Stevens v. Commonwealth

124 Ky. 32 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1906

. Opinion of the Court by

Judge Settle—

Reversing.

The appellant, R. Flem Stevens, was indicted and tried in the Ohio circuit court for the murder of W. L. G-rawbarger. The jury by their verdict found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and fixed his punishment at two years’ confinement in the penitentiary. Appellant was refused a new trial in the lower court, and now asks of this court a reversal of the judgment appealed from.

Appellant, at the time of the homicide, was marshal of the town of McHenry, and having been- sent for by a barber to remove the deceased from the vicinity of bis shop' on account of bis drunken and disorderly conduct, be went to tbe shop; in question and found deceased in front of and near it. Discovering that be was drunk and boisterous, appellant placed hint under arrest and started with kira to tbe McHenry railroad depot, where there was a light, intending after reaching the depot to send for the police judge, that he might immediately issue a warrant against deceased for his misconduct, and make some disposition of the case. Upon reaching the depot deceased, who> down to that time, had quietly submitted to the arrest, refused to enter the building, and thereupon he and appellant got into an altercation, during which the latter shot and killed him. The evidence as to the difficulty was very conflicting. Pour witnesses, Hobdy, Maddox, and the two Turners, introduced by the commonwealth, claimed to have seen it. According to their testimony, when appellant opened the door of the depot building, deceased objected to entering, whereupon appellant knocked him down with a pistol, or billy, shot him twice while down, again in the act of rising, then twice more when he fell upon the floor of the east shed of the depot. On the other hand, appellant testified in his own behalf that, upon reaching the depot door, deceased, who was a much larger and stronger man than he, with his left hand grasped appellant’s right hand, and holding it as if in a vise, threw his right hand and arm around appellant’s neck, thereby pressing his head against deceased’s breast, and began to struggle, as if to throw appellant to the floor and kill biruJ or do him great bodily harm, in view of which, and of threats that deceased had previously made against him, appellant got his pistol from his pocket with his left hand, and shot deceased twice, somewhere in the back, which caused the latter to release his hold of him and to fall down, hut immediately getting on his feet deceased advanced toward appellant with the remark, ‘1 God damn you, I have not got enough of you yet,.’ ’ and again seized and bore down on him much as he had done before; whereupon appellant, changing the pistol from his left to his right hand, shot deceased three times in front, when he fell to the floor and died. In the main, appellant’s version of the homicide was corroborated by Dott and Nall, railroad employes, then in the depot, Gans and Toll who were across, the street, and, in some measure, by Miss Pirtle, Bishop, and Cope, who were farther away. In addition to the testimony of the witnesses named, there was some further proof that deceased had, prior to his arrest, in effect, said he would not he arrested by appellant, and that the latter had, in substance, declared he would use his pistol in arresting a man like deceased, or of his kind. Evidence was also introduced by the defense to show that, at the time of the homicide, which occurred at night and under the depot shed, there was a nine-day moon, and that the moonlight was insufficient for the commonwealth’s witnesses to see what was done hv the parties engaged in the conflict. On the other hand, the testimony of the commonwealth’s eyewitnesses to the homicide, and others, was that the light from the moon was sufficient to enable them to see what took place. Prom all the evidence the jury reached the conclusion that the homicide was not justifiable. As there was some evidence upon which to base the verdict, we are. not at liberty to declare that it was unauthorized, nor have we the right to set it aside upon the ground that it was flagrantly against the evidence.

It is insisted for appellant that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to prove by certain witnesses, of whom the question was asked, that the reputation of deceased among the peace officers of the county was that of a dangerous man. We think the court ruled correctly in excluding such testimony. It was not proper to show what deceased’s reputation in the particular named was among peace officers, any more than any other class. .It was, however, competent to show that such was his reputation among his acquaintances generally in the community in which he lived, and this appellant was permitted to prove, and did prove, by quite a number of witnesses, including peace officers.

It is also complained that the trial court was guilty of misconduct during the trial in that he permitted the widow of deceased who sat in the courtroom during the taking of testimony, to weep in the presence of- the jury, and cry out at appellant, saying: “Plena Stevens, why did you not kill me or my sweet baby, instead of my husband, who died with' a smile on his face?” This outbreak on the part of Mrs. Grawbarger was nothing more than an uncontrollable manifestation of her grief, which could not have been anticipated by the court, or the officers of the court, then present. Moreover, it is admitted by counsel that she was quickly required by the court to withdraw from the courtroom. The episode, though ill-timed and improper, was such as frequently occurs, and it could not have been prevented by the court except by an order made at the beginning of the trial refusing the widow the right to enter or remain in the courtroom during its progress, which would have been an unusual, as well as a harsh and unjustifiable, requirement that appellant himself did not care to demand. It does not appear from the record that he or his counsel objected to the conduct or statement of Mrs. Grawbarger, or that they excepted to the court’s failure to put an earlier end to the occurrence, and, in the absence of such an objection and exception, this court will not consider the alleged error.

We are also- without power to consider appellant’s complaint as to the alleged misconduct of the acting commonwealth's attorney in the closing argument to the jury, as it does not appear from the record that the alleged improper statement made by him was objected to at the time, that the court w’as asked to admonish the jury not to consider it, or that its failure to do so- was excepted to by appellant. It was not sufficient to present the matter to the lower court for the first time in the motion and grounds for a new trial.

Appellant’s objection to the instructions of the court made at the time they were given require us to consider and pass upon them. Their number and length make it impracticable to copy them in the opinion. Eight of them, though in some respects inaptly expressed, we think substantially correct,, but the one marked “No. 5” we are unable to approve. It is as follows: “The court further instructs the jury that, as a matter of law, the defendant being a peace officer in the town of McHenry at the time of the killing of the deceased, Grawbarger, he had the right to arrest the deceased, if he was drunk or committing a breach of the peace in his presence, without any warrant, and had the right to take deceased before the police judge of the town of McHenry to be dealt with according to law. And if the said Gtawbarger, after having been arrested by the defendant, refused to submit to said arrest, or to remain in the defendant Stevens ’ control, as marshal, then the defendant had the right to use reasonable force to compel said Grawbarger to submit to his authority and to continue in his control. and, if the jury believe from the evidence that the deceased, Grawbarger, refused to continue in the control of the defendant as marshal, and assaulted said marshal, the defendant in this action, the defendant. Stevens, had the right to defend himself from said assault, and to use such force as was reasonably or apparently necessary to repel said assault, but the defendant Stevens had no right, even if assaulted by said Grawbarger, after he had been arrested, to use any more force than was reasonably or apparently necessary to protect himself from great bodily harm or, death at the hands of deceased, Grawbarger, or to overcome the force, if any, offered by the said Grawbarger in his resistance of said arrest, or continued control after the arrest. And the court further instructs the jury that the defendant had no right to kill the said Grawbarger in order to retain custody of his person after having arrested him, charged with disorderly conduct or drunkenness, or breach of the peace, except as the said Grawbarger was assaulting the defendant as supposed in these instructions.” Under the facts appearing in the record there can be no doubt that appellant had, as a peace officer, the right to arrest deceased without a warrant, as he was both drunk and disorderly in the officer’s presence. Appellant’s right to take him to the depot and hold him in custody until the police judge could be sent for. in order that he might try him for the offense committed- in the presence of the officer, or commit him to prison in default of bail until the- next day, is also free from doubt. It is the theory of the defense that, after the arrest of deceased, had been properly made by appellant, he forcibly resisted the latter in the attempt to release himself from arrest, that is. from appellant’s custody as a peace officer, by assaulting him, and that appellant in the effort to retain him in custody and to protect himself from dang’er of death or great bodily harm, or what reasonably appeared to him to be such danger, shot and killed him. It was for the jury to determine from the evidence introduced by the appellant in support of this theory whether the killing’ was or was not justifiable. It is, however, patent that the above instructions confined appellant’s right to kill1 deceased to the single ground of self-defense, which was error. For, though he may not have had any reason to fear death or bodily harm at the hands of deceased, if the latter was attempting to- release himself from arrest by forcibly overpowering appellant, the latter ha.d the right to use such- force as was reasonably necessary to overcome that being used by deceased to effect his release, even to the extent of shooting and killing the latter, if it'reasonably appeared to. appellant that that was the only way to prevent his release from his (appellant’s) custody, though he would have had no right to shoot déeeased if he had gotten away from him and was fleeing to escape.

In the case of Head v. Martin, 85 Ky., 482, 9 Ky. Law Rep., 45, 3 S. W., 622, the single question presented for decision was whether a peace officer, in arresting the defendant in a bastardy warrant, had the right to shoot and kill him while fleeing. In the opinion it is said: “It is attempted to draw a distinction between a case where one is attempting to avoid arrest, and where- one is- endeavoring to escape after arrest. If, however, the offender is in flight, and is not at the time resisting the officer, then the law is the same, whether he be fleeing to avoid arrest, or to escape from custody. * * * The appellee, Martin, had, in fact, been arrested by the appellant, Head, as deputy sheriff, and was shot by the latter when fleeing from his custody, but the fact that an

arrest bad been made does not alter tbe law of tbe ease. ” After holding that tbe offense of bastardy is to be regarded as a misdemeanor, and that tbe statute of this State in respect to arrests does not prescribe bow they shall be made, but merely provides that “no unnecessary force or violence shall be used in making tbe arrest,” tbe opinion proceeds to say: “We, there-force, turn to the common law for guidance. By it an officer in a case of felony maj^ use such force .as is necessary to capture tbe felon, even to killing him when in flight. In tbe case of a misdemeanor, however, tbe rule is different. It is bis duty to make tbe arrest. Pie may summon a posse and may defend himself, if resisted, even to the taking of life, but, when tbe offender is not resisting, but fleeing, be has no right to kill. Human life is too sacred to admit pf a more severe rule. Officers of tbe law are properly clothed with its sanctity. They represent its majesty, and must be properly protected, but to permit the life of one charged with a mere misdemeanor to be taken when fleeing from tbe officer would, aside from its inhumanity, be productive of more abuse than good. Tbe law need not go unenforced. Tbe officer can summon bis posse, and take tbe offender. * * * An officer in arresting or preventing an escape for a misdemeanor, may oppose force to force, and sufficient to overcome it, even to the taking of /life. If tbe offender puts tbe life of tbe officer in-jeopardy, tbe latter may, se defendendo, slay him, but be must not use any greater force than is necessary

for his protection.” Roberson’s Criminal Law, sections 153, 154; Dilger v. Commonwealth, 88 Ky., 550, 11 Ky. Law Rep., 550, 11 S. W., 651; Doolin v. Commonwealth, 95 Ky., 29, 23 S. W., 663; 15 Ky. Law Rep., 408; Bowman v. Commonwealth, 96 Ky., 8, 27 S. W., 870, 16 Ky. Law Rep., 186; Fleetwood v. Commonwealth, 80 Ky., 1, 3 Ky. Law Rep., 497; Mockabee v. Commonwealth, 78 Ky., 380. The same doctrine is stated in Bishop on Criminal Law, sections 662, 663, as follows: “The justification of homicide happening in the arrest' of persons charged with misdemeanors, or breaches of the peace, is subject to a different rule from that which we have- been laying down in respect to eases of felony, for, generally speaking, in misdemeanors it will be murder to kill the party accused for flying from the arrest,- though he cannot otherwise be taken, and, though there be a warrant to apprehend him, but under the circumstances, it may only amount to manslaughter, if it appear that death was not intended. * * * But, in misdemeanors and breaches of the peace, as well as in cases of felony, if the officer meet with resistance, and the offender is killed in the struggle, the killing will be justified.” The instruction of self-defense given by the lower court, together with the one given below in this opinion, will be sufficient to advise the jury under what circumstances the killing of deceased may be excused, if excusable at all, under the evidence.

The instruction which the court is directed to give,' on a retrial of the case, in lieu of No. 5, should be expressed as follows: “The court instructs the jury that, if they believe from the evidence deceased was drunk and disorderly in the presence of appellant, the latter, as marshal of the town of McHenry, had the right to arrest him without a warrant, and to hold him in custody until the presence of the police judge could be secured to make some disposition of the ease, and, if they further believe from the evidence that, after the arrest of deceased, 'and while appellant had him in custody, deceased attempted by force or violence to effect his release from appellant’s custody as an officer, appellant had the right to nse such force as was necessary or reasonably appeared to him to be necessary, bnt no more, to overcome the forcible resistance of deceased, and if, under these circumstances, he shot and killed deceased, the killing was excusable, if appellant could not otherwise overcome the forcible resistance of deceased, or it reasonably appeared to him that he could not do so.”

. On account of the error committed by the trial court in giving instruction No. 5 to the jury, the judgment is reversed, and the case • remanded for a new trial consistent with the opinion.

Petition for rehearing by appellee overruled.

Case Details

Case Name: Stevens v. Commonwealth

Court Name: Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Date Published: Dec 7, 1906

Citation: 124 Ky. 32

Court Abbreviation: Ky. Ct. App.