
“ Sec. 213. A challenge for actual bias may be taken for the cause mentioned in the second subdivision of section two hundred and eleven. But on the trial of such challenge, although it should appear that the juror challenged has formed or expressed an opinion upon what he may have heard or read, such opinion shall not of itself be sufficient to sustain the challenge, but the court must be satisfied, from all the circumstances, that the juror cannot disregard such opinion and try the issue impartially.”
And § 1082, criminal practice act, provides that “challenges for cause shall be allowed for such cause as the court may,in its discretion,deem sufficient,having reference to the causes of challenge prescribed in civil cases as far as they may be applicable, and to the substantial rights of the defendant.” We are not called upon, in this case, to decide whether we would go into the question of fact to determine
One Gabrielle Monard was called and examined as a witness for the prosecution. Upon cross-examination, she testified that she was a married woman, whereupon defendant’s attorney asked her a further question, as to whether she was not a prostitute. The prosecuting attorney objected to this question, which objection the court sustained, and an exception was taken. This was error also. The witness could have refused to answer the question upon the ground that it would tend to criminate her, as she could not be compelled to answer questions when such answers would furnish evidence to convict her of a criminal offense; but the law is well settled that this is a personal privilege, which the witness need not have availed herself of unless she desired to do so. Otherwise the question
One John Miller was a witness for the prosecution, and testified as follows:
“I have lived here about two years. I was a bartender. I don’t do anything at present. I did work at the Louvre saloon. I know defendant. He used to come to tbe saloon now and then. In May or June defendant was in the saloon with five or six others, drinking. They were all Italians. I heard defendant say,c If my partner don’t pay me what he owes me I will take his life.’ They were all talking and drinking. It was between 4 and 6 o’clock.”
Cross-examination:
“I am a Spaniard. Was born at Montevideo. Left there about three years ago. I speak Spanish and English. I understand Italian a little. I don’t read or write it. I first communicated what I heard in the saloon to Delany, three or four days ago. He said if his partner did not pay him he would take his life. This was said in Italian. Coella had been drinking. I had talked with defendant a few*107 times before. I heard him say he would take his partner’s life.
“ Q. Are you positive that Coella threatened to take some one’s life, and that he so stated in Italian ? A. Yes, I am.
“Q. Will you please tell the jury what the word ‘partner ’ is in the Italian language? A. I don’t know.
“ Q. Why did you say that the defendant made use of that word? A. I did not say so. I said that Coella said unless some one paid him what he owed him he would take his life. I was drawing beer when he used these words. My back was turned to him. I knew he said it because I recognized his voice. I never heard him talk before that day when he was drunk. I often thought of what he said at the saloon, and one day, while in my room, I said to myself, ‘My God! He said he would kill that man, and he did it.’”
The defendant objected to this last statement as to what the witness said to himself in his room, and moved the court to strike it out. The motion was denied, and exception was taken. It is difficult to understand why the court refused to strike this part of the witness’ testimony. It does not appear to have been called for, or given in response to any question asked by the defendant’s attorney, and it was clearly incompetent, and of a most dangerous character. From the previous testimony of the witness, there is some doubt as to whom Coella referred to when he said that unless some one paid him he would take his life, if he did so say; but in the statement objected to, the witness'applies it unqualifiedly as being to the deceased; and, in any event, it amounted to allowing the witness, practically, to tell the jury that in his opinion the defendant was guilty. It was too palpable a violation of elementary law to admit of much discussion.
Michael Deleo, a witness for the defense, testified to the good reputation of the defendant — as to his being a quiet and peaceable man. On cross-examination his testimony was as follows:
“Don’t remember talking to Jones or Delaney.”
*108 “ Q. Did you not tell Jones or Delaney that Coella would kill you if you told where he was?”
An objection to the question was made and overruled.
“ A. Never had any such conversation, but said that I did not know where he was.”
W. J. Jones was recalled by the prosecution as a witness on rebuttal, and the following question was asked him on his direct examination, to wit:
“What was said by Deleo to you about Coella?”
The defendent interposed an objection, which was overruled, and the witness, answering, said:
“He said he could not tell us where Coella was, for the Italians who were the friends of Coella would kill him.
The defendant moved to strike out this answer on the grounds that it was incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial, and because the statement was not made by Deleo in the presence of the defendant, and he argues that it was intended to create a prejudice in the minds of the jury against Italians generally, thus injuring the defendant, who was of that nationality. The motion was denied, and an exception was taken. Thomas Delaney was also called, and asked the same question, in substance, by the prosecution. He answered that Deleo said he did not know where Coella was, and if he did he would not tell, because the Italians would kill him. The same objection and motion were made thereto by the defendant, and the same ruling had... The testimony of Jones and Delaney in this particular was incompetent, and it was clearly hearsay, and no foundation had been laid for its introduction in the way of an impeachment of Deleo, if it could have been so admissible.
Several witnesses for the prosecution testified to a confession by the defendant that he killed the deceased. This testimony was objected to on the ground that such confession was inadmissible under the circumstances which sur
“I am a deputy sheriff in Jefferson county. Delaney, Kunkler and I found the defendant on the road near the race track, which is about two or three miles from the city. It was the night of the 28th of July. We were in search of the defendant. We expected him to pass where we were concealed. The night was foggy and cloudy. We were lying behind a log. At about 2 o’clock we saw two men coming towards the town. Delaney said, ‘ Here he comes.’ Delaneysaid, ‘Smith, hold up your hands.’ Smith dropped his bundle, raised his gun, and fired. We returned fire, firing three shots at him. He fell towards us, face downwards, and cried out, ‘You have killed me.’ The defendant was known as Smith. I then walked away from Kunkler and Delaney, and went around by the side of defendant; took hold of him by the hand. Delaney then came up. Defendant then said, ‘ Mr. Tommy, you have killed me.’ Found that defendant was shot in the leg. He asked me to send for a priest. I asked him if he killed Deletis. (Objected to by defendant. Objection overruled, and exception taken.) He said, ‘ I killed him.’ ”
“Question by prosecuting attorney: ‘Now state all the defendant said and did at that time.’ (The defense objected to the testimony of any confession made at that time, and under the circumstances that then surrounded the defendant, which was overruled, and excepted to.) A. The defendant said: ‘ I don’t want to tell any lie. I hit him on the head, and cut him three times.’ I asked him why he killed him. He said he would tell the truth. He said he asked him for $400. Deletis said he would give him no money, and then Deletis called him a son of b-h. He said: ‘That made me crazy, and I struck him. I could find no money in the trunk. I took $15.65 out of the drawer, and my clothes I took out of trunk. I cut my thumb when I was cutting him. I expected to get away to-night on the boat. I was going to black with cork.’ I asked him why he fired at us. He said: ‘ Kill one man, kill two men, hang all the same.’ He said he thought he*110 was killed. Wanted a priest. He said he knew he was going to die. Pie asked Delaney to shoot him. He had palpitation of the heart, and talked very slow. ‘ I knew you kill me. Fll tell the truth, Mr. Tommy. Oh, you kill me, you kill me! ’ ”
Section 1070 of the 1881 code provides that " the confession of a defendant made under inducement, with all the circumstances, may be given as evidence against him, except when made under the influence of fear produced by threats; but a confession made under inducement is not sufficient to warrant a conviction without corroborating testimony.” The objections made to this testimony were properly overruled, even though they should he regarded as sufficient to raise the question under the exception in the above statute. No doubt the defendant was laboring under a sense of fear at the time, and of a most serious character, owing to the way in which he was surprised, and to the wound he had received. The conduct of the officers in capturing the defendant, as it appears from the record, was unwarranted. At midnight, while proceeding along the highway, the defendant is suddenly commanded by men in ambush to throw up his hands, without so much as calling to him tb at they were officers and wanted to arrest him. It is not at all strange that in the excitement of the moment he should think he was attacked, and undertake to defend himself. Without anything more being said, the officers opened fire and shot him down. It does not appear that the defendant at any time during the affair knew or was told that they were officers, or that they formally arrested him, or even told him what they wanted of him or intended to do with him. The circumstances were such as were well calculated to produce fear of a most grievous nature — that of death itself — in the mind of any man. But can it be said that it was of a character likely to lead the defendant to confess guilt? Certainly it cannot be claimed that he
• There is a well-defined distinction between the admissions of the defendant in that case, who evidently intended to confess no guilt, and the direct confession of guilt by the defendant in this case, if he did so confess. The former was more in the nature of an acquiescence in the statement read to him by the interpreter, when the defendant said nothing, for he cannot be said to have understood it before then, under the testimony; and this, taken in connection with the fact that he denied all knowledge of the crime, rendered those admissions more particularly of a class that should be received with caution, under the general rule laid down by some of the text-writers, owing to the danger of mistake, and of the failure of the party to express his own meaning, etc. See 1 Greenl. Evidence, §§ 170-199, 214. While this might be said to apply more properly to the force that should be given them after admission, yet it should also have some bearing upon the question of admissibility where the fact is determined by the judge, in the first instance, upon objection being made. In the present case it did not appear that the confession was an involuntary one, and the action of the court in overruling the objections and admitting the testimony for consideration by the jury was right.
While the defendant was on the stand his attorney asked him the following question:
“ Did any person other than Chehalis ever say anything*113 to you about any conversation they had with Deletis about you?”
An objection was made and sustained; whereupon an offer was made upon the part of the defendant to prove by him that one Grossa had told the defendant, in June, 1890, that Deletis said:
“If Coella keeps on talking about my owing him money I will kill him.”
The court refused to allow the testimony to be given, and an exception was taken. Deletis was killed by the defendant, July 3,1890. The defendant denied having made the confession given in evidence against him, and claimed that, upon his asking Deletis for a sum of money that was due him, Deletis violently attacked him, and that he was compelled to kill him in self-defense in the altercation which ensued, detailing what he claimed to have been the circumstances. Grossa had gone to Italy some time previous to the trial, and the defendant had applied for a continuance in order to get his testimony, which the court, deeming the showing therefor insufficient, refused to allow. This testimony should have been admitted. It was a circumstance to be considered in connection with the attack which he claimed was made upon him by the deceased, not as any evidence of the attack, but as likely to have had some effect upon and tending to show the condition of his mind when attacked as to the danger he was in, or believed himself to be in. For this purpose it was not subject to the rule excluding hearsay testimony, and it made no difference whether deceased had, in fact, told Grossa anything of the kind or not — the important thing was whether Grossa had so told the defendant.
At the close of the testimony the defendant’s attorney submitted a number of instructions which ho desired given to the jury, and he proceeded to read authorities in support thereof, whereupon the courtruled that thejury be excluded
“ After the conclusion of the evidence, and the filing of request for charge in writing or instructions, the plaintiff or party having the burden of proof may, by himself or one counsel, address the court and jury upon the law and facts of the case, after which the adverse party may address the court and jury in like manner by himself and one counsel, or by two counsel, and be followed by the party or counsel of the party first addressing the court. No more than two speeches on behalf of plaintiff or defendant shall be allowed.”
He argues that the constitutional provision is violated by sending the jury out of the room while the trial is in progress, and that the argument upon the instructions is a part of the trial, and that, if there was any doubt about his right to have the jury present under the constitutional provision, the above subdivision of § 221 would render the matter certain. Although the argument and reading of authorities to the court upon request to charge may be said to be a part of the trial, yet it is not so within the spirit of the constitutional provision referred to, under our practice, so far as having the jury present is concerned. It would be optional with the court as to hearing any argument upon the law; but unless there was no contest between the parties as to the law applicable to the case, and the judge should intend to charge the jury as requested, as a matter of caution, that he might make no mistake, thereby occasioning extra expense, or possibly resulting in much
*115 “Counsel cannot know what the court will charge; they cannot lay down to the jury the law as he will charge it unless they be gifted with foreknowledge; they must, therefore, be allowed to lay down to the jury the law which they think the court will charge, or, in other words, their
“ While the right of a party to be heard by his counsel on the trial of his cause is not to be questioned, and is often of great service in the investigation of questions, both of law and of fact, yet, inasmuch as this privilege may be liable to abuse, to the great hindrance and annoyance of courts in the progress of business, the extent and manner of its exercise must, in some measure, rest in the sound discretion of the court. Although unlimited license in range and extent is not allowed to counsel, in their addresses to the court and jury, yet no pertinent and legitimate process of argumentation within the appropriate time allowed should be restricted or prohibited; and it is not to be denied but that a pertinent quotation or extract from a work on science or art, as well as from a classical, historical or other publication, may, by way of argument or illustration, be not only admissible, but sometimes highly proper; and it would seem to make no difference whether it was repeated by counsel from recollection, or read from a book. It would be an abuse of this privilege, however, to make it the pretense of getting improper matter before the jury as evidence in the cause.”
The above was quoted with approval by Wheeler, J., in Wade v. DeWitt, 20 Tex. 398, who says:
“The privilege of counsel, in their address to the jury, to read from legal authorities, or from works of general science, extracts pertinent to the case, in support of their argument, ought not to be abridged. It is a valuable privilege; for, as has been well said, ‘an able and diligent advocate could scarcely sum up a case of any magnitude without repeating, either from memory or from the books,*117 the principles of law bearing on the controversy, as laid down by the best authors; and where authorities are cited it is better, in order to avoid mistake, that they should be produced in court to speak for themselves than that the doctrine inculcated by them should be taken from the mouth of counsel.’ 2 Gr. & Wat. on N. Trials, 685. Yet this privilege is so susceptible of abuse that the extent and manner of its exercise must be intrusted,inagreat measure, to the sound discretion of the court. It is more reasonable to suppose the court will not abridge it improperly, than that the advocate, actuated by the strong desire for success and triumph over his adversary, will not abuse it. It is better for the administration of justice and the protection of the rights of parties that the exercise of this privilege should be regulated by judicial discretion, than that it be left to the unlimited discretion of counsel, governed by the powerful motives of interest and ambition. And I apprehend it would require a clear case of the abuse of judicial discretion, to the injury of the party, to authorize the reversal of a judgment for such a cause. It ought clearly to appear that the rights of the party were denied or improperly abridged by the court, to make a matter of this kind a ground of reversal.”
And this is again approved in Lott v. State, 18 Tex. App. 627. In this case, according to the statement, counsel for defendant, in the course of his argument, when discussing the force and effect of confessions, proposed to read to the jury, as a part of his argument, §§ 214 and 215 of 1 Green-leaf on evidence, and also, in opposition to the argument of the state’s counsel as to the importance of the evidence of good character, §§ 66 and 67 of Wharton’s Criminal Evidence, and, upon the doctrine of the presumption of innocence, an extract from the opinion of the court of appeals in Hampton v. State, 1 Tex. App. 658. The district court refused to allow this to be done. Willson, J., in rendering the opinion of the court, said:
“ The bill of exceptions presenting this action of the court sets forth the law which the counsel proposed to read,*118 and, in onr opinion, it was pertinent to the case, and the reading proposed was to be within reasonable limits. We think the court did not act within the bounds of a sound discretion considering the facts of this case, in denying counsel the privilege of reading the law he proposed to read. We cannot better express our opinion than by referring to and adopting the opinion of the supreme court in Wade v. DeWitt, 20 Tex. 398.”
But it does not follow that a party has the right to have the jury present during an argument to the court upon the law of the case, where counsel reads his own selections, or that it would be proper to allow the jury to remain in all instances. Indeed, the safer course and better practice would be to exclude the jury.
Exceptions were taken to some of the instructions given by the court to the jury. A portion of one of them complained of is as follows:
“The jury are instructed that, if they find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, that on or about the 3d day of July, 1890, at the county of Jefferson, in the State of Washington, the defendant, Dominico Coella, did purposely and of deliberate and premeditated malice, as the terms have been defined to you in the instructions, or in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate robbery or burglary, kill one John Deletis,then you will find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree; and if you find from the evidence, beyond all reasonable doubt, at the place aforesaid, and at the time aforesaid, the defendant did purposely and maliciously, as those terms have been defined to you in these instructions, but without deliberation and premeditation, kill one John Deletis,” etc.
This is objected to on the ground that it was misleading in that the court speaks of having defined certain words therein indicated, when in fact no attempt at any definition appears throughout the instructions. The statutory requisites to constitute murder in the first and second degrees and manslaughter had previously been stated to the jury
“To kill a person with premeditated design, the mind must have acted in regard to the killing before the killing was committed, and the mind must have settled down, resolved and determined to kill and murder, and the killing done with a deliberate mind and formed design of so doing.”
Some instruction upon this point should have been given, under the circumstances, although the above one should have been qualified by telling the jury that no particular length of time was required in which to form the purpose. The following are the eighteenth and nineteenth requests which the defendant submitted:
“‘Premeditation’ has been defined to mean a design formed to commit a crime, or to do some other thing before it is done.
“‘Malice’ has been defined to mean the doing of the wrongful act intentionally, without just cause or excuse. It is a wicked and mischievous purpose which characterizes the perpetration of an injurious act, without lawful excuse.”
These, or something equivalent thereto, should have been given.
One of the grounds upon which the defendant’s motion for a new trial was based was misconduct upon the part of the judge during the progress of the trial. It appears,.by certain affidavits contained in the record, that, while the defendant was on the stand testifying, the judge engaged himself in reading a newspaper; and that, while defendant’s attorney was trying to impeach the testimony of one of the witnesses for the prosecution, the judge familiarly con
Eeversed, and remanded for a new trial.
Anders, C. J., and Stiles and Dunbar, JJ., concur.
Hoyt, J., dissents.