State v. McIntire, 89 Iowa 139

State v. McIntire

89 Iowa 139 | Iowa | 1893

Granger, J.

i. seduction: oievideneef^ elIec6' There is a claim that the verdict-has not sufficient support in the testimony. We think- it such as to forbid our interference. In fact, it has stronger support than many eases that have been affirmed in this court. That the defendant had sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix is hardly a doubtful question. The principal contention as to facts is as to the time of the intercourse and the previous chastity of the prosecutrix. Great importance is attached by the appellant, in argument, to the fact that her testimony fixed, as the time of the intercourse, the twenty-seventh day of August, while the testimony of several other witnesses shows that the parties were not together on that day. *141Of course, the particular time of the intercourse may be important in determining the fact of seduction, that is, the truth of the statements made by the prosecutrix, but it is not essential to sustain a conviction, and the court so instructed the jury. The testimony of the prosecutrix shows a continued courtship between herself and the defendant of some months, covering a period both before and after the twenty-seventh day of August, which she quite positively fixes as the day of their intercourse. Talcing her testimony together, it does not appear that she is absolutely positive as to the exact time, but it is said by her that it was in August. The record is by no means a showing that the act was on that particular day, or not at all; nor does it present a state of facts showing that, if it was not on that particular date, her testimony is entirely unworthy of credit.

2._. chastity witne0ss1°6YUs dence' II. The argument makes quite conspicuous certain acts of the prosecutrix as indicating a want of chastity on her part, and to such an extent, it is urged, as to overcome the finding of the jury. We do not concur in this view. If we agree with counsel that her acts were indiscreet, or even such as might awaken suspicion, still they do not rise to the importance claimed for them in argument. The testimony shows that at times, when escorted home by a male friend, and on the first occasion, she permitted them to “kiss her good night,” and it is said she went so far as to allow them to “hug her.” It is for conduct of this character that her unchastity is urged. We have said that no particular amount or degree of such manners or conversations can be set down as conclusive evidence of an unchaste character. State v. Andre, 5 Iowa, 389; Same v. Hemm, 82 Iowa, 609.

*1423_. lnstruc. tionto jury. *141III. The defendant asked the following instruction: “You are instructed that it is natural, and to be *142expected, that the prosecutrix should, as far ag possible, shield herself, and cast the blame, if any there was, on the defendant. You should not, therefore, put any constrained construction upon-her language in order to find the defendant guilty. On the contrary, as the defendant is entitled to the benefit of all reasonable doubt there may be as to his guilt, the language of the prosecutrix should receive no other construction than its natural and fair meaning may entitle it to.” The court refused it, and gave the following : Second. Counsel for defendant claim that in construing the testimony of the prosecuting witness it may be assumed that she would naturally desire to screen- herself, and throw the blame on defendant, so far as she could reasonably do so, and therefore no strained construction should be given to her words in order to convict defendant. You are instructed that this is true. But you are also instructed that, should' you find the prosecuting witness to be a credible witness, then, in construing her testimony, you should give her words a fair and reasonable construction.” The import of the instructions is much the same, and that given was all the defendant could reasonably ask.

4. — : persuasive tion'tojury. IV. The defendant asked an instruction to the effect that the state relied “wholly upon an alleged promise of marriage as the means of seduction,” and that there could be no conviction unless such fact was proved. The court did give it, but instructed the .jury somewhat generally as to the seductive arts, including a promise of marriage, and said: “If you find that he overcame her virtue and induced her to yield and submit to his embraces by a promise of marriage, or by the use of other seductive arts, then, and in that event, you should find the defendant guilty.” The words “or by other seductive arts” have some' support in the evidence. The prosecutrix, in her testimony, after saying that he hugged and *143kissed her, and told her there would be no harm in the act, that other girls had yielded to him without the promise of marriage to them, and that he would marry her whether or not anything happened to her, said: “It was that and his promise to marry me in two weeks afterwards that I submitted to him.” We think there was no error in the action of the court.

5. new trial: counsel m witnesses. Y. It appears that the defendant is the husband of a sister of one Huxford, who was a witness for the defendant. On cross examination he was asked it he was not a brother-in-law of the defendant, and he answered that he was. Counsel for the state then asked: “You made him marry her, didn’t you?” The court sustained an objection to the question, but it is, urged that, even though the answer was excluded, the question was so prejudicial as to warrant a reversal because of misconduct on the trial. What would have been our holding had the district court so held, we should not now determine. It is said that the question “is without excuse or warrant of law,” and in that view we entirely concur, and we would gladly aid the district court in any proper measure tending to the suppression of such a practice. We are, however, of the opinion that the question of whether prejudice resulted was for the district court, who, being present, could better know the effect of such conduct, and that we should not reverse the case after its refusal to grant a new trial when its discretion is fairly exercised.

We discover no prejudicial error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed.