State v. Stephens

13 S.C. 285 | S.C. | 1880

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Willard, C. J.

The first exception embodies the proposition that the defendant, having been once convicted of murder under the present indictment, and a new trial having been granted in invitum by this court, the atttempt to subject him to a second trial under the indictment, was, in effect, putting him in jeopardy of his life twice for the same offence.

Section 18, Article I. of the constitution, declares that “no person after having been acquitted by a jury, shall again, for the same offence, be put in jeopardy of his life or liberty.” As the prisoner never has been acquitted of the offence charged in the indictment, this clause has no application to his case. If under any circumstances granting to a person under conviction a new trial could be regarded as depriving him of any right of defence, even where such new trial was granted in invitum, still that is not the present case. The judgment of this court granting such new trial was made upon an appeal by the prisoner, and, therefore, must be regarded as made at his demand, whether the appeal prayed for a new trial or that the judgment might be arrested. An appellant asking for relief of a certain character must be regarded as asking for relief of a less comprehensive character should he be found not entitled to that which he specifically demands. This proceeds from a principle manifestly in the interest of appellants, and there is no sufficient reason for denying its application to capital cases. The appellant sought to arrest the judgment, but the appellate court concluded that he was not entitled to such relief. Finding, however, that he was entitled to a new trial the court so directed. To have held that the prisoner could not have a new trial, although the record exhibited error, merely because he had not named that relief in his appeal, would have been open to serious objection in any case, and especially so in a capital case. The court properly overruled the plea of a former trial, and properly refused to arrest the judgment on that ground.

The remittitur of this court contained its judgment ordering a new trial, and it was the duty of the Circuit Court to proceed, as it did, in obedience to the requirement of that judgment.

There is no force in the objection that there should have been a new indictment. That question was settled by the judgment of this court ordering a new trial, which must be interpreted as ordering such new trial upon the existing indictment.

Neither is there any force in the objection that the former verdict and judgment was submitted to the inspection of the jury. The indictment was properly submitted to their inspection, and, it must be assumed, could not be so submitted without bringing to their attention the former verdict and judgment under it. It cannot be assumed that the knowledge of the previous proceedings under the indictment would have any tendency to prejudice the minds of the jury.

The objection that the remittitur•' did not expressly set aside the verdict and judgment when it ordered a new trial is without force. That which results as a necessary implication from the judgment rendered is a part of it. A new trial could not be ordered without having such effect, and the order for such new trial must be regarded as setting aside the former verdict and judgment.

It was not necessary that the whole number of thirty-six jurors should be present at the commencement of the trial. No sanction exists for such a demand either in the statute or the authorities.

The practice of directing jtftors objected to by the state to stand aside until the panel is exhausted has been repeatedly recognized, and is too well established to be disturbed by this court, ‘whatever may be our view as to its soundness in principle.

The appeal must be dismissed.

McIver and McGowan, A. J.’s, concurred.