State v. Walters

| Iowa | Mar 20, 1877

Eothrook, J.

i. criminal with intent to commit rape: evidence.

I. The indictment charges that the alleged crime was committed about June 1, 1874. The complaining witness in her testimony detailed an assault which she alleged the defendant committed upon her in T . 0_. ... , , . J une or J uly, 1874, while on the waj*- from defendant’s residence to the village of Waukon. She also testified to a number of other assaults of the same character, some of which occurred .sometime prior to finding of the indictment. Objection was made to any proof of assaults unless confined to the time specified in the indictment, and to a time within the statute of limitations. The objection was overruled and exceptions taken. To the introduction of this evidence- we believe there can be no valid objection. In an indictment for an assault frith intent to commit a rape, evidence of previous assaults on the prosecutrix is admissible to show the intent with which the act charged was committed. Wharton’s American Criminal Law, 301.

2.-: evier oiiense. II. The State introduced as a witness one Dora Shepard, who testified that the defendant had repeatedly assaulted her with intent to commit rape. The assaults which she testified to have no connection whatever with the alleged assault committed upon the complaining witness, and some of them occurred several years before the indictment was found. Objection was made to this evidence, which was overruled and proper exceptions taken.

This ruling of the court was erroneous. It is a general rule that nothing shall be given in evidence which does not directly tend to the proof or disproof of the matter in issue. Evidence of a distinct substantive offense cannot be admitted in support of another offense. Proof of some other felony committed at a different time and upon or against another person, and having no connection' with the crime charged, is not admissible. Whatever exceptions there may be to this rule in cases where distinct transactions are allowed to be shown, to establish the scienter or quo animo, we think this evidence is not of that character. Counsel- for the State has cited us to no authority sustaining the ruling of the court below in admitting this evidence, and we have been unable to find any adjudicated case which supports such rule.

3.--: practice: instruction. III. The court gave to the jury the following instruction:'

“The form of your verdict will be, “we, the jury, find the defendant guilty; or, we, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.”

The instructions did not inform the jury that it was competent for them, under the indictment, to find the defendant not guilty of the crime charged, but guilty, of an assault, or an assault and battery, if they should believe from the evidence that, such finding would be proper; nor were they advised that if they had a reasonable doubt of the degree or character of the assault, that they should only convict of the lower degree. Code, Sec. M29. The instruction above quoted excluded from the consideration of the j ury a material issue in the case, and compelled a verdict either of guilty as charged iu the indictment or not guilty. We think this is erroneous.

There are other alleged errors, some of which present important-questions; but as no argument has been made upon the part of the State, and as the cause must be reversed for the errors above enumerated, we will not consider them.

Eeversed.