Benge v. Commonwealth

17 S.W. 146, 92 Ky. 1, 1891 Ky. LEXIS 104

• Court: Court of Appeals of Kentucky
• Decided: September 10, 1891
• Status: Published

Opinion

JUDGE BENNETT

delivered the opinion oe the court.

The appellant and Jerry Hampton and others were indicted for the murder of Joseph Bowling by cutting him with a knife — Jerry Hampton being the actual perpetrator of the deed, and the appellant and others being aiders and abettors. It appears from positive and uncontradicted proof that, while Jerry Hampton and another were engaged in a difficulty with each other, the appellant and Matison Benge, without any provocation or excuse whatever, stabbed and killed Joseph Bowling, an unoffending and unresisting person.

The court instructed the jury that they could find the appellant guilty as the actual perpetrator of the deed, notwithstanding he was indicted as aider and abettor only. The appellant complains of this instruction upon the ground that one indicted as aider and abettor only, can not be convicted as the actual perpetrator of the deed. This contention is a mistaken view of the law. It is based upon the theory that the actual perpetrator of the deed and the aider and abettor are separate offenders in legal contemplation, and the one can not he convicted of the crime committed by the other. But this, as said, is a mistake. There is but the one crime charged — that of murder by all the defendants. It is true the prosecution goes upon the theory that the appellant and Jerry Hampton committed different parts of the crime; the appellant committing a dependent part, which was not criminal, unless the deed itself was actually perpetrated. But, nevertheless, there is in law but one crime charged, and the separate parts performed by each constitute, in legal contemplation, the joint.nct of all. Each is the agent and instrument of the other. Hence each, although performing different parts, the aider’s and abettor’s being a dependent part, is, in law, a principal, and is criminally responsible for the act of the other, as well as for his own act. The one charged as principal may be found guilty of aiding and abetting; and the one charged as aider and abettor may be found guilty as principal. This is for the reason that each is the agent and instrument of the other, and his act is the act of the other, and the act of each constitutes but one crime, and each is guilty of the act actually committed by the other; such act is, in law, the act of each. Hence, each is principal as to each act, although he did not actually perpetrate each act; but the act that the other perpetrated was his act, and he is principal as to it. Now the actual perpetrator of the deed being the agent and instrument of the aider and abettor for which the latter is criminally responsible, it follows that he is equally responsible, under the indictment, if he actually perpetrated the deed, instead of the person charged in the indictment to have done so, although he is indicted as aider and abettor only. (See State v. Putman, 18 S. C., 175; same case, 44 Am. Rep., 571; State v. Ross, 29 Mo., 87-40.)

Tbe Criminal Code, see. 122, provides: “ The indictment must contain a statement of tbe acts constituting the offense in ordinary and concise language, and in such manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended.” Here the indictment charges in ordinary and concise language the part that the principal and aider and abettor took in the murder; and as 'each, in law, was principal and could be convicted under the indictment for doing the acts that the indictment imputed to the other, the indictment is sufficient to authorize the conviction.

The indictment in the case of Mulligan v. The Commonwealth, 84 Ky., 229, charging one as aider and abettor, but not charging who was the principal, &c., was held not sufficient. But here the principal and his supposed acts are charged in the indictment, and the law makes them the acts of the appellant; but it turns out that the appellant was the actual perpetrator instead of • the alleged perpetrator; but he is not misled by the failure of proof as to the alleged# perpetrator, because he, according to the proof, has done with his own hand what he, in' legal contemplation, is charged with having done by the band of another.

The affidavit for a continuance is defective : First, in not showing what steps had been taken to procure the attendance of the witnesses ; and that they were within the jurisdiction of the court. Second, in not stating that the appellant believed their alleged testimony was true.

The judgment is affirmed.