Miller v. State

29 P. 136, 3 Wyo. 657, 1892 Wyo. LEXIS 4

• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court
• Decided: February 18, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinions

Conaway, J.

Plaintiff in error was tried and convicted, at the November term, 1890, of the district court for Laramie county, of the crime of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to suffer the extreme penalty of the law. He brings the cause into this court by his petition in error, which contains 23 assignments of error. The twenty-third assignment of error is that the court (the trial court) erred in overruling the motion of defendant (the plaintiff in error) for a stay of execution of sentence. This assignment need not be considered now. The stay was procured by plaintiff in error under section 3355 of the Revised Statutes, providing that in all cases of conviction where the punishment shall be capital the court or judge allowing the writ of error shall order a suspension of the execution until such writ of error shall be heard and determined. The twenty-second assignment is that the court erred in overruling the motion of defendant in arrest of judgment. Rev. St. 1887 provides as follows: “Sec. 3350. A motion in arrest of judgment may be granted by the court for either of the following causes: First, that the grand jury which found the indictment had no legal authority to inquire into the offense charged, by reason of its not being within the jurisdiction of the court; second, that the facts stated in the indictment do not constitute an offense. ” The motion in arrest does not set up either of these causes. Besides, as a matter oflaw, the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court, and an inspection of the indictment shows that the facts therein stated do constitute an offense. The grounds actually set up for the motion in arrest are some alleged irregularities in the selection of jurors. The record is entirely silent as to the truth of the facts alleged as constituting such irregularities. It is not necessary to say anything further to show that it is not made to appear that the court below erred in overruling the motion to arrest the judgment. The allegations in the motion itself, or even in affidavits, if there were any, accompanying it, cannot be accepted as proof of facts which, if true, are matters of record. In a matter of such grave moment to the plaintiff in error, however, it is a satisfaction to reflect that none of the matters set, up in this motion are such as affect in the slightest degree the merits of the case, or the righteousness of the verdict and judgment. They are all matters of procedure that might have been raised by motion to quash or plea in abatement, and which are waived when not so raised. Rev. St. § 3266. But it is useless to discuss the motion. We cannot consider matters dehors the record.

The twenty-first assignment of error is: “The court erred in overruling the motion of defendant for a new trial.” This assignment includes in its scope the matter of the preceding 20 assignments. They were all presented to the court below as grounds for a motion and supplemental motion for a new trial, and the ruling of the court below upon each is sufficiently questioned by the general assignment No. 21, above quoted. So it is now only necessary to determine whether the court below erred in overruling the motion and supplemental motioh of plaintiff in error for a new trial. As what is termed the “supplemental motion for a new trial” includes substantially all the reasons for a new trial alleged in the motion for a new trial, they will be considered together. The supplemental motion for a new trial begins with the following reasons: “(1) Because of irregularities of the jurors who rendered the verdict; (2) because of newly-discovered evidence, material for the defendant, which he could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and produced at the trial.” These appear as Nos. 6 and 3, respectively, in the motion for a new trial, and are supported by thefollowing affidavit: “Frank D. Taggart, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is the attorney for the defendant, Charles Miller, in the above-entitled case; that he has discovered new evidence material for the defense, which he could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and produced at the ti'ial; that Oscar Leech, the front brakeman on Conductor Hubbard’s train, who was subpoenaed by the state in the trial of the foregoing case, will testify that the said train did not arrive at the state line until a time much later than testified to by the other brakeman and the conductor and fireman of said train; that the foreman of the jury which rendered the verdict in the above-entitled case told affiant that he had been a railroad man himself five or six years ago, and he knew better than any of the witnesses who testified as to the time of the train on which the dead bodies were found, where the train was at daylight.” And this is all. It is clearly insufficient. Comment is unnecessary. The second ground in the motion and the fourth in the supplemental motion are to the effect that the verdict is contrary to law. Why contrary to law is not alleged. This general allegation presents no question of law for our consideration. The fourth ground alleged in the motion is because of errors of law occurring at the trial. There is the same defect in this as that just mentioned. The general allegations of errors of law present no question for determination. What the errors are that are complained of should be shown.

The first ground alleged in the motion for a new trial and the third in the supplemental motion is that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence, and the fifth in the supplemental motion is that the verdict is contrary to the evidence. These may be considered together. It does not appear from the bill of exceptions whether it contains all of the evidence or not. It purports merely to contain all of the “testimony.” The certificate of the stenographer is to the effect that it contains all of the evidence, but that is merely for the information of the trial judge, and is not proper evidence of the fact in this court. It should be shown by the certificate of the trial judge. It is his function to ascertain and certify to this court whether or not the bill contains all of the evidence. The certificate of the stenographer cannot be substituted for that of the judge. But in this instance, as sufficient of the evidence appears to determine these alleged reasons for a new trial on their merits, we will, in favorem vitie, consider the evidence appearing in the record as presented. The shooting of Emerson, and Fishbaugh, his companion; by plaintiff in error, of which shooting Emerson immediately died and Fishbaugh died in a short time, and the immediate robbery of the bodies while Emerson was lying dead, and Fishbaugh was in a dying condition, are circumstantially related by plaintiff in error. This appears both from his admissions proven as made out of icourt and from his testimony in court. The motive for the murder is sufficiently shown by the immediate robbery. In his admissions to the witness Stewart he states that while in the car, and hefore the shooting, he conceived the idea of killing them for their money. There is an effort apparent to show by the testimony of plaintiff in error in his own behalf some other motive for the double murder, but this effortfaiis. It is true, in answer to a question as to whether ' he ever felt any unkindness to the persons whom he killed, and to state how he did feel towards them at the time, he says: “I knew they had a revolver, because I saw them buy five shots for it at Sidney, and put them in the gun; and I supposed when they left me on the corner they were making out some scheme for me; and when I was in the car I was afraid they were going to do something to me.” But, supposing this to constitute some palliation for the crime, if true, he does not adhere to it. He is soon asked again to state how he felt at the time of the shooting, and he replies: “I thought I was far away from my folks, and wanted to get back, and didn’t know how; and I was all ragged, and cold weather was coming on, and nothing to eat, and no money, and I didn’t know what to do.” With but one intervening question as to how long it was from the time he first thought of the crime until he committed it, and his answer that he could not remember ever thinking of it at all, he is asked the third time how he felt at the time. He answers: “I felt that I was far away from my brothers, and that I had nothing to eat, no money, and was all ragged, — was all.” He forgot this time to mention his hunger. His statement that he was afraid they “ were going to do something to him then” is inconsistent with his other testimony. He met them east of Sidney, (he thinks at Julesburg,) and the three of them rode from there to Sidney together, and they did not abuse him, and no unkind words passed between them. They were put off the train leaving Sidney, and after they had been put off he thought they did not want to travel with him because he was ragged. They told him to take one road, and they would take another. That night, at Sidney, he saw a long freight train come in, -and he got into a stock-car covered himself with hay, and went to sleep before the train pulled out. When he awoke, it was coming daylight, and he left the car, took some hay with him, and got into a box-car. Emerson and Fishbaugh were in this car. Plaintiff in error says that when he threw his hay up it fell down, and “it called their attention ; and one of the fellows [Fishbaugh, he says after-wards] called, ‘Hello, kidi’ and I got in, and started to laydown; never slept at all; got up. The train had just started up. It was about five minutes after I got in, it was done. It was all done before I knew it.” Immediately afterwards he says it was “all done in a minute.” So, according to his own statement, he went into the car with these men, whom in a very few minutes he murdered as they lay quietly sleeping or resting, and nothing had occurred to arouse his fears. He states repeatedly that at the time of the shooting Fishbaugh was asleep, but he didnotthinkEmerson was; or, as he once putsit, he did not know whether Emerson was asleep ornot. His statement that he was afraid of them is evidently an afterthought. But if he was, it was no excuse for his murderous attack upon them under the circumstances. His testimony that he shot the young men so soon after getting into the car with them is evidently untrue. His statement made to the witness Stewart soon after his confession of the crime to his brother, and his conclusion, by his brother’s advice, to give himself up, corresponds with his testimony as to the time he got into the car with Emerson and Fishbaugh, and what occurred at the time. He fixes the time, both in his statement to Stewart and in his testimony, as early in the morning, while it was still dark, though daylight was “just coming.” His statements both agree that on his first attempt to throw his bunch of hay into the car it fell down, and that it attracted their attention, and that Fish-baugh said, “Hello, kid!” But he told Stewart that the shooting was done about six miles east of Hillsdale, and that the train reached there about noon. This time, according to the evidence of the trainmen, is approximately correct. Besides other evidence tending to show that Emerson and Fishbaugh were alive and unhurt at Pine Bluffs, the plaintiff in error himself testifies that lie was in the car with.them where the train stopped two or three hours, and that he was hungry then', but never thought about asking them lor money to get something to eat; and further, that he floes not know whether they got off and obtained food or not, and that he had put his hay into this car at the “place before they stopped two or three hours. ” Pine Bluffs is the only place where they stopped so long or nearly as long. All this is more satisfactory as to the fact of the young men being alive at Pine Bluffs, Wyo., than his direct statement to that effect could have been, for it is painfully apparent thatplaintiff in error haslittle regard for the truth. He asserts in his testimony that he shot the young men at break of day, before it was light, as the train was leaving a little station east of Pine Bluffs, and that he remained in the car with the bodies until the train reached Hillsdale, about noon, including the two or three hours’ stop at Pine Bluffs. This is incredible. He also claims that he killed the men with one shot each, in the darkness of the box-car, with one door partly open, before it was light, in the morning. It seems impossible that he could do this, or at least extremely improbable, in the dark, and he would know better than to attempt it. From this and other evidence, not necessary to rehearse here, it is clear that Emerson and Fishbaugh were alive and well at Pine Bluffs. At Hillsdale they were found in the box-car; one dead, and the other in a dying condition. The object in fixing the time of the murder at or before daylight in the morning, and at some station east of Pine Bluffs, is apparent when it is considered that the Wyoming state line is only about a mile east of Pine Bluffs, and the station referred to could not be in Wyoming. But this testimony of plaintiff in error as to the exact time and place of the murder is evidently false. It would seem to be another after-thought, and for a youth,consideringhowit fits the defense of venue, quite a shrewd one.

The only other defense attempted was that of insanity. This defense utterly fails. The experts put upon the stand by the defense in the trial court all pronounced plaintiff in error sane. The most they will say for him is that he is a dull boy, or that he is not a bright boy, or something to that effect.

The confession made to the witness Stewart is a confession of murder for the purpose of robbery. The confession made by testimony in open court is of murder and robbery. There is other evidence strongly corroborating this. There is no question of the fact of murder, without a shadow of palliation or excuse, followed by the immediate robbery of both bodies, one not being quite dead. The verdict is in accordance with the evidence, and is-abundantly sustained by the evidence.

This disposes of all the reasons for a new trial set up in the motion therefor, and the first five of those set up in the supplemental motion. The remaining reasons alleged in the supplemental motion are all founded upon instructions given to the jury by the court over the objection . of the plaintiff in error, and upon instructions asked for by him, and refused by the court. The rule as to reversing judgments on account of erroneous instructions to the jury by the court, and stated by Thompson on Trials as the rule of nearly all the courts, is “that no judgment will be reversed on account of the giving of erroneous instructions, unless it appear probable that the jury were misled by them.” And again: “Of course, it can never be said that the jury were misled by the giving of erroneous instructions where they have reached the correct result by their verdict. Accordingly it is the practice of most of the courts, before passing upon exceptions to instructions, to look into the evidence, and see if the verdict was right; and, if it is found to be so, the court will looknofurther.” 2 Thomp. Trials, §§ 2401, 2402, and authorities there cited. This rule is sustained by very numerous authorities of the highest respectability. Some courts say that the doctrine of error without prejudice does not apply to the same extent in criminal as in civil cases, and some courts hold that error in the instructions will be presumed to be prejudicial. Admitting, without discussing or deciding either point, that both of these restrictions of the rule are correct in their proper application, it may safely be said that it is never the right of a party to demand a new trial in any case, civil or criminal, on account of error in the instructions to the jury where it is clear from the evidence that the verdict is right, and that a new trial ought to produce the same result, or would, under correct instructions, certainly produce the same result. Such a case is this. The technical defense as to venue fails. The venue is satisfactorily established beyond any reasonable doubt. The facts of the shooting of the young man Emerson and his companion, and the immediate robbery of their bodies, is admitted by plaintiff in error in his confession to Stewart, and in his testimony on trial. He told Stewart that he conceived the idea of killing them for their money. There is other evidence probably sufficient of itself to justify and support a verdict of guilty. The defense of insanity completely fails. The testimony of plaintiff in error does not indicate even that he is a dull boy, which is the most the experts say upon the question of his sanity. He exhibits a sound memory, and rather an unusually minute and consecutive recollection of the events of his life from early childhood to the time of the trial. The impression of dullness may have been produced by a habit apparent from his testimony of answering, “I don’t know,” evidently to avoid troublesome explanations, or when, as he testifies in one instance he did, he resolves to say nothing. This is often the wisest and shrewdest thing for one in his situation to do. No useful purpose can be subserved by a new trial. No advantage could accrue to the plaintiff in error. No new evidence could affect the result. By his own confessions and testimony plaintiff in error has placed upon record evidence that must always result in his conviction on a fair trial. Other evidence of his guilt is satisfactory. Another trial must necessarily result in his conviction under any correct instructions. He has followed his brother’s advice to the extent of confessing his crime, but not to the extent of pleading guilty, and appealing to the mercy of the court. But this is a case in which neither the trial court nor this court has any discretion or any power to grant clemency or extend mercy. Upon a verdict of guilty, or on a plea of guilty of murder in the first degree, the trial court must pronounce the sentence of the law. Upon a record showing that such sentence was lawful and right, this court must affirm it, and fix the time for its execution. Enough has already been said to show that this court can take no other course. The evidence shows a coldblooded, atrocious murder, with seldom a parallel. If there be any considerations which may be urged, in favor of clemency and mercy in this case, this court cannot entertain them. That is the function and duty of the executive, in whom is lodged the pardoning and the commuting power. This court considers only the record and the law. The verdict of the jury is fully sustained by the evidence. No other verdict could have been reached by jurors who regard their legal duties and the obligations of their oaths. Overriding in favor of the plaintiff in error positive provisions of statutory law, considering portions of the record not properly before us, following the trial court in considering the supplemental motion for a new trial, although filed long after the time limited by law, we find no prejudicial error in the proceedings of the trial court. The judgment of the court below is in all things affirmed, and the court now appoints Friday, the 22d day of April, in the year of our Lord 1892, for the execution of the sentence pronounced by the court below.

Groesbeck, C. J., and Merrele, J., concur.