2 Wheel. Cr. Cas. 283 | U.S. Cir. Ct. | 1818
The two first named when arraigned, severally pleaded not guilty, the third pleaded not guilty, and also put in a plea to the'jurisdiction of the court.
The attorney for the United States objected to the double plea put in by Alexander; but it being after the hour of adjournment, the court adjourned till the next day, when the prisoners again being severally arraigned, Mr. Mitchell, one of their counsel, asked leave to withdraw their pleas, intimating that he did not then know what to advise his clients to plead. In order to give the accused full opportunity to make their defence, the court granted leave accordingly, under the impression that their counsel meant to plead other pleas. The accused being severally called on to answer; were advised by their counsel to stand mute, and thus did stand mute; thus refusing to plead.
The attorney for the United States, moved the Court to proceed to the trial in the same manner, as if the accused had pleaded not guilty, according to the 29th section of the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States. To this the counsel for the prisoners objected, contending that this mode of proceeding was applicable only to the trial of the crimes specified in the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, and could not be extended by construction to the crime of robbing the mail, made capital by an act of congress subsequently passed.
On the part of the prosecution it was argued, that by the act to establish the judicial courts of the United States, full power and authority are given to the circuit courts of the United States to try all crimes and offences cognizable under the authority of the United States, and that the manner of conducting the trial prescribed by the 29th section of the act, for the punishment of certain crimes is applicable to all cases arising under laws subsequently passed, inflicting the punishment of death for the commission of any crime or offence. That standing mute by a criminal accused of a capital offence amounts to a constructive confession of guilt. That the privileges of a person accused of a capital offence, by the 20th section of the same act are general, and entend to the trial of all crimes made capital, whether specified in that act or not, and that the mode of trial must be the same. That by the 34th section of the act to establish the judicial courts of the United States, which provides that the laws of the several states, except when the constitu
of the United States, but it is a question in the decision of which they cannot doubt the power and authority of the court to proceed to the trial of the accused.
By the constitution of the United States it is declared, that the trial of all crimes except in cases of impeachment shall be by jwry. The act aforementioned tó establish the judicial courts of the United States gives to the circuit court exclusive cognizance of all crimes and offences cognizable under the authority of the United States, except when a different provision could be made. The act regulating the post office establishment by the 35th section, grants authority to the judicial courts of the several states, under certain restrictions, to try all causes of action arising under and all offences against that act; but this grant of power is permissive, and does not impair the authority of the courts of the United States to try certain causes under that act. Without this grant of power to the courts of the states, the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States would have been exclusive; with it, their jurisdiction is concurrent.
By the constitution a fair and impartial trial by jury in all criminal prosecutions is secured to every citizen of the United States. After all these solemn and salutary regulations, it would be strange indeed if the accused could by any management evade a trial by jury.
The courts of the United States have not common law jurisdiction in criminal cases. They will not punish an offence at common law unless made punishable by statute. But they will resort to the common law for a construction of common law phrases. . Standing mnite, according to the ancient common law of England from whence we have derived most of our institutions, was, in many cases, tantamount to a confession of guilt. And now, by statutes passed at different times, standing mute in all cases amounts to a constructive confession, and is equivalent to conviction. Robbery is felony by the common law. It is made felony by the laws of the United States, and punishable with death whether committed on land or water. Robbery of the mail, if committed with the use of weapons which jeopard the life of the carrier, is felony, and punishable with death; How is the criminal to be tried Let the constitution and laws of the United States furnish the answer—by jury. This mode of trial is secured by the constitution to the accused in all-criminal prosecutions; and the laws of the United States give full power and authority to the courts of the United States to try all offenders, and the trial is imperatively directed to be by jury. Yet the counsel fór the prisoners contend that by standing mute, the criminal can evade a trial altogether. As well might they contend, that if the plea to the jurisdiction had not been withdrawn, and the court had passed their jvd^'ent of respondeat ouster, and
Several acts of congress supplementary to the act to punish certain crimes, have been passed at different times, inflicting heavy penalties for breaches of the law; and an act passed on the 3d March, 1817, prescribes the punishment of death for all offences committed within the Indian boundaries, which before that time were punishable with death, if committed in any other part of the United States. In order to a just construction, it is proper to consider the whole system of criminal jurisprudence as established .by the United States in our view. All the laws should, be taken'in pari materia. The objection will then be removed, and die court may proceed on the trial.
If the laws of Maryland are to be regarded as the rule of decision, the result will be the same. The declaration of rights adopts the common law of England, and the trial by jury according to the course of that law; and also all the English statutes existing at the time of their first emigration, and which by experience had been found applicable to their local and other circumstances, and such others as had been since ‘made in England or Great Britain, and had been introduced, used and practised by the courts of law or equity; As early as the year 1668 there are two cases on record in which criminals standing mute were sentenced by the court to £be hanged. In the first case the crime was murder; in the second petit treason. By the act of 1737, c. 2. and 1744'c. 20, breaking open a tobacco house or other outhouse,"and stealing goods and chattels to the va
No new offence is created by the act of congress regulating tire post office establishment. Robbing is the generic term, and robbing is felony at the common law, and punishable as such. The state of Maryland, by an act passed in the year 1809, has adopted in substance, and almost in words, the provisions of the 29th section of the act of congress to punish certain crimes. It is provided by that act that in all cases of treason or felony, if the person accused shall stand mute, or will not answer to the indictment, the court shall proceed to the trial, as if he liad pleaded not guilty, and given judgment accordingly. Hence it appears, that if the laws of the United States have not provided for the case, and the laws of Maryland are to be regarded as the rule of decisions, standing mute prior to the year 1809, would be equivalent to conviction. Subsequent to that period the trial would proceed as if the accused had .pleaded not guilty.
The court orders that the trial proceed by jury, as if the prisoner .had pleaded not guilty.
The court then appointed Saturday for the trial of the prisoners.
Saturday, May 9.—After the prisoner was placed in the bar for .trial, General Winder made the following observations:
In the case now called it was with the greatest reluctance that he -was compelled to ask the court for a delay of the trial until Monday ; he was bound to ask this in justice to the person charged, and on account of the novelty of the case involving much law not heretofore discussed._ He was decidedly of opinion that the prisoner ought to plead, but he was doubtful what plea it became him, as counsel, to advise him to put in. The delay asked for involved little or no inconvenience to the public. On Monday the counsel for the prisoner will come prepared. The indulgence he asked for he deemed not unreasonable ; by this short postponement an-opportunity would be given for counsel to speak as advisedly as counsel ought in a case which involves the life of their client. On Monday the counsel for the prisoner will be prepared to proceed in the trial.
Mr. Wirt, in reply to General Winder, observed that although the postponement of the trial till Monday would be inconvenient to him, yet he considered his own inconvenience of no importance in the decision of this motion; but the court would recollect that there were other public officers of the government, attending as witnesses, to whom the delay might be still more inconvenient; that there were besides private witnesses attending at a great distance, and probably with great inconvenience to their private
General Winder, in reply, said lie felt for the inconvenience of the public officers and others attending oil the trial, but the delay asked for was a very short 011c. This day was an inconvenient one to commence a trial which might not be finished until to-morrow, which would be Sunday; he considered that nothing which had occurred in the proceedings in this case ought to operate, and lie trusted would not operate against the prisoner having a fair and impartial trial. The situation of the- prisoner claims some indulgence. His life is at stake, and it is natural and excusable that he should endeavor'to avert his fate, and no attempt to do this ought to deprive him of full opportunity of a fair trial. Surely this ought not, and cannot make an impression unfavourable to him. For himself, General Winder said, at this moment he %vas totally unprepared to advise the prisoner, and he trusted the postponement asked for, only until Monday, would be granted.
Mr. Wirt wished the court to understand distinctly that he was perfectly willing to assent to the ■ indulgence asked by General Winder, so far as his own personal inconvenience was involved in the proposition. That the assurance now so explicitly given by General Winder, that the trial should proceed off Monday, was entirely satisfactory to him, as one of the prosecution ; and that for the sake of affording the most ample opportunity of defence in s, case of life and death, he begged to be understood as giving liis assent, so far as that could avail to General Winder’s motion.
The Court. We are of opinion that ample time has been allowed. If the prisoner sustains any inconvenience he has brought it on himself:—the trial must go on.
The. clerk then commenced to call the jury.
General Winder asked the court,, if they did not understand him that on Monday the counsel for the prisoner would advise him to plead. If they did not so understand him, he wished it now to be so understood.
Mr. Glenn, the district attorney, observed, that he was disposed under this pledge that the cause be postponed.
The court. It is of no importance whether a plea will be ¡rut. in or not, as the court have decided that they will proceed as though a plea of not guilty had been entered.
Mr. Mitchell thought it proper to bring distinctly to the notice of the court at this stage of the proceedings, one fact, to which he apprehended sufficient importance had not been attached, althouhg it could not entirely have escaped the eye of the court. Their hon-ours Musi have been aware that no copy of the indictment cot/.’-/ kart hern delivered to the prisoners or tlicir counsel, pursuant to the
Mr. Edl said, on the part of the government, the attorney general an the district attorney, the gentlemen may now enter a plea in chief.
In reply to Mr. Kell, Mr. Mitchell observed, that the arraignment ws altogether irregular and illegal, directly in tire teeth of a public act of cor gress,' of which the district attorney was bound to take notice; that would certainly have been deemed an act of supererogation on the pa: .of the prisoner’s counsel to have volunteered an advice or informatio to the district attorney, apprizing him how he could regularly convii their clients. Here was no ground to presume mistake or surprise, ft he could not but know that two days had not elapsed between the ir dictment and the arraignment:
Mr. .Glenn, the district attorney, said the gentleman ought to kno that the prisoners were arraigned by the order, of the court, that he ha nothing to do with it, and that all the proceedings were by their order.
The Court observed, that the whole proceedings have been strictly re¡ ular, and they were satisfied they had given the prisoners all the p.riv leges they were entitled to ; and they meant to allow them all the priv leges and advantages they can legally require.
The clerk proceeded in swearing the jury, and after three of the jui were sworn,
General' Winder addressed the court to the following effect: E thought proper to state, that he was himself entirely unprepared, as what advice he ought to give the prisoner in the present situation of tl trial, from want of opportunity to examine, and consider the subject; at this also is the situation of the other gentlemen concerned for the pris ner; they, therefore, with himself, desire it to be understood that they l longer consider themselves as taking a part in this trial.
. Jury Sworn, viz:—John Kennedy, Robert N. Moale, John Robinso John Carter, John Watson, Thomas W. Peyton, John Snyder', Isa Dickson, Thomas W. Bond, Thomas Wooden, Richard B. Dorsey, Ge Timanus.
Mr. Gleun, (district attorney) opened the case to the jury, by detail! the facts that would be proven, which could not leave a doubt on t minds of the jury, as to the guilt of the prisoner. He then read the la
Act of April 30th, 1810. Sec. 19. “That if any person shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United Stales, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or of part thereof, such offender or offenders, shall on conviction,, be imprisoned not exceeding ten years; and if convicted a second time of a like offence, he or they shall suffer death: or if in effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender or offenders shall suffer death.”
The following witnesses were then examined.
David Boyer sworn.—I was driving up the mail between 10 and 11 o’clock on the night of the 11th March, Mr. Ludlow was with me, a fence was across the-road which stopt the leaders, three men came from behind it, and said “ here we are, three of us, highway robbers, armed with double barrelled pistols and dirks.” They took us into the woods and tied us. They then went to the waggon and drove it into the woods; after which one man jumped into the waggon, and threw the mail on the ground, and put a knife into it, and they went to work ; they were at work for a lolig time opening the letters. When they were done, they untied us, and told us .to turn our backs to the tail of the waggon, which we did, and they tied us there. One of them said, “ driver I am sorry you have been kept so long, here is some money for you to buy bitters.” He gave me ten dollars, and said the person that was along with me Hooked like a gentleman, and did not want any money. Each one had a pistol when they tied us ; they asked me which was the fastest horses. Their faces looked black, but from their hands I saw they were white men, and they called each other by the names Gibson, Johnson and Smith. One of them said, what shall we do with these men; another answered, I know how to fix them. I was ¡anxious to know. This alarmed me very much. I gave up the mail because I was afraid of my life; they did not say they would kill us. I was much alarmed, because I did not know what moment they would kill us. They went off on the horses. After some time the witness released himself with his teeth, aud with Mr. Ludlow proceeded to Havre-de-Grace.
Tho?nas Lmdlow, Esq. sworn.—I left Baltimore on the 11th March last, in the mail waggon. When within two miles of Havrede-Grace, our progress was impeded by a fencd built across the road. Upon driving up to the fence, three men jumped.from behind it, on the right side of the road, presented pistols which were cocked; said they were highway robbers, and would blow our brains out if we made any resistance. I with the driver was then led into the woods, about sixty yards from the road, and tied to a tree. One of the men returned to the road and brought the mail waggon into the woods, and removed the fence from the. road. The mail was then cut open, and the letters taken out, and a great number of bank notes found in them. They occupied about three hours and a half in searching the letters. 'The men searched us in the waggon, to ascertain if we had arms. After they had finished searching the mail, about two o’clock in the morning, the driver .and myself were untied from the tree, and tied to the back of the
Mr. Wirt.—Was the life of the driver in your opinion, sir, put in jeopardy 1
Witness.—I heg leave to decline answering that question, unless the court should be of opinion that 1 am compelled to do so. The court decided the witness was compelled to answer the question.
Witness.—I did consider that the life of the driver was in danger had he made any resistance.
Boyer was called, by one of the counsel, on the part of the prosecution, and asked under what impression he gave up the mail; he repeated a part of the testimony, and added, I was a good deal alarmed; and when one of them said, what shall we do with these men, and the other answered I have got-a way to fix them. I was very much alarmed indeed. I did not hear them say they would blow our brains out if we made resistance. .
Jacob Rogers, Hatter, sworn.—The prisoner, with another man, pretty early in the morning on which he was arrested, came into my shop, and bought each a hat, and asked where they could get ready made clothes. I sent them to Berteau and Dumas’s store. They had a great deal of money, in one, two and three dollars; it appeared to me of notes from Maine to Georgia. I saw no big money. Each one paid for his hat. I picked out the notes they paid me for the hats, as I was afterwards requested to do.. They then went to Berteau and Dumas’s where they were detected.
Peter Berteau, sworn.—The prisoner came to my shop, about 8 o’clock on the morning of the 13th March, with another man, both badly dressed. I was alone. They asked me for blue frock coats. I asked if they wanted blue superfine ones; they answered, yes. The prisoner went to the door, where there were two Scotch plaid cloaks, and asked the price. I told him 35 dollars a piece ; he said he would give sixty for both I said, as they would buy other clothes, he might have them. This was about .the time when Mr. Dumas came down from his breakfast. I told him to look for a coat that would fit the youngest one. I told him in French that they were men that would buy, that they had already bought two cloaks for 60 dollars, and that I suspected they had the money of the mail, that had been robbed the day before, in their pockets. Dumas told me to say nothing about it, until we could see with'what money they could pay their bills. About this time a constable came in, and asked me if I knew the object of his visit 1 He began to question the men. I took him apart, and told him we were not ready, and requested he should wait till we should be ready. They continued purchasing clothes; the constable came in a little after,
Peter Dumas, sworn.—It was on the 13th March last at about a quarter past eight o’clock in the morning, passing through our store I saw two men very commonly clothed, busy buying of my partner some clothing. Having previously read in the newspaper an account of the mail robbery, it came directly to my mind that there was all possibility of these men having executed this robbery. I passed my way to the back shop, my partner came to me and said, these are the mail robbers, they are buying a great deal. I directly answered very well, they are our’s.' After a -moment's stay in the shop I came up to one of them, so as to help with the sale of the goods; seeing that every article offered was instantly bought. They never minded the prices; and what made me suspect them more, is that when asking them to try the pantaloons, they refused, telling me to take measure, and apply it to the pantaloons they had on. "While in the act of taking measure, I felt a great abundance of papers in the pockets of the pantaloons, which induced me to be easy with them in all my endeavours, so as to bring those papers to light. I immediately let them at liberty to act as easy and freely as I would have done to any honest people. After a moment two officers came in, and asked them if they could give satisfactory references who" they were, they answered in tile affirmative; the officers said, we are officers, the mail has been robbed, and it is the duty of the people to take every person suspected, to be examined. One of them called- for the bill; one bill was ready. I took them into the back shop, and counted out the goods. I placed myself opposite a large looking glass in the shop, that I might see. I saw one step behind the curtain which hangs on one side of the shop; he put his hands into his pocket, pulled out the money, and placed it between some cloth that had been cut out, and between some pantaloons that were lying on the counter; the other then emptied liis pocket in- the same way. One of them then asked me what they should do ; I told them to go to court and be examined. When they had left the shop, I went to the clothes and took out the money they had deposited there, and took it up to court. When one of them was emptying his pocket, I heard a pistol ball and dagger fall, which I found on the floor. Both men had mud on their pantaloons as high as their knees, when they came into the store.
On leaving the store, one pf them seized my right foot by laying his on it, knocking me with his elbow, and showing me with his eyes the place of deposite; leave the goods, said he, and I will call for’ them. I told the clerk, we have money enough in the 'house, and I called a gentleman passing to step in so as to witness, while taking possession of the money.
Alexander B. Boyd, Esq. sworn.—I was in the room where the prisoner was examined; this note ( a one hundred, dollar note, which was afterwards proved to have been robbed from the' mail,) fell from him as he was pulling off liis pantaloons;■ his person was much chqfed.
Col. Bentalow, the marshal, sworn.—1 examined the prisoner, he was much chafed, as if he might have been riding on a bare-backed horse; this note was dropped from his pocket, which Mr. Boyd picked up; there was horse hair on the seat of his trowsers.
[Several witnesses were then called to prove that the notes found at Berteau and Dumas’ store, where the same that were brought into court.]
Andrew Rhoads.—I saw the prisoners in Havre-de-Grace on the 11th March last, at 12 o'clock at noon, in the high road with two other men. They asked me how far it was to Baltimore. I told them. They then asked whether there were any bridges washed away between there and Baltimore 1 Whether stages came that way 1 I told them only the mail stage travelled that road; they asked me the time that it came, and I told them.
Here the testimony on the part of the United States closed. The prisoner produced no witnesses,
Mr. Ludlow was called, and asked if the prisoner had a pistol.
This man had a pistol; after we had left the road, he told me that If we made no resistance Ineed not be alarmed, our lives should not be in danger.
Thomas Kell, Esq.—The testimony being closed, Mr. Kell ad- ' dressed the court to the following effect:
He said that having now progressed through the evidence to be •offered in the case, it was not the intention of the attorney general, the district attorney, or of himself, further to press the calamity of the prisoner by observations on the testimony. But they ifelt it incumbent upon them, and proper to relieve the jury from any doubt or difficulty, as to the law upon this subject. Whilst, .therefore, they should decline saying any thing to induce the conclusion at which they had no doubt the jury would arrive, they would ask of the court the following direction :
“ It is prayed of the court to give the following instruction to the jury.
That robbing the carrier of the mail of the United States, or ..other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, by stopping him on the highway, demanding the surrender of such mail, and at the same time showing weapons calculated to take his life, such as pistols or dirks, putting him in fear of his life, and obtaining possession of the mail by the means aforesaid, against the will of the carrier, is such a robbing of the mail, and such a putting the life of the carrier or person entrusted therewith in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous'weapons, as will bring the offence within the following terms of the 19th section of the act of congress of the 30th April, 1810,' entitled, ‘ An act regulating the post-office establishment,’ to wit: or if in effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound Ahe person having the custody
Mr. Kell then read the 19th section of the post office law.
Act of April 30, 1810, Sec. 19.—“ That if any person shall rob any carrier of the mail "of the United States, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or of part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction, lie imprisoned not exceeding ten years ; and if convicted a second time of a like offence, he or they shall suffer death: or if in-effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender or offenders shall suffer death.”
He then disclaimed all idea of influencing the determination of -the jury, whether the acts proven bring the transaction within the meaning of the act of congress. And proceeded to inquire what is the putting life in jeopardy by the use of dangerous weapons 1
1. The weapons used.
3. The manner of using them.
3. The alarm of tire carrier. '
It appears, said Mr. Kell, all necessary to constitute the offence is proven. The party met the driver in the night, on the highway,, proclaim themselves highway robbers; that they are armed with-"double barrelled pistols and a dirk, that the pistols were cocked. It was then ascertained that they were armed with pistols, which-were presented towards the driver and passenger; and soon after,, that they had a dirk." The .exhibition of such weapons, the purpose for which such exhibition was made, does create danger and risk of life; in other words, it does jeopardize life. It certainly was-a putting the life of the driver, (as well as of Mr. Ludlow,) in jeopardy : did it not diminish their personal saftety, and expose them to hazard 1
It perhaps is not necessary that the driver should have apprehended his life to be in danger. If it were so, the language and requisites of the law are fully proven ; he stood in the • predicament of a man whose life was in danger, and under the fear and apprehension of danger, he parted with the mail.
The prayer presents the case in tire fairest and most favourablemanner for the accused.
The -weapons used are such as are eminently calculated to endanger life, or put it in jeopardy; the pistols were cocked and presented, with the declaration, “ if you resist, we will blow your brains out.” This, ’tis true, the driver says he did not hear, but' he heard and saw enough to produce fear, and therefore gave Up the mail ; can it be thought by any deliberate mind that such"acts,for such a purpose, do not endanger life, or put it in jeopardy 1 Can it be said that the life of a man situated as was that of the carrier of the mail, at the time of this transaction, was notin danger I It is not necessary that the pistol be discharged; intimidation and-danger, by such means, are sufficient to constitute the offence; the-jeopardy of the life takes place at the moment when the weapons are presented. '
With this view and consideration of the subject, Mr. Kell felt
Gen. H. M. Winder hoped the _ court would not deem it irregular or improper for him, after what had occurred, to suggest his views to the court as amicus curie on the question now propounded by the counsel for the United States. Indeed, having been called upon by the'prisoner, although at too late a period to be prepared to advise him preparatory to, or in the conduct of the trial, yet, he had deemed it his duty to listen attentively, and he thought, if any thing occurred to his mind of real importance to the prisoner, he was bound in duty, both to the court and the prisoner, to state it. He had never seen the clause of the act of congress until the trial commenced, and received from that perusal a very strong impression that the evidence did not support those counts in the indictment which charges the prisoner with a capital offence. This impression had been strengthened by the little reflection he had been able to bestow upon it, and more strongly confirmed by what he had heard on the part of the United States. The words of the act of congress are—“ if in effecting such robbery, &c. &c. [Seep. 311.]
Now, the life of the carrier'must be put in actual jeopardy to bring the offence within that alternative of the clause; no apprehension of danger, or being put in fear of his life, satisfies the words of the act. The terms of the prayer to the court are a fair and just statement of the extent to which the testimony in this case can be urged, and by the very terms of the prayer no jeopardy of life is even supposed; it simply states, that if the prisoner exhibited, dangerous weapons calculated to talce life, thereby pv,tting the carrier in fear of his life, and, thus obtaining, cf-c., can it be supposed, for a moment, that this is what is meant by congress' when they say, put the life of the carrier in jeopardy? It would be to attribute to congress the most loose and unskilful use of terms; to make the apprehension of danger the existence of danger; the fear of jeopardy actual jeopardy. It is wholly impossible to contend that the words do not import an actual jeopardy; and if they do, surely the assumed state of proof in this prayer does not amount to actual jeopardy.
If the position contended for be true, it will follow, that a man may be guilty under this part of the act where no jeopardy of life .has occurred; and if the prayer exhibits the just interpretation of the act of congress, a robber may put the life of the carrier in actnial jeopardy without being guilty; forjbf he raises a fear of life, by having dangerous weapons, without doing any act which could possibly put life in jeopardy, he is guilty; but if a robber in the dark, without the carrier’s knowledge, snaps a loaded pistol or gun within killing distance, with intent to kill the carrier, no body will doubt but here was adnial jeopardy; but the carrier could not possibly have any fear of life, since he had no knowledge of it; and if the mail should be immediately stopped by the robber and his associates, without farther acts of intimidation, the party would not be guilty under this clause; can it be imagined that a construction leading to such absurdity can be just %
To support the construction contended for, it is necessary to con
What is the use of dangerous weapons which can occasion jeopardy of life 1 certainly they must be so used, as that life may be destroyed; as if a man strike at another with a sword, or fire or snap a loaded pistol or gun at him within reaching distance; this is clearly a use of the weapon that puts life in jeopardy. But if a man had a sword by his side, or a pistol in his belt, and he stops the mail, and says to the carrier, you see I am armed, deliver the mail, the carrier might justly be said to deliver the mail in such case for fear of life ; but can it be said, that in effecting this robbery the carrier’s life was put in jeopardy by the use of dangerous weapons 1 It is impossible that it can.
Then if there be no ambiguity in the words of the statute, which it is respectfully believed there is not, how can any interpretation, especially in such case as this, be admitted different from these words 1
The use of dangerous weapons to produce fear of life, may be very different from the use of dangerous weapons to put life in jeopardy ; but nothing in this act can render a man guilty but such a use of these as puts life in jeopardy.
The facts in this case ought, therefore, to warrant the counsel for the United States to ask the court to direct the jury, that if they believe the prisoner had dangerous weapons, which he used so as to put the carrier’s life in jeopardy, then he is guilty, otherwise the court cannot instruct the jury to find a verdict of guilty on this point.
General Winder concluded by remarking to the court, that this view of the subject appeared to his mind very strong, and he thought could not but have strong weight with every unprejudiced mind ; and since upon so hasty a view of the question, such strong motives of doubt, to say the least, had occurred, he trusted the court would, in the forlorn case of foe prisoner, being without counsel prepared to assist him, incline to the side of mildness; but at all events, if the learned attorney general should be able to incline the balance against the prisoner, he respectfully submitted, whether the question was not so doubtful as to require foe court to put it in a situation to receive the deliberate judgment of the supreme court, before the life of the prisoner should be taken.
E. L. Finley, Esq.—He contended that congress, in using the words, “jeopardy of life,” did not intend that the mere presentation of a pistol or dirk at the mail driver, without wounding him, should be such a “jeopardy of life,” as would subject the party to the punishment of death; that the words, “wound the driver, or put his life in jeopardy,” were used by them as convertible and synonymous words ; that the words “ put his life in jeopardy,” were intended as explanatory of the words “ wounding the driver,” and defining and limiting their extent. Congress (said Mr. Finley) intended that
Mr. Finley then observed, that he had always understood it to be an established principle, in all our courts of criminal judicature, and one from which courts or juries could not deviate, that the most favourable, the most refined, the most extended construction, should always be given, in “ favorem vitae,” to all penal acts. That too much value and consideration were attached to the life of a fellow creature, to permit it to be “jeopardised,” or taken away on account of indistinctness or ambiguity in the phraseology of a law. That when the provisions of a law appeared to be unusually harsh and severe, and repugnant to the general character and habits of the people, and a construction in “favorem vitae,” could be collected from the probable intention of the legislature that enacted it, that then such intention was to be the rule of construction. That the law of 1810, in the severity of its provisions, as contended for, was an anomaly in our criminal code; an isolated bloody statute, assimilating with nothing around it. That the most effectual mode of ascertaining the intention of congress, at the time of passing tlie law, and truly determining the construction they intended should be given.to it, would be by examining the operation of the law, and- comparing it with the policy which congress must have had in view in repealing the law of 1794, and substituting that of 1810.
Mr. Finley then took a view of the laws of England and France on the subject of robberies; of the respective policy of those laws, and their effect upon those two nations.
In France, said Mr. Finley, a robbery unattended with murder of the person robbed is punished by fine and imprisonment; if accompanied with murder, the punishment is an ignominious and painful death. In England, a simple robbery, whether accompanied by murder or not, is punished with death.
What has been the effect and operation of these several laws 7 In France, all temptation to mu/rder the person robbed is taken away; the fear and the interest, if not the humanity, of the robber
In the instance of the robbery of the Richmond mail the driver was murdered.
Mr. Finley then observed, that the construction he had.contended for, he conscientiously believed to be the true and correct one ; but that, as he might be unsuccessful in his attempt to transfer this. conviction from his own mind to the minds of the court, and as the. counsel for the United States had contended for a different construction, he would make a brief reply to one of the arguments of the counsel, and then relieve the attention of the court. The counsel for the United States, said Mr. Finley, have contended,thaythe mere apprehension, or opinion of the party that his life, was
Mr. Finley then laid down a distinction between the jeopardy of the driver's life, and the life of Mr. Ludlow. He contended that under this act, it was perfectly immaterial whether Mr. Ludlow’s life was jeoapardised or not. That the act only extended to the driver’s life, and expressly confined and annexed the punishment of death, to cases of robbery, when the driver was wounded, or his life put in jeopardy. That this was an important distinction to be kept in view by the jury, in the examination of, and decision upon the testimony in1 this case. That there was a manifest difference in the testimony of Mr. Ludlow, and of the driver. That, although Mr. Ludlow- swore that he considered his life in great danger, yet the driver swore that he felt no apprehension- of danger to his life, until after the robbery was effected, and that his apprehension arose from an observation by one of the robbers; ‘ what shall we do with these men,’ and the reply, 11 have a way to fix them ;’ but that his fears were removed, when he found, that 1 the way to fix them,’ was by tying them to the tail of the mail waggon. That he did pot intend, by adverting to this difference in their testimony, to impeach the credit either of Mr. Ludlow, or the driver, but to show, that whatever may have been the apprehensions of Mr. Ludlow, or however his life may have been jeopardised, yet, that the driver’s life was not jeopardised; neither did he feel any apprehensions of it.'
William Wirt, Esq.—He hoped the opposite counsel would both excuse him, for observing, that they did not appear to him to have found the key which unlocked the construction of this law, in a manner the most simple and natural. They seemed to have taken it for granted, that congress intended to describe, by this section, anew kind of robbery, unknown to the common law, and which called for a different kind of proof. From this opinion, he begged leave to dissent. " He contended, that congress had not intended to create a new offence, unknown to the common law, so far as the circumstances attending the act, and the degree of proof were con
To make this clear, he begged the court to recollect, that wherever the constitution or laws of the United States used a common .law phrase, without any definition of that phrase, it was the uniform course to resort to the common law for its explanation. It was unnecessary to cite to this court, to whom they were familiar, the decisions which illustrated and proved this course; it was, indeed, impossible to conceive that any other could be adopted. But the court would observe that this principle was essential to the construction of this law, and that it demonstrated the truth that a new kind of robbery was not intended to be created. For in the first part of this section, the term robbery is used without any definition. The words are:
Act of April 30, 1810, sec. 19.—“ That if any person shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or of part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not exceeding ten years ; and if convicted a second time of a like offence, he or they shall suffer death; or if in effecting such robbery of the mail the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender or offenders shall suffer death.”
Thus far the provision is general, by the use of the term robbery, which is left unexplained ; a resort must, therefore, be had to the common law, from which it is borrowed, to explain it; and every species of robbery known to the common law is clearly embraced by the clause just quoted. If the court will attend to the structure of the sentences, which follow this first sentence, and which are supposed to create a new offence they are merely exceptions from the first sentence, and were consequently included in it, until so excepted: if the first sentence therefore covers, and merely covers the common law'offence of robbery, and the latter are only exceptions from it, these exceptions are merely parts of the common law of-fence of robbery, and ¡consequently no new offence, and calling for no new and more aggravated degree of proof. Again, if you recaí the different species of robbery as they have been decided to exist at the common law, you will perceive that the sentence, on which the two first counts of the indictment are founded, describes a kind of robbery perfectly familiar to the common law.
At the common law, robbery might be committed, 1st by violence, without putting life in danger, and without previous fear; the lady whose ring was snatched from her in some place of public amusement, and dropped among the curls of her hair, was decided to have been robbed, although there was no danger of life, and no previous fear operating on her will, to cause a surrender of the property.
They have stated the evidence which shall show that the danger was real, the fear well grounded ; wounding the driver, or (without wounding him) putting his life in jeopardy, by the use of dangerous weapons. The robber, who, with a pistol, stops a traveller on the highway, and demands his purse (a case familiar to the common law courts of criminal jurisdiction in England,) presents the very case put by the act of congress. The weapon used is a pistol; a weapon fabricated for the very purpose of danger to life ; it is used because it is dangerous ; and the use produces the effect intended, by acting on the fears of the traveller, and inducing him to surrender his purse, by reason of the jeopardy to his life. There is nothing in the descriptive circumstances of the offence under the act of congress, to distinguish that offence from the higli-way robberies once so common on Hounslow Heath and Bagshot in England.
But it is insisted on the other side, said Mr. Wirt, that something more is meant by the expression putting the life of the driver in jeopardy by the use of dangerous weapons; it is not enough that the robber be in possession of the dangerous weapons ; it is not enough that he carry them to the ground; it is not enough that he perpetrates the robbery by the terror which they inspire; but they must be used in such a way as to produce jeopardy; for example, if the weapon be a dirk, a stroke must be made with it; if it be a pistol it must at least be snapped. Let us examine some of the consequences of this construction. If a stroke be made with a dirk at right angles from the driver, it is not easy to conceive that greater jeopardy is produced thereby, than by the mere possession and display of the weapon in the robber’s hand; such a stroke would be nothing more than a flourish, in terrorern; if the stroke be at an angle of forty-five or twenty-two and a half degrees, the same answer might be given to it; and so through all the gradations of angular distance; if the stroke miss the object, and be not repeated, the jeopardy is over, a miss we are told being as good as a mile, or if gentlemen think this answer too light, is it not obvious that by insisting that the stroke shall, at all events, be made, in order to constitute the jeopardy, they force the court and jury upon a mathematical disquisition as to the distance and the direction of the stroke, in order to jeopard the life 1 points extremely dijficult of ascertainment, considering that their attempts are generally if not always made in the night time, when the distance and the direction, and even the fact of a stroke being made at all, can rarely be discerned. As to the snapping of the pistol, all the remarks made upon the direction of a stroke with a dirk apply, and indeed it is not very
But still bolder ground is assumed on the other side ; it is contended that in this case there-was no jeopardy to life, because the robbers gave the assurance that if the driver and passenger would not resist they should not be hurt; it may be very true, gentlemen say, that if they had resisted they would have been killed; but they had only to give up the. mail without resistance and there was no jeopardy at all; and hence the case is not within the act of congress. This is the construction given to an act of congress intended to prevent robberies! Sir, it must be very clear that the jeopardy within the contemplation of congress was that kind of jeopardy which was in no other way to be avoided, than by yielding to the lawless purposes of the robber; a jeopardy of life so imminent, that the driver could not elude it, except by surrendering that which the robber had no right to demand. This ground so intrepidly taken in the construction of our statute would be just as tenable under the English common law; for example, by that law it is required that the party shall be put in fear; but the courts there require that this fear shall have a reasonable foundation; the robber there might say, it is true I was armed, it is true the traveller was put in fear; but the case is not within the law, because his fear had not a reasonable foundation, for he admits, I told him I would not hurt him if he would surrender his purse. Such an agreement, I must be permitted to say, would make but sorry figure in Westminster Hall, or even at the old Bailey; for it goes to patronize and protect, not to prevent or punish robberies ; it founds the robber’s exemption from punishment on the very circumstance which constitutes his guilt—the success of the robbery.
The gentleman who urged his argument attempted to support it by a case from the law touching assaults and batteries, which he seemed to think analogous; that case is this: if a man were to lay his hand upon his sword, and say if it were not assize time he would not take such language; this the gentleman says, and says truly, would not be an assault, but why 1 for a reason which destroys the analogy; because the words show an absolute purpose to do him no mischief at that time; the forbearance is not put on the condition of any act to be done by the party menaced; but suppose the assailant had drawn his sword, and required the other to fall upon his knees instantaneously and beg his pardon, or he would run him through the body, when the gentleman shall show by authority that this would not he an assault, he will have furnished a case which does not present something like the appearance of analogy.”
If any doubt could remain on this subject, it would be removed by pursuing this section of the law a little farther. It appears, that robbing the mail, generally, is punished by the first clause of the section, only with imprisonment for the first offence; yet there were some modes of perpetrating such robbery so peculiarly obnoxious, that congress had singled them out by express exception, and punished the first offence committed in either of. these modes with death:—congress have gone still farther, and punished even the unsuccessful attempt to commit the robbery, in either of these modes, with imprisonment for three years, and words in the section, in which the attempt is described, are intended to represent the same mode in which the act is described. • So far as we have yet gone, the purpose is to punish the offence, if effected; congress next take up the attempt to commit the offence, where it fails. In defining the different modes of such attempts, they have kept up the analogy between the successful and unsuccessful attempts, and by a slight variation of language have thrown new light on the clause we are considering. The language of the law, where the offence is complete, is as follows: ‘‘If any person shall r9b any carrier of the mail of the United States, or other person entrusted therewith, of such mail, or of part thereof, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not exceeding ten years ; and if convicted a second time of a like offence: he or they shall suffer death; or if in effecting such robbery of the mail, the first time, the offender shall wound the person having custody thereof, or put his life in jeopardy by the use of dangerous weapons, such offender -or offenders shall suffer death,” I beg the court now' tp mark the correspondent description of the attempts. The words are these, “ and if any person shall attempt ‘to rob the mail of the United States by assaulting the person having custody thereof, shooting at'him, or his horse or mule, oi\ threatening him with dangerous weapons, and the robbery is not effected,” &c.—Here it is clearly observable
The same gentleman has animadverted on the impolicy of punishing with death a robbery which has not been attended with the death of the party robbed, and he has enlarged on the different effects of the English and French law, in .this particular. In the remarks which the gentleman made on this subject, he has presented a pleasing proof of his habits of accurate and extensive investigation. In this case, however, it was misplaced; for it is an investigation of a legislative, not of a judicial character; whether the robbery charged in the indictment ought, or ought not in good policy, to be punished with death, is obviously a question for congress, not for this court; for those who make laws, not for those who expound them.
The same gentleman has commented on the particular facts of this case, in his address to the court. This, also, was out of place. The court have nothing to do with the facts; these belong to the jury; we have not called for the court’s opinion on the facts; we have prayed merely for their eonstructiou of the law; should they give it, as we have prayed, it will remain for the jury to say, whether the evidence brings the case within that construction. Since, however the jury had, in effect, been addressed through the court, in relation to .the facts, he would barely remark, that, according to the evidence of the driver, the mail stage had been stopped, about midnight, by a fence purposely erected across the highway, that immediately on its stopping, three men rushed from the fence to the stage, declared themselves highway robbers ; that they were well
The gentleman made another remark to the court, intended, he presumed, to awaken the sympathies of the jury. The gentleman alluded to the peculiar manner in which this prosecution had been carried on, and represented these men as having been pursued with Jvre and fwry. . The remark had not been deserved by any thing that had appeared in the prosecution since he (Mr. Wirt) had come into it. The prosecution had on the' contrary, been conducted with the utmost coolness and moderation : and he was well assured that its previous stages had been marked rather by excessive lenity and indulgence, than by a spirit of persecution.
Mr. Finley.—I am sorry to be obliged to interrupt the learned gentleman; but he has entirely misapprehended the nature and extent of my observations. I did not make any reflections upon him, for the manner in which the prosecution had been conducted. Such reflections would have been unjust and unfounded, as the learned gentlemen only this morning came into the case. I spoke of the general character of the prosecution, and of the powerful excitement of public feeling which threatened to overwhelm not only the prisoner at the bar, but the counsel who defended him; and which .has manifested itself in a manner so.general and so violent, as almost to preclude the possibility of a fair and impartial trial.
Mr. Wirt admitted that he had mistaken the gentleman. The popular indignation, however, of which the gentleman complained so vehemently, was certainly very natural, and he would add very honourable. It was the indignation of a virtuous people against a most flagitious and daring offence. He hoped never to see the day when the recital of such a crime would be heard with composure by the American people. It would.be a mournful proof that our moral sensibility was gone. At the same time he should regret extremely that the indignation of the jury against the offence should mingle itself with their examination of the evidence against the person here accused : for it did not by any means follow,"that because the offénce was enormous the prisoner at the bar was the person guilty of it. He, was to be tried by the judgment, not by the passions of the jury; he was to be tried by the evidence, and not by their feelings either of indignation or of mercy: for mercy was not, as the gentleman had alleged, the prerogative of the jury; mercy towards criminals was the prerogative of the president of the United States ; to him, under our constitution, and to him alone, belongs the power of reprieve and pardon. The jury had sworn to try the cause according to the evidence: to whatever conclusion, therefore, the evidence conducted them, that conclusion Was to be their verdict; they had no alternative—they could make no compromise with their consciences; they had only to discharge, with inflexible firmness, that duty which the laws of their country had confided to them, and when the question of mercy came before the president, there could be no doubt that he would discharge !m
After Mr. Wirt had closed his observations, the court charged the jury upon the law, and gave the'ir opinion in support of the prayer submitted to them by Mr. Kell; the jury retired to their chamber, where they remained near two hours, when they desired some -legal advice from the court, for which purpose they returned to their box; they observed, that the indictment set forth that the prisoner had pistols and dirks, and it was not in evidence that he had a dirk. The court stated their opinion to be, that if the party were armed with pistols and dirks, it was immaterial whether they were in the bands of the prisoner.
The jury then, without again leaving the box, delivered their verdict Guilty on all the counts in the indictment.
Mr. Mitchell, has furnished the Reporter with his notes and references on this subject, which are annexed.—viz.
“ Any person who shall be accused and indicted for treason, shall have a copy of the indictment and a list of the jury and witnesses, &c., delivered unto him, at least three entire days before he shall be trie'd for the same; and in other capital offences, shall have such copy of the indictment and list of the jury, two entire days at least before the trial.—Act of Congress, April 30, 1790. vol. i. p. 100, sec. 29.
By the English statute, 7 Will. III. chap. 3. sec. 1. it is enacted, “ that every person that shall he indicted for high treason, &c. shall have a true copy of the whole indictment, &c., delivered to him five days at least before he shall be tried for the same. 2 Hawk. P. C. ch. 39. sec. 14. p. 507.
By the statute 7 Anne, chap. 21. sec. 11, it is provided, that “ copies of all indictments for high treason, &c. with" a list of the witnesses, jurors, &c., shall he delivered to the party indicted ten days before the trial.” 2 Hawk. ibid. sec. 16.
In the margin 2 Hawk. ch. 39. sec. 14. there is this remark on the words “ before the trial,” above recited. “ This must be intended five.days before arraignment, because the prisoner pleads instanter upon the arraignment.” See Lord George Gordon’s case, (accord) Doug. 591.
“As the intention of this clause in granting a copy of the indictment is merely for the sake of enabling the person indicted to plead, it has been holden, that no person after hawing pleaded to an indict
“ No exception can be taken to the fulness of a copy of the indictment fter the indictment has been pleaded to.”—Rookwood’s Case. 4, State ["rials, 646.”
N. B.—One of the copies actually delivered, in these cases was essenally variant from, those on file, by omitting technical words, the omission f which would have been fatal after verdict, but according to the course dopted, the party had no opportunity to raise this objection. The other opies did not come to the hands of the counsel.
“ If the prisoner pleadeth without a copy of tire caption, &c. he is too ite to make that objection, or indeed any other objection that turneth upon defect in the copy; for by pleading he adnvilteth that he hath had a copy ufficient for the purposes intended by the act.”—Foster, ch. III. page 230.
“ By the letter of the act, the copy is to be delivered five days before le trial. But upon the trud construction of it, the copy, after the bill is rand, for till then it is no indictment, ought to be delivered five days be-ire the day of arraignment, for that is the prisoner’s time for pleading. .nd the five days must be exclusive of the day of delivery and the day f arraignment. So with regard to a copy of the panel, &c. These rints have been long settled, and are now matters of constant practice."— oster, 230.j
By necessary construction the ten days mentioned in the statute, 7 nne, ch. 21. s. 11. must be reckoned after the bill is found, and before the 'raignment of the prisoner; for until the finding of the bill there is no dictment, and upon the arraignment, the prisoner must pleadinstanler." -1 Chit. C. L. 405—1 East’s P. of the C. 112. '
These ten days must be reckoned exclusive of the day of" delivery and ‘ arraignment, and also, exclusive of an intervening Sunday.—1 Chit. 15.—Foster, 230.—1 East. P. C. 112.
" After pleading, it is too late to object either to the want of a copy, or an insufficiency in it; for that admits it to be sufficient.”—I East, P. C. .3. cites Gregg’s case, 12th January, 1707. MSS.—Cook’s case, Salk 634,. ises, of Rookwood and others, 4 State Trials, 661—And case of May, ias Smith, and others, April, 1708.
In Cook's case, Salk 634, after jury called, Sir B. Shower, counsel for e prisoner, objected to the trial at that time, because he had not received copy. The court replied, that the object of the act of 7 W. 3. was to able the prisoner to plead from the copy “ and till then he is not to plead'. this case he has pleaded. Therefore this benefit is waived, and the priser has admitted he has a copy, 'and did not think it for Ids service to reiré it; but was able to plead without the help of it.”
N. B. The act of 7 Will. 3. made it necessary for the prisoner or his unsel to demand a copy. This was altered by the stat. 7 Anne, from rich the act of congress is copied.
In Dr. Hensey’s case, 1 Burr, 643, the indictment was brought into art on Tuesday, 2d May. Pie was not arraigned until the succeeding onday, May 8th; five days having been allowed for the service of a py of the indictment, pursuant to the act, 7 Will. 3. and he was allowed til Monday the 12th of June following; more than a month, by lord
It appears, then, that according to the established construction of t words contained in the act of congress, if a copy of the indictment h been actually served on the prisoners the same day the indictment w found, viz. Monday, May 4, they could not have been regularly raigned until Thursday, May 7th.
On the trial of John Alexander and Lewis Hare, the two other mail robbers, who were charged with robbing the mail in company with John Thompson Hare, and were immediately tried and convicted on all the counts of a similar indictment, the same defence was made, and the court 1 aid down the law as in the preceding case. See their trials, post.
