Territory of Arizona v. Youree

29 P. 894 | Ariz. | 1892

GOODING, C. J.

The record in this case discloses the fact that appellant was convicted of the crime of larceny—the theft of a horse—by the testimony of a self-confessed accomplice in the crime. If it can be said that there was corroborating evidence at all, it was of the most light and unsatisfactory character. This witness, Oliver Mathews, alias Moore, was, on his own statement, more active in the crime than the appellant, and outside of his evidence and the little and uncertain evidence of his brother, who had come from Texas to help him out of his trouble, there was no evidence whatever to connect the appellant with the crime charged in the indictment. We will only notice two of the errors apparent in the record.

1. The self-confessed accomplice, Mathews, alias Moore, had testified that the stolen horse was brought into camp by Joe Youree, the brother of the accused. He was asked the question, “Did you not testify in the examining court that you really were the party that had taken this horse 1” Objection was made to this question, and the objection sustained, and exception taken. We think the witness should have been required to answer this question. If he did so testify before the examining court, his testimony there was materially different from his testimony on the trial. If he had denied so stating, the defendant might have proceeded to impeach his testimony by other witnesses after laying the proper foundation. If he had made contradictory statements, and had so admitted, or it had been proved by other witnesses, this fact, in connection with the discredit attaching to him as a confessed accomplice, might have entirely destroyed his evidence before the jury; and without his evidence there was nothing to sustain a verdict of guilty.

The other error apparent on the record was the evidence of the witness H. A. Owens, admitted over the objection of the defendant. This witness was permitted to testify that on his way to Harqua Hala he saw the defendant (appellant) camped out in the bushes. The following questions were put and answers made -. ‘ ‘ Question. Was any one else camped there ? —Answer. Yes, sir; some Mexican teamsters.—Q. Which way were you traveling at that time ?—A. Out to Harqua Hala.— Q. Which way was he traveling ?—A. Towards Harqua Hala. —Q. What did he say he was going for Í—A. He did not say. He said he was arrested down there for robbing the government, and said it cost a good deal of money to get out of it.” The above answer, it is needless to say, was well calculated to prejudice the minds of the jury, and bear heavily against the prisoner. It had no sort of connection with the commission of the crime charged in the indictment. It is true that it was not an admission that he was guilty of the crime of robbing the government. But to say that such evidence would not operate to the prejudice of the defendant would be to hold that no irrelevant evidence could operate to the prejudice of a person charged with crime. None of the evidence of this witness had the slightest connection with the crime charged. The defendant had no horses with him that the witness saw. No allusion was made to the crime, nor was the conversation near the scene of the crime, so far as the evidence shows. We deem it unnecessary to consider the other errors complained of. The judgment will be reversed, and a new trial grantedl

Kibbey, J., and Sloan, J., concur.