State v. McClelland

85 W. Va. 289 | W. Va. | 1919

Poffenbarger, Judge:

After rejection of his plea in abatement, based on alleged discrimination against him, on account of his race and color, in the selection of the grand jury who returned the indictment against him, the plaintiff in error, was tried on the indictment, 'convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for life, the trial jury having recommended such punishment, in their verdict. By the writ of error awarded him he seeks reversal of the judgment, only on the ground of rejection of his plea in abatement.

If the plea is sufficient in law, the rejection thereof was erroneous and would be cause for reversal, it having been tendered intime. State v. Young, 82 W. Va. 714. To sustain the court’s ruling, certain objections to it in respect of matter of form need not be considered, since we are unanimously of the opinion that it is not sufficiently definite and certain in its averments, which (.1), that the accused is a person of African descent and are; a resident and citizen of Taylor County; (2), that it was the duty of the Commissioners of the County Court of said county •to prepare and place in the grand jury box a list of names of a certain number of citizens and tax-payers of said county, who should serve as grand jurors for the year 1919; (3), that they refused to place upon such list “the names of any colored taxpayers of said county, or any names of any taxpayers of African descent, for the sole reason that they were or are colored people, or of African descent, notwithstanding there are in the .said county of Taylor a large per cent (about one hundred and fifty taxpayers,) or 5% of the taxpayers of Taylor County, of citizens and taxpayers of African descent, and colored who are competent and qualified to serve upon a grand pury; (4), that the indictment was returned by a grand jury composed entirely of white persons; and (5), that by reason of such discrimination he has been deprived of a right guaranteed to him by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state.

It erroneously assumes that citizenship and the status of taxpayer qualify male citizens for grand jury membership and duty. -Under the statute something more is required. A grand juror must be a freeholder. Code, ch. 157, sec. 2.

As to whether there are any colored freeholders in the county, the plea is silent, unless the descriptive clause “who are competent and qualified to serve upon a grand jury” amounts to an averment of their existence. It may have been used by the pleader as such, but if is equally apparent that he may have used it by way of averment of a conclusion or necessary deduction from the premises stated. Considered in its entirety, as it must be under the rules of interpretation, the plea seems to say that, because many colored persons in the county are citizens and tax-payers thereof, they are qualified for grand jury service. It undertakes to lay the foundation, or state the premises, of a conclusion, by its averment of facts. It might be argued, on the doctrine of presumption, that the pleader has stated all the facts bat are available or that can be established by proof. If so, an ■ssential element of qualification is lacking. If this be not the rue theory, only one other suggests, itself, namely, failure, by oversight, to aver an existing and provable fact, requisite to the conclusion stated. In either case, the clause referred to purports to be an averment of a conclusion predicated upon tbe facts stated, and not a plain, simple averment of the existence of colored persons qualified to serve as grand, jurors. A purpose in the averment of facts preceding it must be accorded to the pleader, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to see or suggest any other purpose than the laying of a basis for a conclusion, or statement of the constituent elements or factors of qualification. Grammatical construction of the clause may be somewhat inconsistent with this interpretation of it, and the rules of grammar, it must be admitted, are sometimes invoked and permitted to operate, in interpretation and construction, but they are not always controlling. If the grammatical construction is inconsistent with intent and purpose disclosed by an instrument considered in its entirety, it is disregarded and the instrument given effect in conformity with the intention so disclosed. Gyger’s Estate, 65 Pa. St. 311; Fisher v. Connard, 100 Pa. St. 63, 69; Coxson v. Dolan, 2 Daly 66; Rutherford v. Green’s Heirs, 2 Wheat. (U. S.) 196, 198. It is not necessaiy, howeyer, to determine the exact meaning of the phrase. The uncertainty of meaning occasioned by the antecedent averments condemns the plea, for a plea in' abatement is governed by a rule different from that by which the sufficiency of pleadings pertaining to the merits of a cause of action, in point of certainty, is tested. It must be certain to a certain intent in every particular. Such a plea is always strictly construed because it does not go to the merits and is, therefore, not favored. State v. Taylor, 57 W. Va. 228, 233; U. S. v. Hammond, 2 Woods. (U. S.) 197; Dolan v. People, 64 N. Y. 485; Jenkins v. State, 35 Fla. 737; McClary v. State, 75 Ind. 260; O’Connell v. Reg. 11 Cl. & Fin. 155; 12 Cyc. 356; Whar. Cr. Pl. & Pr., sec. 1427; Bish. Cr. Pro., secs. 377, 745. Ordinarily, pleadings are liberally construed and certainty to a certain intent in general suffices. 4 Min. Inst. 691; Chitty, Pl. 11 Am. Ed. 232, 233.

Although the sufficiency of a plea of this kind, averring qualification of citizens for jury service in general, but certain and unequivocal, terms, seems not to have been questioned, in several cases in which it has been entertained, it seems to me that it should aver all of the constituent elements of qualification. Under the strict rule of pleading by which it is governed, an indictment must aver all of the essential elements of the offense charged. Even under the rule of liberal construction, the allegation of a mere conclusion will not do. Eor instance, fraud cannot he sufficiently charged in general terms. The facts constituting it must he set forth. My associates, however, think a clear and unequivocal averment of qualification in general terms is good.

The plea in abatement having been properly rejected and rejection thereof being the only ground of complaint, the judgment will be affirmed.

Affirmed.