Houston v. State

Supreme Court of Iowa

Houston v. State

4 Greene 437

DecidedJuly 1, 1854

StatusPublished

This text of 4 Greene 437 (Houston v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Houston v. State, 4 Greene 437 (iowa 1854).

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Opinion

Opinion l)y

Greene, J.

Indictment for defacing and ^marking a scbool house. Yerdict and judgment against defendant.

1. It was objected that one E. Kamberling was permitted to testify on the trial, when the name indorsed on the indictment is E. Kimberling. The witness having sworn that he was the identical person sworn before the grand ury, the court admittedjbis testimony. In this we think [438]*438the court acted discretely. There is but a trifling distinction in the names — a difference of but one letter; and especially when such difference so nearly leaves the name idem sonan, it would not justify the exclusion of the witness» If doubt was entertained, the resemblance at least justified the court in receiving proof of identity.

Jas. Grant, for appellant, ]). C. Cloud, for the state.

2. The court instructed the jury that the state had proved all that was necessary with reference to the school district. It is justly objected that this is an instruction upon the facts in the case. This is error. This was charging the jury upon the weight and sufficiency of testimony. It is not within the province of a judge to instruct a jury as to what facts are proved or not proved. He may explain to them the legal effect of facts, but the facts themselves are to be ascertained exclusively by the jury. Better abolish the right of trial by jury at once, than to permit judges to dictate the facts upon which the verdict must be found. The practice of charging the jury upon the facts may have precedent in some of the older states; but in Iowa it has ever been regarded as dangerous — as a usurpation of power, and as an interference with the rights of parties, and the province of jurors; Wood v. Mains, 1 G. Greene, 275; Frederick v. Gaston, ib., 401. The Code, § 1791, provides that “ the charge of the court shall be confined strictly to matters of law.” The court below must have overlooked this provision of the Code, in charging the jury-in the present case.

Judgment reversed.

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Opinion l)y

Greene, J.

Indictment for defacing and ^marking a scbool house. Yerdict and judgment against defendant.

1. It was objected that one E. Kamberling was permitted to testify on the trial, when the name indorsed on the indictment is E. Kimberling. The witness having sworn that he was the identical person sworn before the grand ury, the court admittedjbis testimony. In this we think [438]*438the court acted discretely. There is but a trifling distinction in the names — a difference of but one letter; and especially when such difference so nearly leaves the name idem sonan, it would not justify the exclusion of the witness» If doubt was entertained, the resemblance at least justified the court in receiving proof of identity.

Jas. Grant, for appellant, ]). C. Cloud, for the state.

2. The court instructed the jury that the state had proved all that was necessary with reference to the school district. It is justly objected that this is an instruction upon the facts in the case. This is error. This was charging the jury upon the weight and sufficiency of testimony. It is not within the province of a judge to instruct a jury as to what facts are proved or not proved. He may explain to them the legal effect of facts, but the facts themselves are to be ascertained exclusively by the jury. Better abolish the right of trial by jury at once, than to permit judges to dictate the facts upon which the verdict must be found. The practice of charging the jury upon the facts may have precedent in some of the older states; but in Iowa it has ever been regarded as dangerous — as a usurpation of power, and as an interference with the rights of parties, and the province of jurors; Wood v. Mains, 1 G. Greene, 275; Frederick v. Gaston, ib., 401. The Code, § 1791, provides that “ the charge of the court shall be confined strictly to matters of law.” The court below must have overlooked this provision of the Code, in charging the jury-in the present case.

Judgment reversed.

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4 Greene 437, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/houston-v-state-iowa-1854.