State v. Spiers

103 Iowa 711 | Iowa | 1897

Robinson, J.

1 I. Theappellant and one Carl Kroll were indicted and tried j-o'ntiy Nr the ci ime of nuisance-, but Kroll was acquitted. The appellant complains that he was not giv-e-n a fair and impartial trial, for the -alleged reason that the trial judge- asked numerous, questions of witnesses, made -objectionable remarks, and took such an active part in the- trial in behalf of the 'state as to prejudice the appellant. The- record sho-ws that the trial judge interrogated different witnesses, and that the questions he -asked were frequently mo-re direct -and better answered than were - those asked by the county attorney'. But an additional abstract, filed in behalf of the state, and not denied, ■show's that many of the claims of -error made by the -appellant are based- u-p-on a misapprehension of ih-e record. Several of the witnesses for the state showed a disposition to evade giving direct answers, and to equivocate-; and the questions of the county attorney were not in all cases well calculated to develop material facts-, and the questions and rulings-of the court were of a -character to prevent -evasions, and compel the witnesses to -disclose the truth. A trial court should not, as a rule, interfere with the- -examination o-f witnesses when the examination is being fairly con-ducted, unless to rule upon objections .and motions. But the trial court is not required to remain silent wheni unwilling witnesses persist in such a course .as will conceal the truth, and make the trial a travesty of justice. We do not find that tlie district court exceeded the power which rightfully belonged to it, in assisting in the examination of witnesses, and in ■compelling answers.

2 II. It is claimed that the court erred in permitting objectionable questions ashed Mrs. Farrand to be answered. The state sought to prove by her that she had sent an agent to the place where the defendants were doing what was claimed to be an illegal business, and that he produced something there for her. What was thus procured, if anything, is not shoAvn, and the court permitted questions of which complaint is made to- be asked and answered only on condition that the state should prove that whatever the agent delivered! to the witness was obtained at the place kept by the defendants.; and, when it became apparent that the required fact Avo-uld not be shown, the evidence in regard to the sending of the agent to the place specified was stricken out. No- evidence 'Avhick could have prejudiced the defendant Avas giAen by the Avitn-ess-, and nearly all of what s-he said was Avithdra-wn from the jury. There was nothing in her examination of Avhich, the appellant can justly complain.

3 III. The appellant complains that the court did not submit to- the jury his theory o-f the case; which was that the beverage sold at the time and place in question was mineral water only, and not intoxicating. The beverage was kept and sold -on the fourth day of July, A. D. 1896, in a temporary structure erected for the day. A car load of what Avas billed as mineral water, but which Avas contained in ordinary beer kegs, was delivered to the defendant on the preceding day. Witnesses who drank -of the beverage testified •thiat it was beer, although some of them stated that it was of a poor quality, and it was shown that the appellant was responsible for the sales'. NO' evidence was offered by the defendants. The court charged the jury that the burden was on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the maintaining of 'the building, and the keeping therein for sale of intoxicating liquor© by the defendant©; and that, if the jury had a reasonable doubt as to. the guilt of either or both of the defendants, then it should find such defendant or defendants., as the case might be, not guilty. It was not claimed that the defendants had any legal right to sell any intoxicating liquor at the time .and in the place in question. Proof that they ©old beer was prima facie evidence that they sold an intoxicating liquor, and the burden was on them to ©how, if they could, that it was not intoxicating. State v. Cloughly, 73 Iowa, 626. We do not think it wais necessary, under the circumstance© stated, for the court to instruct the jury specifically that the defendants claimed that the beverage sold was mineral water, and that it was not intoxicating. So far as those claims were made by the defendant© and supported by evidence, they were as apparent to the jury as; to the court, and under the plea of not guilty entered by the defendants., and 'the charge of the court, could not have .escaped due consideration by the jury. _ We conclude that the .evidence is ample to sustain the verdict, and that no error prejudicial to the .appellant was committed during the trial. The judgment of the district court-is-AFFIRMED.