State v. Roscum

Jan 30, 1903
Reporters:
,
Before:
Weaver
Weaver, J.

*332i’ evidence indictment: misconduct. *331Upon the trial the state placed one Leake upon the witness stand, and offered to prove by him that in the fall of the year 1900 he lost several geese, and afterward “saw geese exactly like them” on the farm of the defendant. This testimony being ruled out, the state further offered to prove by one Hunt other alleged facts of the same character. Objection to this offer being also sustained, a third witness — one Becker— was produced, by whom it was proposed to give evidénce upon “a similar charge.” These repeated attempts to bring before the jury irrelevant and prejudicial matter is assigned by *332appellant as misconduct on part of the prosecuting attorney, having a distinct tendency to prevent a fair trial upon the particular charge made in the indictment; and we have to say we think the complaint is weipf0unded. The appellant was upon trial for alleged malicious mischief or trespass in pulling up and removing certain fruit trees. The fact that certain persons might know or believe that on other occasions, and at other times and places, this man had been guilty of other and distinct offenses had no tendency whatever to prove his guilt of this particular trespass, and it is scarcely conceivable that it could have been offered by any lawyer in the belief that it was admissible.

A somewhat similar question was considered by us in State v. Gadbois, 89 Iowa, 32, and while condemning the practice, we declined to reverse upon that ground alone, saying: “Improper questions are sometimes asked in good faith, without any sinister motive; and, when objections to them are sustained, the fact that they were asked should not be deemed sufficient ground for a new trial, unless there is at least reasonable presumption that prejudice has resulted from them.” In that case the improper offer was not repeated by’ the prosecutor, and the presumption of good faith was held sufficient to prevent a reversal. In the present case, if the first offer could be excused as an act of good faith under a mistaken view of the legal rights of the state, no such charitable presumption can be invoked for the second and third attempts. Indeed, the purpose to get before the jury by indirection the fact that appellant was charged with other depredations, and thereby put him to a disadvantage in the pending trial, is too clear to admit of doubt. If convictions cannot be otherwise secured, it is far better to permit the guilty to go unpunished than to resort to expedients which are essentially unfair, and destructive of the settled rules of evidence.

*333Commenting upon a like assignment of error in State v. Fan, 90 Iowa, 537, we had occasion to say: “If there was any reasonable doubt in our minds of the defendant’s guilt, we should promptly reverse this case for these attempts to inject into the case matters which the county attorney must have known were improper.” The proof of guilt in the present instance is by no means so clear and indisputable as to convince us that appellant was not prejudiced by this conduct on part of the prosecutor. • In support of this holding, see U. S. v. Cross, 19 D. C. 562; People v. Wells, 100 Cal. 459 (34 Pac. Rep. 1078); Randall v. State, 132 Ind. 539 (32 N. E. Rep. 305); People v. Cahoon, 88 Mich. 456 (50 N. W. Rep. 384); People v. Mullings, 83 Cal. 138 (23 Pac. Rep. 229, 17 Am. St. Rep. 223); Leahy v. State, 31 Neb. 566 (48 N. W. Rep. 390).

- c.„ buttai. II. The appellant was a witness in his own behalf. On cross-examination by counsel for the state he was asked “if it was not true that a little over a year ago he went with his hired man around Anderson’s into pium patch, and have a sack full of plums,” etc. This was answered in the negative, and he also said that for two years he had not been upon Anderson’s premises farther than the house. In rebuttal one Prank Anderson, for the state, was permitted, over defendant’s objection, to testify, that “two years ago last plum time” he found defendant and another person in the plum orchard of the prosecuting witness, and saw them take plums from the trees. The admission of this testimony was error. Its objectionable character is so apparent that it seems scarcely necessary to discuss it. As already suggested, an accused person is not to be proved guilty of one crime by proving that he has committed another. State v. Walters, 45 Iowa, 390; 1 Greenleaf, Evidence, sections 51, 52; Shaffner v. Com., 72 Pa. St. 63(13 Am. Rep. 649); Com. v. Jackson, 132 Mass. 16. See, also, directly in point, State v. Fitchette, — Minn. — (92 N. W. *334Rep. 527). Neither was the evidence available to the state, as claimed, by way of rebuttal. The matter sought to be rebutted was brought out by the state upon cross-examination, and a party cannot obtain the right to introduce matters otherwise irrelevant and immaterial by the simple expedient of first obtaining a denial of them upon cross-examination of an opposing witness. 1 Greenleaf, Evidence, 449; Swanson v. French, 92 Iowa, 695.

3 same- unprlsmne’af111 instruction. III. The trespass relied upon by the state to sustain the indictment was committed on the night of May 1,1901, and the evidence offered tended to show that on said night thirty-six peach trees and five apple trees were taken by some one from Anderson’s orc]iar(j> The state was also allowed to prove that on the night of April 15th of the same year another similar trespass was committed, and to show facts tending, it is claimed, to point out the defendant ‘as being-guilty of this offense also. Appellant complains of the admission of this testimony, but the record seems to indicate that no objection was made to it. Exception was taken, however, to the sixth paragraph of the court’s charge to the jury, which involves substantially the same question. In this instruction the jury are told that they cannot convict the defendant of any other crime than the one alleged to have been committed on May 1, 1901, but that it will be proper for them to consider the conduct of defendant previous to that time, so far as it may throw light upon the facts directly in controversy, or aid in explaining or showing the connection of other evidence admitted for their consideration.

We think this instruction cannot be approved. It, in effect, announces the proposition which we have already negatived that the jury may consider evidence of defendant’s guilt of other and distinct offenses in determining his guilt or innocence of the particular offense for which he is being tried. In a few exceptional cases the rule *335suggested by the instruction does prevail, but, generally speaking, it applies only to cases in which the criminal character of the act charged depends upon the specific intent with which it is committed, and in such cases other similar acts may be proven as bearing upon the question ‘of fraudulent intent or guilty knowledge. The crime charged in this case is not one of that nature. If a man, without permission or authority, enters upon his neighbor’s premises in the night time, and secretly pulls up, removes and appropriates fruit trees there found, the unlawful intent is presumed, and it does not require proof of other similar acts to give it character. We conclude, therefore, that this instruction should not have been given.

In view of the necessity of a new trial, we do not discuss or pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction.

For the reasons stated, a new trial is ordered, and cause is remanded to the district court for that purpose.— Ke VERSED.