State v. Johnson

35 La. Ann. 842 | La. | 1883

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Fenner, J.

James Johnson and Richmond Harris were jointly indicted for burglary. Johnson escaped. Harris was tried alone and was convicted of larceny, from which conviction he appeals.

1. It is difficult to treat seriously the earnest argument in support of the motion to quash the indictment, on the ground that it concludes with the words “ against the peace and dignity of the State,” instead of those “ against the peace and dignity of the saíne,” used in Art. 86 of the Constitution. Obviously, the antecedent to which the words “ the same,” as employed in the Constitution, refer, is the State, and those words were there used simply to avoid tautology. The most exacting precision should be satisfied when, even at the sacrifice of euphony and rhetorical rules, the violation of the peace and dignity of the State is asserted in express terms, rather than by mere reference. If courts should tolerate sneh verbal objections, the criminal pleader might exclaim with the Melancholy Dane, “ we must speak by the card, or, by ’r lady, equivocation will undo us! ”

2. An exception is presented to the ruling of the Court permitting the State to amend the indictment so as to show that the offense was committed on a different date from that stated in the indictment. We think the allowance of such an amendment clearly lay within the discretion of the court under Art. 1047, Revised Statutes. As to the distinction between day and nigbt, time is of the essence of the crime of burglary, hut not as to the date of the week, month or year.

3. Another exception appears to the admission of the testimony of one Collins, offered to prove that Johnson had voluntarily confessed to him that he and Harris had jointly committed the crime. The objection was on the ground that there was no evidence of conspiracy, and that, therefore, the confession was admissible only against the party who made it. Regarded as a confession simply, there might bo force in this objection, but the Judge, in his reasons for overruling it, states that Harris was present when the statement of Johnson was made, and made no denial thereof. This brings the case within the rule of tacit admissions. It does not clearly appear that Harris was under arrest or in custody under the criminal charge at the time, nor was any objection on that ground urged. The ease is not, therefore, within the rule of Diskin’s case, 34 An. 919.

4. The last bill of exceptions was taken to the exclusion of testimony of a witness offered by defendant to prove subsequent declarations of Johnson, to the effect that his former confession was not voluntary, but extorted by duress and violence.

Direct evidence to show circumstances of duress and violence under which Johnson’s statepient and Harris’ failure to deny had taken place, would have been undoubtedly admissible. But it seems clear that the more subsequent statements of Johnson as to those circumstances, not made under oath and sought to be proved by a third person, were hearsay and inadmissible under any theory.

Judgment affirmed.