Burris v. State

84 S.W. 723, 73 Ark. 453, 1904 Ark. LEXIS 87

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: December 24, 1904
• Status: Published

Opinion

Wood, J.,

(after stating the facts.) The record shows that defendant asked that all instructions be reduced to writing. The court stated that the official stenographer was present, and would take the part of the instructions that were given orally, to which appellant excepted.' This exception was not carried into the motion for a new trial, and therefore we must treat it as abandoned. 1 Crawford’s Digest, Appeal & Error, IV, b.

Moreover, the instructions which were given orally are set out in the record. They relate to reasonable doubt and the credibility of witnesses, and were correct declarations of law.

It is contended that the testimony of Bartlett and Hill should have been excluded from the jury, for the reason that it tends to show that, if appellant was guilty, his guilt was that of an accessory, whereas the indictment charged him as principal. It was contended therefore that there was a variance between the charge ánd the proof. Appellant asked instruction numbered 1

*, intended to convey the idea that if appellant sent the medicine by another, who knew of the prosecutrix’s condition, and knew what the medicine was for, and that appellant was not present when the medicine was delivered or taken, appellant would not be guilty under this indictment. The court properly admitted the testimony of Hill and Bartlett and the testimony showing that these parties delivered medicine to prosecutrix, which was sent to her by appellant. This, in connection .with the testimony of the prosecutrix showing that appellant had given directions about taking the medicine, and what it was for, tended to establish charge of “administering” or “prescribing,” as laid in the indictment. The Century Dictionary defines “prescribe“3. Specifically, to advise, appoint, or designate as a remedy for disease.” “To give medical directions, designate the remedies to be used; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.” Webster defines “prescribe:” “3. (Med.) To write or give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as to prescribe for a patient in a fever.” In Indiana the statute says: “Whoever prescribes or administers to any pregnant woman any drug, medicine, or substance whatever,” etc. The Supreme Court said: “The word ‘administer’ in said section does not signify merely the manual administering of the drug, medicine, or substance, but it has a much wider meaning. Among the definitions of said word are the following: ‘To furnish, to give, to administer medicine, to direct and cause it to be taken.’' (Webster’s Dictionary.) ‘To supply, furnish, or provide with.’ (Standard Dictionary.) As used in said section, the word administer was clearly intended to cover the whole ground named, making it an offense to give, furnish, supply, provide with, or cause to be given, furnished, supplied, or provided with or taken any such drug, medicine, or substance, with the intent named in said section. And said word embraced and was intended to embrace every mode of giving, furnishing,.supplying, providing with, or causing to be taken, any such drug, medicine, or substance. This is both the letter an'd spirit of the section.” McCaughey v. State, 156 Ind. 41. So say we.

The well-known meaning of these words, as given by any of the standard lexicographers, shows that the presence of the defendant in person at the time the medicine is delivered to or taken by the prosecutrix is not necessarily' contemplated. • The conduct of the appellant in sending medicine used to bring about abortion to the prosecutrix to be taken by her, and his direction to her in person or by letter as to how to take it, come clearly within the meaning of the words “administer” or “prescribe” as used in the statute. There was no error in refusing appellant’s request numbered 1 for instruction.

The charge of the court as set forth in instructions 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in instruction numbered 5 given at the request of the defendant,* correctly declares the law of the case applicable to the facts as .developed on both sides at the trial.

We find no error in granting or refusing requests for instructions.

The remarks of counsel for the State in referring to certain matters that were not in evidence 'were exceedingly improper. The court should not have permitted them, and we should not hesitate to reverse on account of these remarks if appellant’s guilt upon the undisputed facts were'not so clearly established; but in this view the remarks were not prejudicial.

Affirm.

Instruction No. 1 asked by-appellant and refused by the court was as follows:

“1.‘ The jury are instructed that if-they find from the testimony that the defendant sent a package or bottle of medicine to the prosecuting witness, Nela Burris, by one Porter Hill, and that the said Porter Hill at the time knew for what purpose such medicine was sent to the prosecuting witness and knew of her condition, and that the defendant was not present .when such medicine was so given or delivered by the said Porter Hill, then the defendant would not be guilty under this indictment, and it will be your duty to acquit him of this charge, unless you should further find that defendant did, on another and different occasion, administer or prescribe medicine or drugs to her with the felonious intent te commit an abortion.” — (Rep.)

Note. — The court charged the jury as follows:

“1. If the jury believe from the evidence that Nela Burris, the prosecuting witness, was pregnant with child, and that while in that condition, and within three years next before the indictment was found, the defendant procured medicine or drugs intended by him and calculated to produce an abortion, and gave said medicine or drugs to said Nela Burris, or sent it to her to be taken by her for the purpose of producing an abortion or premature birth before the period of quickening, you should find the defendant guilty.

"2. If the defendant procured medicine for Nela Burris which was not capable of producing an abortion or premature delivery, and gave or sent it to her with no intention of producing an abortion or premature delivery of the fcetusbefore the period of quickening, but simply to pacify said Nela Burris, until he could arrange to leave the country, then you should acquit.

"3. If the defendant procured and gave or sent medicine or drugs to said Nela Burris with the intention of producing an abortion before the period of quickening, it is no defense that the medicine was not taken, or, if taken, that it failed to produce the abortion or premature delivery.

“4. If you find from the evidence, that defendant gave or sent to said Nela Burris medicine or drugs with the intent to cause an abortion or premature delivery, but that at the time he gave her the same said Nela Burris had arrived at the period of quickening, you should acquit the defendant, as the statute applies -only to cases in which the woman has not come to the period of quickening.”

Also at appellant’s request the court charged the jury as follows:

“5. Although the jury may believe from the testimony that the defendant did administer and prescribe drugs and medicines to the prosecuting witness, Nela Burris, with the felonious intent at the time, to produce or procure an abortion upon her, then, before you can convict defendant under this charge, you must further find from the testimony, and that, too, beyond a reasonable doubt, that at the time such drugs and medicine were so administered by defendant the prosecuting witness had not yet become quick with child.” — (Rep.) '