State v. Taylor

160 Iowa 328 | Iowa | 1913

Withrow, J.

The defendant, at the time charged in the indictment, to wit, on or about the 1st day of September, 1911, was the keeper of a boarding house at Humboldt. On different occasions F. W. Dietz, with whom she is charged with having committed adultery, was a visitor at her home, and various witnesses testified to having seen them together at different times, and at least one witness other than Peterson, whose testimony we will later notice, testified to having seen them kiss each other. Dietz was married in 1894, and this prosecution was commenced by his wife.

1. Criminal law: adultery: evidence. I. The witness Peterson testified that he was boarding at the home of the defendant, and that Dietz came to the house about midnight in late August or early September, 1911, and that soon after, from the doorway of his room across a hall, he saw the defend- . ant and Dietz together in bed in an opposite room, and, using his own language, “fronting each other.” The fact of having illicit relations at the time, or having then been together, is denied by both parties. In substance this presents the direct testimony as to the act.

In addition, the state was permitted to introduce, after identification, letters written by defendant to Dietz, and from him to the defendant, which showed a degree of intimacy between them at times prior which, without doubt, indicated an adulterous disposition. It is not necessary to mar the record by setting them out; it is enough to say that on her part they contain statements which permit no other conclusion than that her relations with him were unlawful in the respect charged. They, however, had no direct relation to'the act charged as having been committed in Humboldt county other than to show the disposition of the parties in that direction. For the purpose indicated the letters were admissible, and were proper to be considered in connection with the- other evidence, should the jury find the testimony of the witness Peterson to be credible. State v. More, 115 Iowa, 178.

2. Same: evidence. II. It is urged by appellant that the whole evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction. The testimony of Peterson is denied, and it also is claimed that the situation of the different rooms was such that he could not, a£ ^he piaee where he claimed to be, have seen the parties had they been there; and, in passing upon the weight of his testimony, the jury was permitted to view the premises. We cannot presume that with the proper guards which the lower court placed about the central question, the jury, would have received the testimony of Peterson as worthy of belief had it been in direct contradiction of physical conditions about the building as to material and controlling facts. The conviction which must have depended upon the evidence given by him with collateral corroboration carries with it the conclusion that the view of the premises did not render his statement, as to the facts related by him, impossible. The question of fact was one which was properly submitted, and we cannot say that the jury was not warranted in the finding reached.

3. Same: sufficiency of evidence. III. It is further urged that, even though the testimony of Peterson be true, the position in which he saw the defendant and Dietz did not necessarily indicate an act of adultery, but was reasonably consistent with other conclusions. The letters which passed between the parties having shown that at least one prior act of adultery had been committed by the parties, and strongly tending to show frequent like relations, although in another county, offered reasonable explanation of the purpose of the parties at the time charged. It is urged that mere opportunity to commit adultery, together with an adulterous disposition, is not sufficient proof to sustain such an accusation (citing State v. Trachsel, 150 Iowa, 135). Such is the law. It is wisely intended to protect one from the erroneous conclusions which sometimes are drawn from innocent acts. On the other hand, it is to be considered that were proof required of actual cohabitation, as distinguished from conditions and circumstances which would reasonably permit no other conclusion, the statute against such an offense would be of little practical value, excepting for its possible deterrent effect. 'Where, as in the present case, there were combined the adulterous disposition, together with the evidence not only of opportunity, but also of position, the case is clearly within the rule so often stated by this court. See State v. More, 115 Iowa, 178; State v. Schaedler, 116 Iowa, 488; State v. Thompson, 133 Iowa, 741-746, 747.

4 same • mstruetions. IV. The lower court instructed the jury with great care that the defendant could only be convicted on proof beyond a reasonable doubt of adultery committed by her in Humboldt county. This excluded from eonsideration, save for the purpose of showing adulterous disposition, the evidence and admission of like acts in another place outside of that county. There was no error of law in admitting the letters, nor in submitting the case to the jury.

5. Same : former ajudication. V. After' verdict the defendant moved in arrest of judgment, averring as one of the grounds that the cause had been adjudicated in a prior case, where Dietz was tried under indictment for the same offense" and was acquitted. Waiving the question of the imperfect condition of the record, no proper proof of such trial and acquittal having been shown, w'e are not advised of any authority which would sustain such plea. The case was fairly submitted; we find no error in the record; the jury was warranted in its conclusion.

6. same : excessive sentence. VI. The. trial court sentenced the defendant to impris onment in the penitentiary for a period of not to exceed three years. The statute authorizes punishment by imprison-ment in the penitentiary, or by imprisonment ¿i coimj;y jail with fine. The sentence imposed was the maximum. We are inclined to think that the purpose of the law will be as fully met by a less severe punishment. The judgment of the lower court, therefore, is modified to this extent: That the imprisonment of the defendant be fixed at three months in tire county jail of Humboldt county, with a fine of $100, and that if defendant has been imprisoned for any time since her sentence, pending this appeal, such time be credited on the sentence of imprisonment herein fixed.

With the sentence thus modified, the judgment of conviction by the trial court is Affirmed.