Makley v. State

197 N.E. 339, 49 Ohio App. 359, 17 Ohio Law. Abs. 305, 3 Ohio Op. 250, 1934 Ohio App. LEXIS 319
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 18, 1934
DocketNo 646
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 197 N.E. 339 (Makley v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Makley v. State, 197 N.E. 339, 49 Ohio App. 359, 17 Ohio Law. Abs. 305, 3 Ohio Op. 250, 1934 Ohio App. LEXIS 319 (Ohio Ct. App. 1934).

Opinion

*309 OPINION

By GUERNSEY, J.

Under §13436-7, GC, the prosecuting attorney has the right to appear before the grand jury for the purpose of giving information in reference to a matter cognizable by it, or advice upon a legal matter when required. He has the further right to interrogate witnesses when he deems it necessary. The conduct complained of is proper under this provision. The testimony of the witness concerning what was said and done by the prosecutor, if true, would amount to the giving of information relative to a matter properly before the grand jury and advice concerning the legal questions involved, which the prosecutor had the legal right to do and there is a presumption that the *310 prosecutor acted within the law. The hearing on the plea in abatement was had in the absence of the jury, as shown by the record.

■ The fact that there was another indictment pending against the defendant at the time the indictment on which the defendant was tried was returned, would in no way operate as a bar to the prosecution under such indictment. The action of the court in overruling the plea in abatement was correct.

Overruling- Demurrer to Indictment.

The demurrer to the indictment was based on the ground that the facts stated therein do not constitute an offense against the laws of the State of Ohio.

The indictment upon which the defendant was tried charged with the commission of the offense in the following language:

“That Charles Makley, whose real and true name is to the grand jury unknown late of said county, on the 12th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty three at the County of Allen, State of Ohio aforesaid, unlawfully, purposely, and wilfully killed Jess L. Sarber, the sheriff of said County of Allen while said Jess L. Sarber, was in the discharge of his duties as said sheriff.”

The indictment is based on the provisions of §12402-1 GC, which is as follows:

“Whoever purposely and wilfully kills a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, policeman, marshal'or inspector appointed under the provisions of §6212-22 GC, while such sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, policeman, marshal or inspector is in the discharge of his duties, is guilty of murder in the first degree and shall be punished by death unless the jury trying the accused person recommend mercy, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment in the penitentiary during life.”

The indictment in this case charges a crime in plain, concise and unequivocal language, following the wording of §12402-1 GC. Neither the plaintiff in error nor his counsel could have been misled concerning the language of the charge. No request was made for a .bill of particulars, which right is afforded by §13437-6, GC. All of the essential elements of the crime are charged. There is no requirement of law that the word “intent” or “intention” must be used in an indictment or other pleading charging crime. “Purposely” is synonymous with “intentionally.” To state that the act was purposely and wilfully done states in plain, understandable language that the act was “intentionally” done.

Sec 12402-1, GC, makes the killing of a sheriff while in the discharge of his duty, the crime of murder in the first degree1: The indorsement of the foreman of the grand jury on the indictment was therefore correct.

The amendment to §12402-1, GC, in 1925 by amended Senate Bill No. 57, had the effect of merely adding prohibition inspectors to the general class of public officers mentioned in such section and did not have the effect of repealing said section. The repeal of the prohibition amendment to the constitution did not have the effect of repealing said section. The action of the trial court in overruling the demurrer was correct.

Overruling- Motion for Change of Venue.

On the motion for change of venue, plaintiff in error offered as a witness one Neil Shaw whose testimony and some newspaper exhibits was the only evidence offered on said motion. An examination of this testimony shows that the case against Makley was given as much publicity in every county in Ohio as it was in Allen County. No evidence is offered to show a condition entitling plaintiff in error to a change of venue. In- fact, this witness testified that in his opinion Makley .could be given just as fair a trial in Allen County as he could in any other county of the state. The ruling on this motion rested in the sound discretion of the trial court and his order overruling the motion was not an abuse of discretion.

Refusing Requests for Continuances.

The first contention of the defendant under this heading, is that the court erred in refusing request of defendant’s counsel for a continuance of two or three days to investigate the case, the extradition proceedings and irregularities of the grand jury.

The record shows that the request was made on February 17, 1934, and the case was assigned for trial and trial begun on March 12, 1934, which afforded plaintiff in error ample time to investigate the matter of extradition. The matter of extradition was of itself unimportant in the case since the plaintiff in error was in the jurisdiction of the court, in the court room charged by an indictment with crime under the law of Ohio and there is nothing in the record to show that the plaintiff in error was extradited from any other state. Consequently there was no error in the order of the court refusing a continuance.

A further contention of the defendant *311 under this heading, is that the record fails to show that he was properly served with a copy of the original venire at least three days before the date of trial, as required by the provisions of §13443-1, GC, and that the record fails to show that a copy of the special venire drawn after the original venire was exhausted was served on- him as required by law, and that the court erred in refusing motion of defendant for a continuance of three or. four days to-investigate special venire.

Sec 13443-1 GC provides as follows:

“When a person indicted for a capital offense pleads not guilty, the clerk, on order of the court, shall draw from the jury wheel, as in other cases, not fewer than 50 ballots, nor more than 75 .ballots, as the cQurt shall direct, and issue to the sheriff a venire for the persons whose names are, so drawn for the day fixed for the trial; such venire shall be served and returned by the sheriff as in other cases, at least fifteen days before the date so '.fixed for trial, and a copy of such venire and such return shall be served on the defendant at least three days before the date of the trial.”

' While the record does • not affirmatively show that a copy of the original venire' was served- on the- defendant as required by this section it does not' show that it was not served. The ■ record also shows that the defendant proceeded with the examination of jurors comprising this venire, without objection. This being the case, there is no affirmative -showing of error prejudicial" to the defendant.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
197 N.E. 339, 49 Ohio App. 359, 17 Ohio Law. Abs. 305, 3 Ohio Op. 250, 1934 Ohio App. LEXIS 319, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/makley-v-state-ohioctapp-1934.