119 Mo. 419 | Mo. | 1894
Indictment for grand larceny of the sum of $50, the property of one Wooley. The trial resulted in a conviction, the punishment being assessed at two years in the penitentiary, hence this appeal. Of the errors assigned, it is necessary to notice but this one: It appears from an affidavit filed in support of the motion for a new trial, that while the jury were on their way to their room, two of the jury, Saunders and Perkins, separated from the other jurors who were in the care of the deputy sheriff:, and went to a water closet some two hundred feet distant and out of the view of the other jurymen, and not accompanied by any officer. This affidavit made by Barr and Bailey, is uncontradicted, though it does not appear therefrom whether the jury were returning to their room to consider of their verdict or not, nor is it material so
If, however, the jury had already retired to their room for deliberation, and had merely been out in charge of an officer to get a meal, then section 4269, Revised Statutes, 1889, would apply, which authorizes a new trial to be granted where a jury after retiring under-the provisions of section 4210 to deliberate, separate without leave of court. Under this section, the simple fact of separation without leave, is sufficient of itself to authorize a new trial, for so the' statute' ordains. This, is the distinction I understand to be drawn in State v. Orrick, 106 Mo. 111, and State v. Steifel, supra.
Under this view, it is unnecessary to consider other points raised, and the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded.
