State v. Johnson

255 Mo. 281 | Mo. | 1914

BROWN, J.

Upon a charge of assaulting with intent to kill one Paris Craighead, defendant was convicted in the circuit court of Callaway county and appeals from a judgment fixing his punishment at three years in the penitentiary.

The evidence upon which this conviction rests runs as follows:

Craighead and three other white boys assembled in Callaway county on the night of August 18, 1912, to attend a dance. The dance did not materialize, so the four boys decided to attend a festival, held on the same night at a negro church a few miles distant. They arrived at the church about midnight, and, after tying their horses, sought to purchase some soda pop and fish at a stand outside the church. They could not obtain the soda pop and fish, the supply being exhausted.

The white boys then walked to an open window of the church and were watching the negroes inside, some of whom were singing. At this juncture a bottle was thrown by some unknown person on the outside and struck the church window above where the white boys were standing, breaking the bottle and also the glass in the window.

Several persons came out of the church and demanded that the white boys pay for the broken window. This they declined to do, claiming they had not broken it. Some one or more of the negroes then told the white boys to leave, which they promptly did. There is some conflict in the evidence as to who told the white boys to leave; two witnesses testified that defendant gave the order.

Defendant was standing on the outside of the church when the bottle was thrown. Two of the white boys stated that the negroes told them to run, and they did run to their horses and prepared to .go home.

Paris Craighead did not run, but walked to his horse. According to his testimony about seven of the negroes followed him, and, as he was preparing to mount his horse, a negro by the name of Wheeler Dudley struck him in the back with a knife, inflicting a wound extending from his shoulder to his belt — about seventeen inches long. Craighead stated that just before this assault was made defendant said to Dudley, “Rip him.”

Defendant, testifying in his own behalf, corroborated the statements of Craighead at all points except in regard to the inciting remark, “Rip him,” alleged to have been made by defendant to Dudley just before the crime was committed. Defendant stated that he and Pete Holland were standing about five feet from defendant when Wheeler Dudley passed between them and cut Craighead with a knife. Defendant further testified that it was a starlight night and that after the assault took place he could see that Craighead’s coat and shirt were “split open,” and defendant thought he was wounded. Craighead was in fact very seriously wounded, but was able to mount Ms horse and ride away. Defendant denied that he said “rip him” to Dudley or encouraged said Dudley to make the assault — that he did not want to harm Craighead in any way. That he did not hear anybody say “rip him,” but heard Dudley say, “I split his coat.” Asked why he followed the wMte boys, defendant said: “I just went out there to see that they left.”

Pete Holland’s evidence was about the same as defendant’s. He testified that he did not hear anyone say “rip Mm” — but that after the assault Dudley stated he had “split the white boy’s coat.”

One Julia Dudley testified in rebuttal that the day following the assault defendant called at her home, and upon loaning her his knife to pare an apple, he (defendant) remarked: “That is the knife with which I cut the white boy’s coat.” Defendant denied making this remark, as did one other witness who was present when it is alleged to have been made.

For reversal defendant assigns the alleged invalidity of the information; the giving of improper instructions; the admission of improper evidence; and insufficiency of evidence to support the verdict.

OPINION.

Information. I. The only attack upon the information is that it alleges defendant and two other persons assaulted, stabbed and cut Paris Craighead with a knife, which they “then and there in their hands had and held, thus charging a physical impossibility. TMs alleged error has been heretofore urged against, other informations, and has never been regarded as a substantial defect. [State v. Grimes, 29 Mo. App. 470; State v. Dalton, 27 Mo. 13; State v. Shelton, 223 Mo. 118, l. c. 128.] Upon the authority of the above cited cases we hold that the information in this case is sufficient. It certainly gave the defendant all the notice which the law requires of the charge upon which he would be tried.

Instructions. II. Concerning the alleged errors in the instructions given for the State or by the court of its own motion, it is only necessary to say they . . , . .. . , „ ,, cannot be reviewed m this appeal, for the reason that they do not appear in the transcript filed in this court.

The bill of exceptions contains a call for the instructions given on behalf of the State, but from some cause those instructions were not copied into the transcript. No suggestion of diminution of record or attempt to amend the bill of exceptions by an order of court nunc pro tunc has been made; but since the submission of the ease to this court, the clerk of the circuit court of Callaway county has filed here, without permission, some copies of instructions which he certifies were found deposited among the original papers in this cause. The clerk further certifies that said instructions, of which he has thus furnished us copies, are not indorsed as either given or refused by the trial court. It has long been the rule that a record filed in this court cannot be amended by the mere certificates of the clerk when not acting under the order of any court. [Smith v. Railroad, 91 Mo. 58, l. c. 61; Althoff v. Transit Co., 204 Mo. 166.]

Evidence: Motion for New Trial. III. The evidence of Julia Dudley was probably not admissible as rebuttal testimony, but as defendant had neglected to call the trial court’s attention to the admission of improper evidence in his motion for new trial, the error (if error) cannot be reviewed here. [State v. Foley, 247 Mo. 607, l. c. 627, and cases there cited.]

Evidence Sufficient • IV. This leaves for our determination the contention that the verdict and judgment are not supported by substantial evidence. the only direct evidence of defendant’s guilt is tbat he encouraged the commission of the crime by saying to Wheeler Dudley, “Rip him,” just before the latter made the assault. Defendant’s counsel does not deny tbat bis client is guilty if be told Dudley to strike Craighead with a knife. His insistence is tbat, all the facts considered, there is not substantial evidence tbat defendant did or said anything to provoke or encourage the commission of the crime by Dudley.

As Craighead, tbe prosecuting witness upon whose evidence the conviction is based, admitted tbat be bad only a slight acquaintance with defendant, and was not familiar with bis voice, tbe difficulty arises in finding tbat said prosecuting witness, by only such light as tbe stars afforded on tbat summer night, could be certain as to which one of tbe seven negroes then present made tbe inciting remark, “Rip him.”

Tbe defendant, who was only five feet from tbe prosecuting witness, testified tbat after Dudley struck the blow, be (defendant) could see tbat Craighead’s coat and shirt were “split open;” so tbat, defendant being able to observe by tbe starlight tbat Craighead’s coat and shirt were cut by Dudley’s knife, it is apparent tbat it was at least possible for Craighead to recognize defendant by sight, and with reasonable accuracy determine tbat it was be who told Dudley to use tbe knife.

After a careful consideration of all tbe facts we are convinced tbat Craighead’s ability to recognize defendant as tbe man who incited Dudley to make tbe assault was a question for tbe jury, and we decline to disturb their decision.

Tbe judgment is therefore affirmed.

Walker, P. J., and Paris, J., concur.