53 P. 678 | Idaho | 1898
Lead Opinion
— The appellant was, at the April term of the district court of the fourth judicial district, in and for Cassia county, tried upon the charge of murder, committed upon the person of one John C. Wilson, and convicted. Thereafter the appellant, whom we hereafter designate as the defendant, moved for a new trial, which was denied him. The defendant then took two appeals to this court — one from the judgment of conviction, and the other from the order denying him a new trial. These two appeals, by consent of both parties, were argued and submitted together, and we will consider both appeals together. On the hearing the defendant was ably represented by James H. liawley, Esq., and K. I. Perky, Esq., and the state was ably represented by Messrs. O. W. Powers and W. E. Borah. (The attorney general made no oral argument.) The ease has been carefully, fully, and ably briefed on both sides.
The application for a new trial was based upon the following grounds: “1. That the verdict was decided; by means other than
The errors relied upon by the defendant are as follows: “1. Error in overruling motion for new trial upon the ground of the evidence being insufficient to justify the verdict, in the following particulars, to wit: (1) The evidence fails to show that defendant was present at the time of killing of the deceased or at the time deceased received his mortal wounds, or that defendant was an accessary or privy thereto; (2) That the evidence fails to show when deceased received his wounds resulting in his death, or when he died; (3) That the evidence shows that deceased received the wounds from which he died, and died, after the fourth day of February, 1896; (4) That the evidence shows that the defendant was not in the vicinity of the killing of deceased, or any place where it was possible for him to have been concerned in said killing, after the 4th day of February, 1896; (5) That the evidence shows that defendant could not have been at the place of lulling on February 4, 1896, and could riot have been guilty of the murder of deceased, by reason of the impossibility of his riding from the Brown ranch, at the time he was proved to have been there on that day, to the place of killing, and from there back to the Boar’s Nest ranch, at the time that the evidence shows that he was at said place on said day; (6) That the evidence fails to show any motive on the part of defendant for killing deceased; (7) That the evidence fails to show any intention on the part of defendant to kill deceased, or any reason or object for said course on his part, and, further, fails to show that he knew deceased or his companion, or knew of his presence or whereabouts at the time of the killing; (8) That the evidence fails to show that deceased was murdered; that it fails to show a premeditated, deliberate, or malicious killing by defendant or anyone else; (9) That the evidence fails to show
The first error assigned is not, in our opinion, sustained by the record. It is true that no eye-witness swore to the fact that the defendant was present at the time and place the homicide occurred; still all of the circumstances point to' his presence, and also to the fact that he did the killing. The evidence shows that the deceased received his wounds on or about the fourth day of February, 1896, and died soon thereafter. The evidence shows motive and premeditated design on the part of the defendant to commit the homicide. The evidence tends to show that the deceased was killed on the morning of the 4th of February, 1896. The evidence shows that the deceased was killed by a 44-caliber shot, and it shows that, just before the homicide occurred, the defendant was shooting 44 cartridges from a 45-caliber pistol. The evidence shows that the deceased and his companion, Cummings, were sheepmen, engaged in herding sheep, and that defendant had repeatedly made threats against the lives of sheepmen; and that about the time of the killing the defendant, with another companion, Jack Gleason, were riding the range armed with Winchester rifles, revolvers, and dynamite.
While considering-this first assignment of error, we deem it proper to point out the facts established by the evidence, showing the conditions that existed in the locality of the crime, and the conduct of the defendant before and after the homicide. Cassia county is a stock county, some of its residents being engaged in raising cattle, and others in raising sheep. Trouble arose between the cattlemen" and the sheepmen, the former claiming that the sheepmen were trespassing upon the range which peculiarly belonged to them. After pointing out the conditions that existed counsel for the defendant in their brief, at page 11, says: “Disputes again arose, and considerable feeling developed between the various .owners, during the year 1896,
The evidence tends to show that the defendant and Gleason deliberately planned the murder of Wilson and Cummings, and that in so doing they were preparing to rely upon the defense of an alibi if charged with the crime, and the declarations of the defendant to the effect that he could prove an alibi strengthens and confirms this theory. The declarations and threats made by defendant against sheepmen generally, and the actions of defendant and Gleason, with all of the surrounding circumstances, point to them as the party or persons who attacked the Dunn sheep camp on the night' of February 2, 1896; and the defendant admitted that he and Gleason were the parties who made that attack, but he claimed the honor of doing all"of the shooting that was done by the attacking party. The circumstances, and actions of the defendant and Gleason, point to them, beyond any reasonable doubt, as the parties who attacked the camp of Wilson and Cummings on the morning of the 4th of February. After that the defendant told George Porter, a merchant at Deeth, Nevada, that he “is getting forty dollars a month for shooting sheepherders.” Defendant remained away from Idaho until his arrest, but was at the Middlestacks ranch on the eighteenth day of February, when he told Frank Smith
The theory of the defense seems to be that of an alibi. There was an effort to show that the defendant and Gleason left the Brown ranch late in the morning, the defense striving to have the hour of departure to appear as late as possible. Then the •defense strove to have the time of the arrival of the defendant and Gleason at the Boar’s Nest to appear as early after noon as possible. Then the defense strove to show that it was not probable that the ride from the Brown ranch to the Boar’s Nest, by way of the place of killing, could be made by men riding the kind of horses the defendant and Gleason were riding between the time they left the Brown ranch and the time they arrived at the Boar’s Nest. There was much expert testimony adduced showing the speed at which horses could be ridden in February, 1896, in that locality. The evidence of the witnesses ■on the part of the prosecution on this point differs materially from that of the defense, and the witnesses for the latter do not agree among themselves. The speed at which defendant and Gleason could have ridden their horses, at the time in question varies, according to the witnesses, from three to twelve miles an .hour. But the jury after hearing all of the evidence and seeing the witnesses, and noting their manner of testifying, decided that the defendant and Gleason could and did ride from the Brown ranch to the Boar’s Nest, by way of the place where the ■deceased was killed, on the fourth day of February, 1896, between sunrise and 8 o’clock in the afternoon, or in less time, and the said conclusion is justified by the evidence. No attempt is made to show the whereabouts of the defendant and his companion, Gleason, on that memorable day, during the time intervening from their departure from the Brown ranch to their arrival at the Boar’s Nest. The defendant did not testify on "the trial. His traveling companion, Gleason, who was not jointly indicted or informed against with him, did not testify.
The second error assigned by the defendant goes to the admissibility of the evidence showing that the defendant attacked the Dunn sheep camp on the night of February 3, 1896. For the reason that defendant was making war on a class of persons to which the said Dunns and the deceased belonged, and for the purpose of proving motive on the part of the defendant, the said evidence was clearly admissible.
The- third error assigned by the defendant goes to the admissibility of threats made by him generally against sheepmen. Under the circumstances of this case, evidence of such threats was admissible, and the action of the trial court in admitting such evidence, and in refusing to strike it out, was proper. (See citation of authorities in State v. Larkins, 5 Idaho, 200, decided by this court, and reported in 47 Pac. 946.)
The fourth error relied upon by the defendant is not tenable. The witness Dayley testified that while he was acting as a guard or assistant to the sheriff, and while on the road conveying the accused from Yuma, Arizona, the accused being under arrest on the charge involved in this case, said accused, without request so to do, and without any promise or threats having been made to him, of his own volition, stated to said witness that ha (the accused) was first told by Mr. Bower on February 6th, 7th, or 8th of the killing of Wilson and Cummings. Said declaration was admissible on two grounds: 1. It tended to show, especially when it is considered that the crime was not discovered until February 16th, about ten days after the alleged conversation with Bower, guilty knowledge on the part of the defendant:
The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth specifications of error are technical, and we think without merit. We think that all of the evidence sought to be excluded was competent; yet, if any of it was incompetent, we fail to see how it could affect any substantial right of the defendant. The defendant had a fair trial, was convicted, on sufficient evidence which pointed beyond reasonable doubt to the guilt of the defendant and his companion, Gleason, and excluded the probability of the crime having been committed by any other person or persons, and no error affecting the substantial rights of the defendant occurred during the trial.
As to the eleventh error specified, we think, after a full investigation, that the evidence disclosed by the affidavits on behalf of the defense is not such newly discovered evidence as entitled the defendant to a new trial. Said evidence is of the same character as that relied upon by the defendant, going to> the improbability of persons riding from the Brown ranch to the place where the homicide occurred, and from there to the Boar's Nest, and from thence to the Middlestaek’s ranch, within the time that the defendant and Gleason must have made their ride on the 4th of February, 1896, and was to a great extent, at least, cumulative. Such evidence being in direct line with the whole theory of the defense, proper diligence required the defendant to produce such evidence at the trial. It was within his power to do so. A new trial was properly denied on this
The twelfth specification of error is based upon the fact that the defendant procured and filed affidavits of parties to the effect that three of the jurors, G. W. Gray, Stephen Mahony and George Moore, had made statements prior to the trial, to the effect that they were of the opinion that the defendant was guilty and should be hung. On voir dire examination each of these jurors stated that they had no opinion, and had never-formed or expressed an opinion, as to the guilt or innocence-of the defendant. The prosecution filed a number of affidavits-of parties who have known the said jurors for years, and said, affiants deposed that said jurors are men of high standing in. the community where they live, and that the general reputation of each of said jurors for truth and veracity among their-neighbors and acquaintances is good. The jurors Gray and Ma-hony each made an affidavit in which he denies making any-declaration to the effect that the defendant was guilty, prior to the trial. The juror George Moore appears to have left the county after the trial, and his affidavit was not filed. The supreme court of California has held that such a declaration by an individual juror prior to the trial, and which is denied by him on his voir dire examination, is not misconduct of the-jury, and is not cause for new trial on the ground of misconduct, of the jury. The grounds for a new trial are statutory. The-grounds for a new trial in a criminal case provided by our code-are found in section 7953 of the Eevised Statutes, which is as. follows: “When a verdict has been rendered against the defendant the court may, upon his application, grant a new trial in. the following eases only: 1. When the trial has been had in his absence, if the indictment is for felony; 3. When the jury-has received any evidence out of court other than that resulting-
The alleged declarations of said jurors, respectively, prior to the trial, to the effect that they thought the defendant guilty, do not appear to come under either of the grounds provided in the said statute; but, if it be admitted that such declarations do come within the meaning of either of the grounds provided by the said statute, then the showing is not sufficient. When we consider that the affidavits tending to show such declarations are hearsay evidence, based on the recollection of the affiants as to what was said in a conversation that occurred months before the affidavit was made,- and which conversation was probably not fully understood, or misunderstood, or perhaps not remembered correctly, we think the impeaching affidavits insufficient to overcome the positive statements of the jurors, strengthened by the testimony of divers witnesses showing good reputation for truth and veracity on the part of the jurors. Experience teaches us that the memory of man is a frail thing, We hear a statement to-day, and to-morrow, perhaps, are unable to recall it in the exact language of the declarant. Then, again, by failing to catch one word of a sentence, we get an idea
In regard to the thirteenth specification of error, we are inclined to the opinion that the trial court had authority to cause the witness Addie Gordon to be brought before it, and compelled to testify; yet inasmuch as the statement which it is claimed she would have made, would not, for the reasons heretofore given, entitle the defendant to a new trial, the refusal of the trial court to cause said witness to appear before it did not prejudice any substantial right of the defendant.
The fourteenth and fifteenth specifications of error question the correctness of the action of the trial court in receiving and considering affidavits offered by the prosecution to rebut the affidavits offered by the defendant on the hearing of his motion for new trial. While we think that such action is largely a matter of discretion on the part of the trial court, yet, owing to
While a number of minor questions are raised by the able brief of the counsel for the defendant, which have not been specially noticed in this opinion, yet we have carefully considered all of them, and have specially noticed those questions that we deem necessary to consider to arrive at a correct conclusion in this case. The judgment and the order denying the defendant a new trial are affirmed.
Rehearing
ON REHEARING.
— The petition for rehearing, although quite voluminous, presents nothing new. No questions arising upon the evidence, or the| law applicable thereto, which have not heretofore been fully considered and passed upon, appear in the petition; and, as we have already expended much time in a careful and laborious examination of the record and the briefs of counsel in this case, we are confident that a repetition of our labor would serve no other purpose than delay. Behearing denied.