Wise v. Commonwealth

135 Va. 757 | Va. | 1923

Kelly, P.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The indictment in this case charges that the defendant, Frank Wise, “feloniously did commit the detestable and abominable crime against nature, called buggSry, by then and there feloniously having carnal copulation and intercourse with one Purnell Ross, against the order of nature, by putting his male organ into her mouth, and thereby satisfying his sexual desires and passions.”

The jury found him guilty, fixing his punishment at two years in the penitentiary, and thereupon the trial court, having first overruled a motion for a new trial, pronounced sentence upon him in accordance with the verdict.

1. It is earnestly insisted that the evidence was wholly insufficient to support the verdict. Proof of the •act alleged depended solely upon the testimony given by the prosecutrix, an eighteen-year old colored girl, who was married but not living with her husband. Even without regard to the repulsive and unusual character of the crime, the story which she related, as it appears in print, seems improbable, and her testimony was to some extent self-contradictory, and was lacking in any very satisfactory corroboration. The evidence, however, was set out in the record before us in abbreviated and narrative form, and might have impressed us differently if we had seen and heard the witnesses testify. The case was tried by a jury free from exceptions, and the learned judge of the trial court refused to interfere with their finding. As the judgment must be reversed upon another ground, we will not further consider this assignment of error.

2. There was a demurrer to the indictment, which the court overruled, and this is assigned as error.

The ground of the demurrer, specified at the trial and relied on here, is “that * * copulation with another human being in the manner alleged in the said indictment does not constitute the crime of buggery either at common law or as defined by the statute law of Virginia.

The statute under which the indictment was found (Code, section 4551) is as follows:

“If any person (1) commit the crime of buggery, ■either with mankind or with any brute animal, or (2) have carnal copulation in any manner with another person of the same sex, he shall be guilty of a felony and shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than one nor more-than three years.” (The figures (1) and (2) have been added by us for purposes which will herein•after appear.)

It will be observed that this statute does not undertake to define “buggery” except to the extent of' clearly embracing both buggery and sodomy in the-narrower sense in which the two words are sometimes-respectively used—that is to say, while the words are often used synonymously, sodomy, in its strict, original! sense, is the infamous crime against nature when committed between human beings, while buggery is the-same offense committed by a man with a beast; and the-Virginia statute is careful to embrace both forms of the-offense under the term buggery as used therein. And,, there being no further definition in our statute, we must, look to the common law for it.

Turning, then, to this latter source of information, we find that there have been two general and conflicting-lines of authority. The first restricts the crime in question to carnal copulation between two human beings, (sometimes further restricted to males) per anum, and refuses to recognize as coming within the intendment, of buggery or sodomy such a copulation per os. Rex v. Jacobs, 1 Brit. Cr. Cas. 331; Commonwealth v. Poindexter, 133 Ky. 720, 118 S. W. 943; Kinnan v. State, 86 Neb. 234, 125 N. W. 594, 21 Ann. Cas. 335, 27 L. R. A.. (N. S.) 478; Prindle v. State, 31 Tex. Cr. R. 551, 21 S. W. 360, 37 Am. St. Rep. 833; Ausman v. Veal, 10 Ind. 355, 71 Am. Dec. 331; People v. Boyle, 116 Cal. 658, 48-Pac. 800; Davis v. Broun, 27 Ohio St. 326; 2 Russ. Cr. 698; 2 Bish. New Cr. Law, sec. 1193, 1194; Min. Syn. Cr. L., p. 181 (sub-head 4e); 25 Am. & Eng. Ency. L.. (2d ed.)1145; 36 Cyc. 502; 1 Whart. Cr. Law (11th ed.), see. 754.

The other general, and in a certain sense preponderating, line of authority ascribes a wider meaning to-the term and includes therein cases of carnal copulation per os, which undoubtedly are of even greater moral! filthiness and iniquity than the offense indicated by the narrower definition. 8 R. C. L., p. 334, sec. 365; 25 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. (2d ed.) 1145; Honselman v. People, 168 Ill. 174, 48 N. E. 304; Glover v. State 179 Ind. 459, 101 N. E. 629, 45 L. R. A. (N. S.) 473; State v. Start, 65 Ore. 178, 132 Pac. 512, 46 L. R. A. (N. S.) 266; State v. Whitemarsh, 26 S. D. 426, 128 N. W. 580; Herring v. State, 119 Ga. 709, 720, 46 S. E. 876; White v. State, 136 Ga. 158, 71 S. E. 135; Means v. State, 125 Wis. 650, 104 N. W. 815; State v. Gage, 139 Iowa, 401, 116 N. W. 596; State v. Vicknair, 52 La. Ann. 1921, 28 So. 273.

It is clear, however, upon a close examination of these latter authorities, and a comparison thereof with the former, that this broader definition of sodomy, or buggery, has usually (though not always) been .influenced and aided by statutory provisions, and it would perhaps be more accurate to say that such statutory provisions, instead of enlarging the definition, have declared that the offense per os (so unusual and unthinkable as perhaps not to have been even contemplated in the earlier stages of the law) shall be classed, not as the same, but as a like offense, and punishable accordingly. This explanation of the wider scope apparently accorded in many modern decisions to the definition of the crime against nature is discussed in a note to the Nebraska case of Kinnan v. State, supra, in 21 Ann. Cas. 336, wherein the conclusions reached in the Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Louisiana decisions cited supra, are shown to have been due to the statutes in those States.

If we were free to do so, we would prefer to follow these latter decisions, and hold that the offense charged in the instant case constitutes the crime of buggery, in Virginia; but we have reluctantly been forced to a contrary result. According to the clear weight of authority, the common law definition, unless aided by statute, does not include carnal copulation per os. There is no Virginia case in point, and, notwithstanding the contrary authorities (which seem almost wholly due to blindly following the old case of Rex v. Jacobs, supra), we would, if we could without flying squarely in the face of the statute, make our own interpretation of the common law on the subject, and declare the indictment good. But section 4551 of the Code holds us strictly to the narrower definition of buggery. We are unable to see that its terms may be otherwise fairly understood. It punishes (1) buggery, and (2) carnal copulation in any manner with another person of the same sex. Instead of either extending the meaning of buggery, or leaving the word to be broadly construed, it adds an additional but restrictive provision to include the offense per os, provided it be committed by two persons of the same sex. Why the additional crime thus provided for was thus limited, we do not perceive, unless because the legislators did not even imagine that such an offense would ever be committed between a man and a woman. But there seems to us no escape from the conclusion that such is the effect of the statute. Undoubtedly, the legislature will cure the oversight when called to its attention, however rarely the omission may be likely to prove harmful. We would render any such curative action by the legislature unnecessary if we considered that by any fair resort to judicial construction we could accomplish that end.

The history of the statute confirms the interpretation which we have felt constrained to place upon it. For very many years prior to the recent amendment of section 3793 of the Code of 1887 (Acts 1916, p. 511), the statute was (with unimportant variations) as follows: “If any person commit the crime of buggery either with mankind or with any brute animal, he shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than five years.” 1 Davis’ Cr. Law 133; 1 Rev. Code 1819, ch. 159, p. 586; Code 1849, ch. 196, see. 12, p. 740; Code 1860, ch. 196, sec. 12; Code 1873, ch. 192, sec. 12, p. 1208; Code 1887, sec. 3793. There was no definition, explanation, qualification or enlargement of the word “buggery” in any Virginia statute prior to. the aforesaid amendment. The word was used in its common law sense, whatever that was. No Virginia case ever construed it, but when it first appeared in the statutes of this State, it was undoubtedly understood by the law of England, from which we took it, to mean carnal copulation per anum. Mr. Minor, in his Synopsis of Criminal Law, cited supra, said: “Act must be in that part where sodomy is usually committed;” citing 1 Russ. Cr. 668, and Rex v. Jacobs, 1 Brit. Cr. Cas. 331—a distinct and unequivocal recognition of the English view by strongly persuasive secondary authority in Virginia. In the meantime, and during all the interval between the enactment of the first statute in this State on the subject and the passage of the amendment of 1916, the weight of judicial decision in other States adhered to the strict common law meaning of buggery, as defined in Rex v. Jacobs, supra, except where there were statutory provisions warranting a broader application. In this state of the law the 1916 amendment was passed, adding to the statute the words, “or have carnal copulation in any manner with another person of the same sex.” If the lawmakers had understood that buggery could be construed to mean carnal copulation through the mouth—in other words, if they had not thought that buggery meant exactly and only what it was said to mean in Rex v. Jacobs, supra, they would never have considered it necessary to insert the words just quoted. If buggery already embraced the act per os, there was no sort of occasion for the change. Not only is this true, but it also necessarily follows that the amendment was equivalent to saying in so many words, that such a crime, except as between persons of the same sex, was not within the contemplation of the statute in any sense, because buggery, as the legislature evidently understood the term, did not include the act except per anum, and the amendment extended it only to cases per os between persons of like sex.

We had thought, upon our first consideration of this amendment, that we might escape the interpretation we have placed upon it by assuming that the purpose of the change was to embrace, as between persons of the same sex, still other methods than per anum and per os by which the offense against nature might be committed by two human beings. Such an assumption, if reasonable, would still leave room to break away from the weight of authority (as the Georgia court could and did in the Herring Case) and hold that buggery, as a matter of common law, includes the two forms of the offense last mentioned (regardless of sex), and that the recent amendment to the Virginia statute was intended to include still other forms as between persons of the same sex. The insuperable difficulty, however, in the way of adopting this method of reasoning, and thus reaching what all must recognize as a conclusion to be desired, is that there seem to be no other ways, except the two mentioned, by which, under whatever name or phrase it may be classified, the crime against nature can be committed. To constitute the offense (of buggery or other “carnal copulation”) there must be a penetration (res in re) as in rape. Thomas’ Case, 1 Va. Cas. 307; Davis Cr. Law, 133; Min. Syn. Cr. L. 181; 2 Bish. Cr. L. (4th ed.), see. 1172; 25 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. (2nd ed.) 1146; State v. McGruder, 125 Iowa, 741, 101 N. W. 646. The only difference in this precise particular between buggery, or other “carnal copulation,” and rape is that the penetration must be in some other orifice than the female organ. The offense, so far as known, was first committed exclusively by male persons per anum. Instances of a similar offense between male persons per os seem to have later come to light. Still more rarely, it appears that such cases have been found between persons of different sex. But what other cases of “carnal copulation” can there be? What other.orifices of the human body can be “penetrated” in the sense in which that word is used in the law of rape and buggery?

It seems to us, therefore, that when the lawmakers, In 1916, added to our statute the words “or have carnal copulation in any manner with another person of the same sex,” they adopted, by necessary intendment, the narrow common law meaning of buggery, and then recognized (but only as to persons of the same sex) a distinct but similar offense which could only, in the nature of things, be accomplished per os.

If this conclusion is right, and we have been unable to see any escape from it, than the offense charged in the indictment, being per os and between persons of opposite sex, is not within the statute, and the court erred in overruling the demurrer. The indictment was fatally defective. The felony charged is not recognized by the law in this State, statutory or otherwise, and therefore no conviction can be had under the indictment for an attempt. No charge of assault is involved, because no force against, or lack of consent on the part of, the prosecutrix is averred. The case is not in any way within the influence of section 4918 of the Code, and of the principle recognized in Canada v. Commonwealth, 22 Gratt. (63 Va.) 899, 905, and similar decisions, authorizing a conviction for a part only of the larger offense charged. The indictment must,, therefore, be dismissed and the defendant discharged from further prosecution thereunder; but this will not. bar his prosecution for an assault and battery, which,, though not charged in this indictment, was committed by him, if the evidence given in this case by the prosecutrix and believed by the jury is true. We shall, pursuant to section 4937 of the Code, reverse the judgment complained of, and enter the order here which the lower court ought to have entered, sustaining the demurrer and discharging the prisoner from further detention or prosecution under this indictment; but this order will be without prejudice to the right of the Commonwealth to prosecute him for assault and battery, if it shall be so advised.

It can hardly be necessary for us to say that the subject of this opinion has been distasteful. The question involved could not, however, be brushed aside or lightly disposed of. An adequate consideration of it. seemed to require a somewhat full discussion, and we-have endeavored to meet this requirement without unnecessary indelicacy of expression, but also without prudery or idle denunciation of the act charged. This, character of evil conduct is the vice of low and depraved natures, and instances of it appear to have been notably rare in this jurisdiction.

For the reasons hereinbefore stated, the judgment, will be reversed.

Reversed..