State v. Hickman

75 Mo. 416 | Mo. | 1882

Hough, J.

Pending a preliminary examination before a justice of the peace in Bates county, for the crime of grand larceny, the defendant was, on the 18th day of March, 1882, indicted in the Bates circuit court for the same offense with which he was charged before the justice. On the 27th day of March, 1882, he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. On the day following, his case was called for trial, whereupon he made an application for a continuance on the ground of the absence, among others, of several witnesses, who' resided in Miller county, for whom subpoenas had been issued and, mailed to the sheriff of said county on the 23rd day of March, 1882, but which had not been returned, sufficient time not having elapsed for their service and return. The prosecuting attorney admitted that the absent witnesses would if present testify to the facts which the defendant in his application for a continuance stated he expected to be able to prove by them, and the application for a continuance was thereupon ovei’ruled, and the defendant was forced to go to trial, and was convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary. The statement in the affidavit of what the absent witnesses would swear to if present, was read at the trial on behalf of the defendant. The State was permitted to prove, against the objection of the defendant, that one of defendant’s absent witnesses had made statements in contradiction of the facts which the prosecuting attorney had admitted said absent witness would swear to if present. The circuit court also permitted the State to introduce-evidence of the declarations ,of one Reed, who was jointly indicted with defendant, made in the absence of defendant and long after the date o.f the alleged larceny.

1. criminal la-w: & *b s 6 n t "witness * continuance. Process for the defendant’s witnesses having been seasonably issued, we think the circuit court erred in compelling. him to go to trial before the same ^ ^ was returned, there being nothing in the application for a continuance, or in the record before us, indicating that the subpoenas had not been issued in good faith or that the same could not.be served. Section 22, article 11 of the constitution, provides that in all criminal prosecutions the accused “ shall have process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf,” and in pursuance of this provision it has been enacted by the legislature that u every person indicted or prosecuted for a criminal offense shall be entitled to subpoenas and compulsory process for witnesses in his behalf.” R. S. 1879, § 1848. Section 1886, Revised .Statutes, which provides that when the prosecuting attorney will consent that on the trial the facts set out in the affidavit, which the party asking for continuance expects to prove by the absent witness, shall be taken as .and for the testimony of such witness, the trial shall not ;be postponed on account of the absence of such witness, was never intended to deprive the accused of his constitutional and statutory right to have compulsory process for his witnesses. This section can only be invoked by the State after the accused, by exercising reasonable diligence, •shall have unsuccessfully employed the power of the court to secure the personal presence of such of his witnesses as may be within the reach of its process. He"is entitled to a reasonable time to have a subpoena which has been seasonably issued, served and returned, and if the witness be found and fail to attend, he is entitled to an attachment to compel his attendance; if the attachment prove unavailing and the defendant thereupon applies for a continuance, the-State may then prevent a further delay in the trial by consenting that the facts which the absent witness is expected to prove, and which are set out in said application shall be taken and received by the court or jury trying the cause as the testimony of such absent witness. State v. Roark, 23 Kas. 147.

That we have given this section its true scope and proper application is quite manifest when we consider that it was obviously intended to prevent a continuance of the cause, which but for this section, it would be the duty of ■ the court to grant. If the defendant failed to show in liis application for a continuance a reasonable and proper degree of diligence by the use of the process of the court and otherwise, to procure the attendance of his witnesses,, he would be compelled to go to trial notwithstanding their absence and without any admission on the part of the State as to what they would swear if present. It is only where-a good ground for a continuance has been shown that the-admission provided for in this section can be made and the trial proceed without the consent of defendant. State v. O'Connor, 65 Mo. 374. And a good ground for a continuance on account of the absence of witnesses, who are within reach of the process of the court can only be shown when the process of the court has been unavailingly employed to compel .their attendance, or when it is perfectly manifest to the court that such process, if issued, would be unavailing. State v. Hatfield, 72 Mo. 518.

2.--:--: impeaching eyidence. The court erred in permitting the State to prove the statements of the absent witness in contradiction of the facts which it was admitted such absent witness would swear to it present. The statute in relation to continuances in civil cases provides that when one party admits that an absent witness would, if present, swear to the facts set out-in the affidavit for a continuance,, he may disprove such facts, “ or prove any contradictory statement made by such absent witness in relation to the. matter in issue and on trial.” R. S., § 3596. But there is a very marked difference between the phraseology of this section and that of the corresponding provision relating to criminal cases found in section 1886, and applicable to the case at bar. This section provides that the facts which it ■is admitted the absent witness would swear to, if present, “ may be contradicted by other evidence, and the general reputation- of such witness'may be impeached as in the •case of other witnesses who testify orally or by deposition.” What “other evidence” is here meant? Plainly, other •competent evidence, and evidence of contradictory statements is only admissible when a proper foundation has been laid for its introduction. No such foundation was or ■could be laid, in the case before us, and the contradictory statements of the absent witness should not, therefore, have been admitted in evidence..

s'-:evidence: federate. The circuit court also erred in admitting the declarations of Reed, heretofore referred to. They had no material bearing upon the question of the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and even if relevant they were made long after the time when tbe alleged larceny was committed, and in the absence of the appellant. State v. Ross, 29 Mo. 32; State v. Duncan, 64 Mo. 262.

Eor the foregoing reasons the judgment of the circuit court will be reversed and the cause remanded.

Norton, J., absent; Henry and Ray, JJ., concur; Sherwood, C. J., ■concurs in the result.