Wilson v. State

84 Ala. 426 | Ala. | 1887

CLOPTON, J.

The indictment is not defective, because it avers in the alternative the means by which the offense was committed. “When the offense may be committed by different means, or with different intents, such means or intents may be alleged in the alternative.” — Code, 1886, § 4383.

We can not regard the statements of the defendant, made to witness Moore, and during the progress of the preliminary investigation, as acknowledgments of facts not inculpatory in their nature — admissions as distinguished from confessions. They make direct allusions to the deceased, and are narratives of the facts and circumstances of his death which tend to implicate the defendant in the crime. Being in the nature of confessions, their admissibility in evidence should be determined on the same principles as direct confessions of guilt. It is within the province of the court to determine, in the first instance, whether or not a confession is voluntary. Being, prima facie, involuntary and inadmissible, the burden is on the prosecution to establish the competency by showing, on a preliminary inquiry, that the mind of the accused was free from influence of hope or fear applied by another, when he made the confession. The court should take care that the confessions proceeded from volition, and not as the result of any influence improperly exerted, and should not admit them unless they clearly appear to have been made in such manner as to constitute them competent evidence.

What questions were propounded to the witness Moore, and his answers thereto are not disclosed by the record, which only shows a statement by him as follows: “I don't, think I made any promises, gave any inducements, or made any threats.” — against the defendant, before or at the time of the confession. The guarded and cautious words of the witness implied doubt in his own mind, and are an admission that his recollection is not so clear, but that he may be mistaken; or. may be regarded as an admission, that he had given promises, or made threats, but whether before or at the time of the confession, or subsequently, he does not recollect. While the character of the confession is ordinarily shown by answers to appropriate questions, the court should look beyond these to the condition, situation and character of the accused, and the circumstances surrounding him. The defendant was a’convict working at Pratt Mines; the witness had charge of all the convicts at the mines, and it was his duty to inflict corporeal punishment for violation of the rules of the prison. He stood to the defendant as one having authority. The offense was committed in the mines where the defendant was at work. When the guarded and doubtful language of the witness is considered in connection with the condition and situation of the prisoner, and the attendant circumstances, we do not regard it as sufficient to make it clearly appear that the confession was voluntary. Other facts and circumstances may possibly be shown removing such doubt as to the character of the confessions, but if they exist, they are not shown by the record. Our decisions do not favor the admissibility of confessions, and if there be any doubt of their competency, it should be resolved, in accordance with the humane principles of our criminal law, in favor of life and liberty, and confessions should not be admitted unless plainly shown to be voluntary.

In Seaborn v. State, 20 Ala. 15, it was held, that the fact that a confession was made to an examining magistrate, when voluntarily made, is not sufficient to exclude it. In that case, the prisoner pleaded grdlty, and voluntarily made a confession of the circumstances of the killing in response to an inquiry by the magistrate. There was no special interrogation with a view to obtain a confession. In Kelly v. State, 72 Ala. 244, the admissibility of confessions made during the progress of-the preliminary investigation came again before the court, and was fully considered and discussed. It was then held, that the practice of interrogating the accused during such examination is unwarranted by the principles of the common law, unauthorized by statute, and contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Bights; and that “confessions elicited by such a censurable practice are to be taken as involuntary, and should be excluded as criminative evidence against the person making them.” In the present case the preliminary examination was had in the prison. After having examined the witnesses for the prosecution, the defendant with two other persons, who were on trial at the same time, were sent out of the room with Williamson, who was then “task-master and mining boss,” and also a witness. The defendant was brought in alone by Williamson, and interrogated by Moore, to whom the other confession, we have above considered, is alleged to have been made. In addition to Williamson and Moore, Bogers, the manager of the convict department at the mines, and another magistrate were present.” The defendant was not sworn,- and did not request to be examined as a witness. From these facts and circumstances, it is evident that the case can not be distinguished in principle from Kelly v. State, supra. It is true, that no threats were made, nor promises given; but the defendant was not apprised of his rights, nor informed that his case would not be prejudiced by his refusal to answer the questions; or that such refusal could not be construed as an evidence of guilt. In 1 Greenl. on Ev. § 226, the author observes in reference to confessions made by an accused under such circumstances: “Being a prisoner, subject to an inquisitorial examination, and himself at least in danger of an accusation, his mind is brought under the full influence of those disturbing forces against which it is the policy of the law to protect him.” Self-possession, and the free and uninfluenced exercise of volition can not be expected in a prisoner so situated, under such circumstances, and subjected to such inquisitorial interrogation by persons, who had authority over him as a convict. The confessions of defendant, implicating him in the crime charged, made during the progress of tlie preliminary investigation, must be regarded as involuntary and incompetent.

Beversed and remanded.