That it should be the aim of the jury to reach a verdict if it could conscientiously do - _ J so; that the object of submitting causes was agreement, and not disagreement; that while, of course, the verdict should be that of each juror freely assented to, each should listen with respect to the arguments of his fellows; that being strongly in the minority should incline one to re-examine the ground of his opinion; that mere pride of opinion and a spirit of controversy had no place in the jury box; that retrials were burdensome and expensive; that some
Now while, among the cases cited, State v. Pitts,
We have intimated strongly that such instructions are erroneous if their language (1) indicates an intention to coerce into agreement, or (2) suggests that the jury would be kept together until it agreed. German Sav. Bank v. Citizens’ Nat. Bank,
We say in Richardson’s case that the length of time spent in deliberation after the giving of the instruction ‘ ‘ clearly indicates that they were not misled by the instruction.” It is
In Burton v. Neill,
In the instant case, the additional instruction was' given after the jury had been kept together some 13 days, and had been deliberating upon its verdict some 48 hours. It stood 3 for acquittal and 9 for conviction when the additional instruction was given, and returned a verdict of guilty in something less than 4 hours thereafter. In the Armstrong case, supra, 4 hours or more was needed to reach verdict; in Burton v. Neill,
In the Armstrong case, while sustaining the instruction, we do so because of absence of other grounds for reversal. In State v. See,
‘ ‘ The evidence is so overwhelming and conclusive, as well as undisputed, that it is inconceivable that any candid juror could in good faith find any reasonable doubt of the guilt of the defendants. For that reason, if for no other, we think that the instruction could not have been prejudicial. ’ ’
The dissent in Armstrong’s case declares that the majority has marshaled all the extreme cases which “approached dangerously near the exclusive province of the jury,” and that even those rest on the fact that, “under the peculiar circumstances of individual cases, no prejudice to the appealing party could be presumed. ’ ’
The Clemens case emphasizes that the physical discomfort of long confinement, to men accustomed to outdoor living, creates a dangerous аtmosphere in which to receive an instruction urging the yielding of the minority, and the desirability of verdicts; and that, where this is done, it “leads the mind to the more reasonable suspicion that they ceased further resistance, gave up their own convictions, and surrendered to the majority, than that they proceeded thereafter to the
The only practical general rule that may be worked out from all this is that, where the disagreement is of more than ordinary and usual duration, and, after the giving of such an instruction as this, a verdict is reached in a time short in comparison with the duration of the disagreement, a рresumption arises that the instruction was prejudicial; that, to use the words of the Clemens ease, there should be a reversal where, in such circumstances, “there is no competent evidence in the record to indicate that the jurors . . . were brought to a final agreement resulting in a verdict, other than through the coercive influence of this instruction, and the long hours of involuntary servitude to which they were subjected, with the tentative suggestion of longer confinement in the event they failed to agree.”
Testing the instruction in review by this standard, we find .that, with the single exception of the Clemens case, the case at bar differs from the other eases in that its jury deliberated longer before the additional instruction was received, and reached verdict more quickly after the same was received; and it disagreed almost as long as in the Clemens case and reached agreement after instruction much more quickly than was done in the Clemens case. The jurors here had been kept together by the bailiff some 11 days before they entered upon their deliberations in the jury room; after some 48 hours of disagreement, three stood for acquittal when the instruction was given; it was late on Saturday night; and it got into the jury room that the trial judge had gone home and out of town for over Sunday, and that, while there was a judge
We think this raises a presumption of prejudice. Nothing appears, to overcome it. The suggestion by the State that the point is ruled by the Mulhollen case is unsound. In same, want of prejudice was found because the evidence of guilt was absolutely conclusive. This record presents a sharp conflict on every material element of guilt or innocence. We are constrained to hold that it was reversible error to give this instruction, under the conditions existing.
The rule above stated shows on its face how difficult it is to apply it with safety to the rights of the parties. That it is the one which our holdings compel, does not obviate its dangers. Therefore, though its wording is technically correct, and has often been approved, it will be better not to give it unless it be in an extreme ease, and we suggest that, when given, it be done in language less likely to have a coercive effect upon the mind of the average juror.
2a. To complaint because some of the jury read this newspaper article, the State responds, first, that there is no evidence that the bailiff was guilty of misconduct in the matter. That is so. But if the reading is misconduct, it remains misconduct, no matter by what agency the newspaper reached the jury. State v. Walton,
2d. The State urges that the case differs" from what it
It has been held to vitiate the verdict, that the jurors read long newspaper accounts of the trial—State v. Caine,
While defendant could complain if that had been done which these cases condemn, these cases do not speak in terms of exclusion, nor does what they disapprove exhaust what is objectionable. The test is whether fair trial was interfered with. There is no one rule of law that defines just what does or does not so interfere, and convictions have been annulled though newspapers read by jurors did not contain just what said cases found to be objectionable. Under our statutes:
“The reading of newspaper accounts of comments upon*431 the trial is thus prohibited by the letter and the spirit of the statute.” State v. Caine,134 Iowa 147 , at 155; and see Walker v. State,37 Tex. 366 , at 389.
It is said in People v. McCoy,
“There is no doubt, however, that the reading of newspapers by jurors, while engaged in the trial of a cause, is inattention to duty which ought to be promptly corrected; and if the newspaper contains any matter in connection with the subject-matter of the trial which would be at all likely to influence jurors in the performance of duty, the act would constitute ground for a motion for a new trial. ’ ’
And see Carter v. State, 9 Lea (Tenn.) 440. . It is the same or worse than if the same comment had been orally injected into the body of the jury. Cartwright v. State (Miss.),
The exact effect of the newspaper article as to witness Griffin was to tell the jury that defendant had put on a corrupt witness, and that the authorities were charging the witness with perjury — that she committed perjury to aid the defendant. In Carter v. State,
“The comments were calculated to prejudice the defendant. And it is well settled, if facts are illegally before the jury, which may have prejudiced the prisoner, he is entitled to a new trial. The value of jury trial depеnds upon guarding jurors against any and every influence other than such as arises from evidence legitimately before them.”
In German-Am. Ins. Co. v. Harper (Ark.),
In State v. Helm,
In People v. Chin Non (Cal.),
State v. Bruce,
We are unable to see that State v. Jackson (Mont.),
A new trial should have been awarded for the misconduct of the jury.
In Cole v. Swan, 4 G. Greene 32, at 33, it was shown that the bailiff “informed the jury that they would be kept by the court from Saturday evening until Monday morning without anything to eat, unless they would agree upon their verdict; and that, in consequence of this, one of the jury consented that a verdict might be returned.”
We reverse because a new trial was not granted on account of this, and say:
“Any cоnversation by the officer ought to subject him to severe punishment by the court; and any verdict .returned after such conversation, whether it had any influence or not in producing the verdict, ought to be set aside the moment the fact comes to the knowledge of the court. Although a juror might swear that in making up his verdict he was uninfluenced by the remarks made by the officer, yet he may be mistaken. It is the right of the party to have a verdict which is the result of an uninterrupted and unprejudiced deliberation.”
Less than this set aside the verdict in Farrer v. State, 2 Ohio State 54, at 55. In State v. La Grange,
Y. It is urged that there was reversible misconduct of the court in its entire attitude during the trial; in remarks by'it to the bailiff;'in the manner of rulings; in remarks to witnesses and as to counsel.
5a. The court, in admonishing the jury at the beginning of the trial, said:
As to this, it is now claimed: (1) that ... . ,, , , , ■, it is an incorrect statement, because jurors may be рermitted to separate during the trial up to final submission, except where one of the parties objects; (2) that it was possibly calculated to unduly alarm the jury, especially when made in connection with the strict admonitions given the triers at the commencement of the trial. If what was said is not, in strictness, correct law, the error was harmless, and we, cannot see what there was in it to alarm the jury.
5b. The remarks of the court while defendant’s witness Miller was being cross-examined are hardly justifiable, but we do not think a reversal is required on their account.
“They would all be if Mr. Hatfield (one of'the attorneys for defendant) had left them alone, and not got the statement. ’ ’
“The remarks of the court in reference to that, indicating that there had been any tampering with the witnesses, may be stricken from the record. The court did not intend to convey any such meaning. ’ ’
We assume, therefore, and, for that matter, find the fact to be, that there was no foundation in the evidence for the quite suggestive intimation that Mr. Hatfield had so failed to leave the witnesses alone as that the court was required to pеrmit their being led. Unjustified attacks by counsel upon parties have resulted in the annulment of verdicts. See cases cited in another division of this opinion. So have attacks upon those acting for a party (School Town v. Shaw, 100 Ind. 268), and attack of witnesses (Rudiger v. Chicago, St. P., M. & O. R. Co., [Wis.],
Imputations by counsel that witnesses had been unduly influenced, tampered with or suborned, have caused reversals, or, for some special reason, have been disapproved without reversal. Whitsett v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co.,
In State v. Helm, supra, we say, as to what counsel said as to those who had given testimony favorable to his adversary, that:
*438 “Any unauthorized statement which would make them appear' to' the jury to be less credible than they were in fact, would have been prejudicial to him. That the words in question were сalculated to cast odium upon the witnesses to which they referred and cause their testimony to have less Weight with the jury than it would have had if the words had not been spoken, is, we think, evident.”
Is it not as injurious to have the court say it of an attorney for one party?
State v. Stowell,
“The effect, we think, necessarily was prejudicial to the defendant. We are not prepared to admit that the court, under the guise of determining some questions which are legitimately before it, can make remarks in the presence and hearing of the jury which would constitute error if contained in an instruction, but because they are not, it must be held the defendant is not prejudiced.”
In Shakman v. Potter,
“Upon listening to the reading of the deposition, I have no doubt but what Mr. Bloodgood, plaintiff’s attorney, was present at the taking of- the deposition, or that the answers had been written out by him, or plaintiff’s attorney.”
We say:
“Manifestly, such a remark was not only erroneous, but highly prejudicial, . . . and the remark made by the court could have no other effect than to demolish and destroy the whole of the witness’s testimony. If such a statement had been*439 embodied in the written charge of the court, it would clearly be erroneous; and while it was not contained in the formal instructions, yet its effect, following so closely the reading of the deposition, was just as prejudicial to plaintiff’s case as if it had been. ’ ’
State v. Philpot,
VI. The claim that there was misconduct in remarks concerning the recall of witness Wianand has been disposed of in dealing with alleged misconduct of the court in dealing with the same matter.
6a. The remarks by counsel for the State, during the cross-examination of De Boos and of Comeau, should not have been made; but we do not think they constitute misconduct demanding reversal.
6c. This was said in argument for the State:
13 criminal law : ductofcoum7 sel.aigument. “Would you go out on the street and meet any human being and justify a verdict of acquittal in the face of the convincing testimony and circumstances that have been heaped on here in this case, with withholding of the only testimony-we know of that could corroborate him — George Ford, the saloon keeper?”
It is argued that the man Ford was the witness whom the State intended to call, and as to whom it had served notice of its intention to so use him; and yet, in the argument, the State attempts to nmke capital out of the fact that he was not called by the defense, and that it was an appeal to the jury, challenging them to justify a verdict of acquittal, and is an unjustifiable demand to vindicate themselves at the expense of the defendant. We incline to think that on neither argument was there such transcending of the proper bounds of argument as that we can interfere.
There is some claim that the attorney for the State misused the prestige of his position by assertion that the defendant was guilty,'and there is some language in State v. Practor,
6d. This was said in the closing argument for the State:
*441 14. ceimin^law: Uuctofcoun-" sel: argument. *440 “You yourselves know that in the past year there has*441 been more crime, more murders, more holdups, more robbery perpetrated in this city than in any time in its history. You cannot take up a paper in ^ mornjng. with0ut seeing from onе to five burglaries and holdups and murders and where they hang out. Where would you go merely to find them ? ’ ’
And this:
“Why, a case was tried here a year ago, the one Mr. Henderson refers to, when he and his co-counsel partner sat behind a man charged with the corruption of the public ballot of this city/ guilty of election frauds in the Fifth ward of our town, guilty, and there can be no question about it. The court room was packed to standing, everybody on earth was there, and everybody was tried except the man that was charged with the crime — everybody; tried the attorneys and a man by the name of Smith. You recall something about that; they tried the poor fellow for a week; they tried the newspapers and everything on earth except the man charged with the crime; and the result was that the jury was so befuddled and beclouded that the guilty criminal walked free from the courthouse. And you see that the jury, from the beginning argument of counsel in this case, to about two minutes before he finally closed it, a desperate effort on the pаrt of both of these gentlemen to try everybody and anything except the issues in this case. Now, isn’t that fair; isn’t that absolutely true?”
There was no testimony to warrant either argument. It is highly inflammatory in a case wherein a chief of police was being prosecuted for alleged prostitution of the powers of his office — conspiring to shield vice instead of protecting the public from it. And see State v. Walton,
It is elementary that, with or without reference to its being inflammatory, counsel should not supply evidence on material points by claim in argument. Little Rock & Ft. S. R. Co. v. Cavenesse (Ark.),
6e. This further argument was made:
“Can there be any question possible, gentlemen, of the guilt of this man of every one of these charges — and how many thousands more nobody knows.”
This is objectionable for all the reasons given in the cases already cited. It, too, is highly inflammatory, under the conditions prevailing on the trial, and was, moreover, an attack on the party referred to which should not be permitted, whether the one assailed be witness or party. School Town v. Shaw,
6f. Referring to one of the witnesses for defendant, the prosecutor said:
i» criminal law ducto£coun“" sei. argument. “Kokomo Jimmie! Kokomo got his name by reason of • ridiculousness of the fellow; a fellow who was going to carry out a plot and scheme like ^at g0jng a p00r miserable dope fiend like Kokomo Jimmie and telling him all he knew about it. ” ’ There was no direct testimony to justify this statement. But the State presents that counsel could supply the basis for the statement by inference from the appearance of the wit*443 ness. This might be quite persuasive if we had any way of determining here what the appearance of the witness was. The rule under which we sustain the trial court because it had the benefit of seeing the witnesses may hardly be extended so that counsel may go outside of the record and sustain it by claiming in this court that the physical appearance of someone -on the stand, as they observed it, justified what was sаid. The argument was improper under very many of the cases heretofore cited and commented upon.
6g. So of the following argument:
16. criminal law: duct o™eoun-" sel: argument. “Did you observe as this testimony ran on, and Wianand had recited the different raids that were made, Flanagan’s place — Flanagan’s place was raided? Do y011 know that Flanagan is in this jail and he tried here for murder, gentlemen ? That is just the resort, and the places of the murder and the burglar and the holdup man, and the thief and pickpocket that they hang out and come from; and they have been protected here up until the time that this county attorney searched back into these records and brought forth this guilty liar, seeking to prostitute the highest office, the most important office, in this city, and that of chief of police.”
Officer Becker had testified that, among the many raids made under Peirce’s direction, ivas one on a place kept by Flanagan, and that, a successful raid. Witness Wianand did not mention the Flanagan place or a raid thereon. There is no evidence that Flanagan wаs in jail, or charged with or tried for murder.
“We would not, however, be understood as holding that a rebuke from the court, or even a complete retraction by the offending counsel, is in all cases of this kind a sovereign remedy. If the transaction be flagrant — if the offensive remark has stricken deep, and is of such a character that neither rebuke nor retraction can entirely destroy its sinister influence — a new trial should be promptly awarded, regardless of the want of objection and exception.”
This is amplified and fully sustained: Conn v. State, 11 Tex. Ct. of Appeals 390; Jacques v. Bridgeport H. R. Co.,
VII. We do not think the question to Talbot, “What did he say to you along the line if it Lad not been Jfor him (Peirce), De' Roos would have gotten you out of there long before?” is objectionable for leading.
7b.' The nature of the answers given by the witness Ray Talbot on direct for the State clearly shows that leading questions did not lead this witness.
7c. Concede that a statement that a letter was stolen is not sufficient foundation for oral proof of its contents. But the witness Davis did not state the contents. She said no
7d. As to complaint concerning a question propounded to the witness Davis, it does not appear that the question was answered.
“Q. What item have you got in there after January 20th? (Objected to as not proper cross-examination. Sustained. Defendant excepts.) ”
This is complained of, and also that Becker was permitted, over objection, to read from the book. The one objection neutralizes the other, and there is no error.
7f. The cross-examination of Captain George W. Over-mire, which is complained of, seems to us to have been permissible cross-examination.
7g. We are of opinion that the examination of Barr exhibits neither improper rebuttal nor impeachment by the party calling the witness.
The witness Nies was asked on direct:
“Q. You do know counsel said a minute ago $50 of that $140 was remitted at the titne, and you didn’t get any of it; that is true, isn’t it?”
Over the objection that it was leading, he answered that he got no part of it, and didn’t know what the records show.
An officer named Lusе testified, on cross-examination, that De Boos was complaining and making trouble over ■ a loan De Eoos had made to the officer, a loan for which Peirce had furnished Luse the money to repay De Eoos. On direct examination, Luse was interrogated as follows:
“You have reason to believe that Peirce was endeavoring to poison your mind against De Eoos, didn’t you, from the statement he made to you similar to what you have recited here on cross-examination?”
State’s witness Lang testified, on cross-examination, that he told attorney Hatfield that, if witness should quit selling every time De Eoos gave him warning, he would have to go out of business. On.direct, he was permitted to say, over objection that it was incompetent in form, that Hatfield, an attorney for the defendant, had not tried to straighten him up as a grand jury witness, and had not told the witness so, but that he just came to ask a‘few questions; and then this occurred:
“Well, tlje facts are that from the time Peirce was elected chief, and you commenced рaying protection money, did you continue there at the Grand Hotel'and sell beer at 50 cents a bottle, as much as a case a day, and continue to do that up to February of this year, without molestation; is that right?”
Over objection that it was leading and called for a mere conclusion, the witness answered, “Yes, sir.”
“Did the county attorney tell you he would issue warrants? The county attorney did’suggest to you and Peirce that if a warrant was desired you could get it at the police station or the justicе court? As a matter of fact, Peirce didn’t ask you to get any warrant, did he?” -
On redirect, the witness Wendhausen testified that he could not say that Peirce was in Ford’s saloon frequently while the witness was tending bar. Over objection, he was allowed to answer questions like this:
“That is what you say before the grand jury; he was there frequently, when you were under oath, and testified there before Hatfield and talked to you about your testimony, and when you were before the 'grand jxiry you testified that Peirce was in Ford’s saloon frequently, didn’t you? The facts are that he would come in several times a day, wouldn’t he? The facts are that Peirce and Ford would talk to you often and were friendly, isn’t it, and that is what you testified before the grand jury, isn’t it?”
A witness for the State, one Heesch, said, on redirect examination, that he was a witness before the grand jury, and was then permitted, over apt objections, to answer questions like this:
“And you didn’t testify before the grand jury about Peirce telling De Roos to go away, did you; and isn’t it a fact that Hatfield tried to get you to state you heard Peirce say to De Roos', in substance, ‘I don’t want you here any more,’ and ‘Go away?’ ”
“You didn’t tell this to the county attorney when he was trying his level best to get you to tell the truth, did you?”
On redirect, to answer questions like this:
“And you remember that when you were before the grand jury that you did not say you had been notified of raids by Peirce, didn’t you?”
We are constrained to hold that the various objections made, including that the questions were leading, improper in form, and were attempts to impeach witnesses called by the interrogator, are well taken.
In Henry v. Sioux City & P. R. Ca.,
“When such a question is asked,' an objection by opposing counsel, even if sustained by the triаl court, does not prevent the mischief. Whatever injury or prejudice there may be to the opposite party is accomplished by asking the question. ’ ’
We might not interfere if some of these examinations stood alone. But on the whole, and considering the record as a whole, we incline to think there was an objectionable system, and that it should not be used on retrial.
*449 “You know that these two porters came in there and swore that they were drunk, don’t you?”
We think this should have been excluded, on the objection that it was hearsay.
7m. During the direct examination of defendant he stated, without objection, that, since he had been chief, over. 400 search warrаnts had been issued, and some 4,500 arrests made, and .over $16,000 in fines collected. On motion of the State the court struck this testimony from the record.
' During the direct examination of W. W. Wianand, clerk of the police court, he was asked:
“Q. About what was the total of the fines collected by Mr. Peirce during the time he was chief of police ? Q. And how did the amount of fees which were collected by Mr. Peirce •during the 11 months that he was chief of police, compare with the fees that were collected by the court the year preceding — the whole year preceding? (State objects as incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.' Sustained, and defendant excepts.) ”
It was one theory of the defense that charges of “disturbing the peace” were made when the liquor laws were violated, because, so, the revenue of the city would be enlarged; and that this tended to show that defendant was devoting himself to the profit of the city, rather than to enriching himself by failing in duty to prosecute: It is the opinion of the writer that the testimony excluded was admissible in support of this trial theory, and that the collections in fines were larger than those brought in by his predecessors bore on the claim that defendant was not derelict in the work of his office. In this, no member of 'the court has concurred, which affirms this ruling.
The State contends that the proposed examination was entirely immaterial and irrelevant, and that, as indicated by the remark of the court, it was being indulged in, not for the purpose it was pretended to serve, but merely to blacken the reputation of the woman, in order, if possible, to disparage the testimony of the State.
The cross-examination excluded did tend to show what the character of the witness was. The statement by the trial judge that he did not think the examination was for the purpose of showing this, cannot change that, if -received, the excluded testimony would have borne competently upon what character De Roos possessed, and was competent testimony upon a legitimate issue. Proper evidence may not be excluded merely because the court is of opinion that it is being adduced through improper motives.
For the errors pointed out in Divisions I, II, III, Paragraph 5d of Division Y, Paragraphs 6d, 6e, 6f and 6g of Division VI, and Paragraphs 7i, 7j, 7k, 71, 7m and 7n of Division VII, the judgment below must be reversed. — Reversed and Remanded.
