136 Mo. 653 | Mo. | 1897
The defendant, a negro,' with two others, Germans, Peter Schmidt and John Schmidt, was indicted at the January term, 1896, of the St. Louis county circuit court for murdering Bertram A. Atwater at Webster Groves, in that county, by shooting him to death with a pistol. This crime was committed in an attempt to rob Atwater, on the twenty-third day of January, 1896. At the same term, the accused parties entered their plea of not guilty, a severance was granted, and defendant being tried was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged.
It appeared in evidence that the indicted parties formed a conspiracy to rob Atwater, and, in trying to effect such robbery, Atwater was shot and killed, defendant joining John Schmidt in firing on the deceased,. Defendant in a written statement signed by. him, admitted his guilt to Desmond, chief of detectives.
It is unnecessary to relate the facts in this case any further, as they will be found fully stated in an opinion
The indictment charges that the murder was committed in the attempt to rob Atwater, but such statement was wholly unnecessary, as the indictment may be drawn in common form, and then when proof is made that the homicide was done in the perpetration of a robbery, this proof being made is tantamount to that premeditation, deliberation, etc., which otherwise are necessary to be proven, in order to constitute murder in the first degree. State v. Hopkirk, 84 Mo. 278; State v. Meyers, 99 Mo. 107; State v. Donnelly, 130 Mo. 642.
But the unnecessary statement aforesaid did not vitiate the indictment; enough was stated outside of the matter in reference to the robbery, which made the indictment good, but we do not approve of the unnecessary averment.
Three grounds are urged for a new trial: ‘1 First, that the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence. Second, that the court erred in not instructing the jury for a verdict in the second degree of murder. Third, that the court erred in allowing certain evidence to go to the jurors.”
As to the first ground, the solemn written confession of defendant answers that objection, to say nothing of other evidence.
There was nothing in this case to warrant a verdict for any other grade of crime than murder in the first degree, as has been already pointed out. And even if defendant had been entitled to an instruction on murder in the second degree, he did not take the proper advantage of the failure of the court thus to instruct, by excepting at the time the instructions were given, as ruled in State v. Cantlin, 118 Mo. 111; State v. Paxton, 126 Mo. 500, and other cases.
Dr. Castor was asked, before he had qualified as an expert, as to whether the wound inflicted was the cause of Atwater’s death, and this question was objected to by defendant after the doctor had answered, and thereupon the doctor having qualified, the question was re-asked and re-answered without objection.
Next an objection was interposed by defendant, when a question was asked a witness relative to the condition of defendant’s clothing, and the reason assigned was that the question had already been answered. But the court permitted the witness to state that defendant’s feet were muddy. This question had not been previously answered as a matter of fact, and though it had, the re-answering would constitute no error.
Eielden was asked whether he had held a prior conversation with defendant and his associates, and answered in the negative. After this answer was given, defendant objected to it, etc. What possible ground there was for such an objection it is impossible to conceive.
The last objection was made by the defendant to a question asked the samé witness as to whether during the investigation defendant attempted to flee or escape. The state had the right to show that defendant attempted to make his escape, and this on the ground that it furnished some evidence of his guilt.
Finding no error in the record, we affirm the judgment and order the sentence passed upon defendant to be executed.