People v. Anderson

2 Wheel. Cr. Cas. 390

• Court: Court Of Oyer And Terminer New York
• Decided: March 15, 1824
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court.

We think the deceased was pretty well convinced when he came into the hospital, that he should not recover. Within one or two days of his decease, he was informed that his case was hopeless, but he was in great distress, and probably not in his right mind. His sufferings were very great. His impression is, that deceased told him he had been stabbed, but is not certain. His mind good, and he was perfectly himself for five or six days after he arrived at the hospital. He was spoken to about being prepared to render his final account, and he listened with Some attention. It is the impression that deceased did mention the name of the person who stabbed him, but does not recollect it. He did not question Particularly. He does not think that deceased apprehended death so much from his sufferings, at first, as from the knowledge ^ie (^ePt^ t*le wound.

Riley, called again. The deceased was a younger, and a stronger man than the prisoner.

John N. Adriance—testified to the good character of the prisoner for five or six years. Never knew but that his disposition was mild. Appeared to show a great deal of affection for his wife.

Thomas Carpenter—lives in the neighbourhood, and confirmed the above—never saw any thing as to the trouble with his wife, although he had heard of it.

Elisha Morrill—knew the prisoner as much as eight or ten years ago, in Nassau-street, and confirmed his good character.

Noah Wctmore, Superintendent of the Hospital. The deceased was admitted, like others, into the hospital. Witness visited him as he did other patients. The case was a critical one; but witness does not recollect that deceased was particularly apprehensive about his situation.

The counsel for the prisoner here rested his defence ¡ and

Maxwell then renewed his application to read the affidavit of the deceased. And, after considerable deliberation,

The Court delivered its opinion at length, and went into a close examination of the testimony bearing. upon this point.

Edwards J. There can be no doubt as to the law upon this subject, where the testimony of the deceased is taken under a strong belief that his case is hopeless, and that he is soon to appear before his Maker; nor should it be ex-eluded in all cases, where there was a faint and lingering hope of a recovery.

* But in the present case, the deposition of the deceased was taken the day following the in-fiction of the wound ; but the Court could find no positive testimony that the deceased was .morally certain that he could not survive, until the time of his declaration to the witness, (Riley,") three days 'afterwards. And if he was previously convinced that there was no chance of his recovery, it is certainly very strange that he had not said so, especially to his most intimate friends. It is a settled prin-. ciple, that in all cases involving the life of a human being, every doubtful point is to be construed in favor of the accused. In the administration of the justice of the country, the law imposes the same duty upon both judge and jury ; and where the matter of fact is at all doubtful, both court and jury should lean to the side of mercy. The Court have kept this question suspended for several hours, and after due advisement, the learned Judge remarked, that they could not take it upon them to say, that when the affidavit in question was taken, the deceased rested under that firm expectation of speedy death, as to warrant the "receiving of his declarations as the testimony of a dying man. The affidavit, therefore, cannot be received. But the declarations of the deceased after the declaration to Riley, on the 3d day, at the hospital, is to he considered as proper testimony.

' The defence was then commenced by Mr. Blake. It certainly painful to have to address a jury on such subjects ; and when the prosecuting attorney stated to you this morning that he feared the evidence was such as must establish the guilt of the prisoner, I was afraid the case could not be resisted. But very different are my feelings now ; and entertaining as I do, from- the laborious investigation you have given to the evidence, a conviction of this man’s innocence, it will gratify me if by my very feeble abilities I shall be able to impart this conviction to your minds. The responsibility you have to discharge is solemn, and will be duly weighed by you; for your sentence, if given against the prisoner, is loss of life—loss of that which cannot be recalled. The liberty, the property of man you may take, and. if error has directed the decision, it can be restored; but life once gone, and the Deity alone can then show mercy. Man’s power ceases at the grave. As to presumptive evidence, gentlemen, I am not about to occupy you, and seek to harrow up your feelings, as was done by learned counsel last night, with cases, part of which may be true, but of which the greater part was probably false ; nor do I mean to inveigh against circumstantial evidence at large, seeing that such evidence can. alone sometimes lead to the detection of guilt; but to caution you that such a degree of certainty is necessary as will enable you to say, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the prisoner is guilty. [The counsel here read from Phillips an extract as to the nature of evidence, and particularly on Justice Buller’s charge. The counsel went on to refer to Lord Hale, 229, 230.] The prosecuting attorney will possibly urge in this case that if the prisoner here be not convicted, no conviction can be had ; yet gentlemen. it cannot be doubted by any one. that m the case yesterday, (alluding to Johnson’s case,) the chain of testimony was complete without the confession; but how different from this. Circumstances which can justify a verdict of guilty must be such as are proved to have existed, and cannot have existed compatibly with the innocence of the prisoner. As to the facts in this case, gentlemen, it will be doubtless gravely urged to you that threats thrown out by the prisoner eighteen months ago evince malice against the deceased; threats, gentlemen, that were extorted by the notorious fact of the deceased having seduced and borne off the wife of the prisoner, a provocation which not one in the.jury box, I am sure, would not have resented, not merely with threats, but with punishment. The prisoner is a black man, indeed; but a black man has feelings like us—feelings that are tó be lacerated by the greatest calamity that can befal any man, black or white. But how did the prisoner behave under this provocation ? With moderation to the laws that many of higher station and degree would not have exhibited, he applied for redress to the tribunals of his country, and had the deceased punished. This showed no malice nor lawlessness. The next fact is the finding a dirk in possession of the prisoner; and because an old dirk, given to him by an old master, and kept as a keepsake, is found in his house, he must be the murderer: and the prosecutor gravely measures the length of the wound, and the breadth of the rent; and actually, before your eyes, fits the dagger to the rent of the waistcoat, and says, “ look there ! this must have been the instrument.” Gentlemen, we should not have far to go to find many daggers that, pushed in a little more or a little less, would fit the rent also. Then as to the prisoner’s examination, which has been read, . , . ,, . though not intentionally, on the part of the justice, it is manifestly calculated to entrap; yet, such as it is, it" is much more indicative of innocence than guilt. (His counsel here examined the nature of the police examination, and inferred from it the fact, that it bore, all the appearance of a cross-examination of a witness by an intelligent lawyer, and not like a document drawn up merely for the discovery and assertion of the truth. After alluding to the other facts in evidence, the counsel adverted to the self-possession and calmness of the prisoner, as contrasted with the agitation proved to have been evinced by Johnson yesterday, and inferred from it, with considerable force and ingenuity, that nothing but conscious innocence could have sustained a poor, friendless, ignorant man, under such a trial,— a trial under which the comparatively more influential, wealthy, and intelligent criminal of yesterday sunk.) As to the dagger, so far from operating against, it will be found to confirm, the innocence of the prisoner, and that from an almost miraculously immaterial circumstance. - The surgeon, it will be remembered, testified that the blow inflicted must have required- considerable force: the watchman, too, states that the appearance of the dirk is the same now as when found. Well, gentlemen, this blade is now spotted, not as one of the witnesses imagines, with blood, but with a soft substance, more like cobbler’s wax than any thing else, which easily comes off) and which, 1 feel very confident you will say, could not have remained on, after so desperate a thrust as that inflicted on the deceased. This apparently immaterial circumstance you will, I am sure, say, when you come to examine the dagger in your room, is of high importance to the prisoner. But not only did this dagger probably not inflict the wound, but is it not presumable that the deceased was mistaken m the person who gave him the blow? It was dark; the complexion of the parties increased the difficulty of discerning features, and it might as well, for aught that could be seen, have been any other black man as this. The- counsel concluded an address of no inconsiderable force and merit, by a strong appeal to the extraordinary excellence of the character of the prisoner, as established by witnesses inferior to none in the city for respectability.

Mr. Wyman followed on the same side. He would make but few observations in addition to those they had heard. In this case, i* must be found, first, that there has been a slaying, and then that it has been accompanied with malice aforethought. As to the declaration eighteen months ago, that prisoner would have satisfaction, it cannot be held by you as that sort of malice contemplated by law, even if taken in its utmost latitude; but even this has been explained by the witness, Gordon, to refer to satisfaction by course of law. The chief evideuce in this case is circumstantial, a species of evidence always to be received with great caution. (The counsel cited instances of its fallibility.) We look to^you, gentlemen, so to examine and sift the .testimony as that, if it can be done, the fact of the murder may be made out and yet the prisoner at the bar be innocent. (The counsel then examined separately the testimony given by the respective witnesses, commenting on them as he proceeded, and contrasting them where they differed, and concluded, by urging upon the jury, that from all the circumstances, from the confidence prisoner had manifested in his own innocence, from his retaining in his possession that dagger, which, if it had been in his hands the instrumeat of murder, he would have disposed of beyond the reach of human eyes, they could not but believe that James Anderson was not guilty.)

Maxwell, District Attorney. In our country it does not often happen - that public officers and tribunals are called on to pronounce on cases of life or death. It is happy that we live in a community where the life of man is thus tenderly regarded; and in proportion to the infrequency of such trials, is the unwillingness to act when such cases occur. But it is not a light matter ; nor is it proper to set out on such occasions with a desire to look for circumstances justifying prisoners, when such circumstances can only be sought out at the expense of the facts. It is painful to every man of humanity to pass against the life of a fellow being, no matter what colour the Almighty may have stamped mpon him, even under the conviction of guilt; but such feelings must be discarded in the discharge of a public duty, and, as the humble minister of the law here, I must say that in my judgment such is the nature of the evidence in this case, that you must convict the prisoner at the bar. Before entering on the body of the cause, I will advert briefly to a few objections made in the able and eloquent defence that has been made: the first is as to time—that there was not time enough between the period when Gordon separated from prisoner in Chatham street, and half past 9; and Mrs. Sinks tells you the prisoner came home about a quarter past 10, and it was not 11 when the watchman took him up. Riley tells you it was half past 10 o’clock when he found the deceased wounded in his cellar. I submit to you, then, whether there was not ample time between that when the prisoner parted from Gordon in Chatham street, and that at which he went home, .to go up to 37 Bowery, and inflict the- wound in question ; it is obvious there was. Then as to the matter on the dagger;—I do not mean to enter into the discussion of whether this be cobbler’s wax, as said, or clotted blood; but admitting it be as contended by the counsel, shoe-maker’s wax, I submit to you whether it be not so hard as to resist the blow supposed. If gentlemen doubt, I invite them to make an experiment on doubled clothes, and they will find it will penetrate the folds without breaking off or erasing this matter; and when penetrating the body it was lubricated by the blood it shed, and its passage rendered easy. But this dagger, says the counsel, if the prisoner had been guilty, would have been thrown from him, and all trace of it be lost. Sir, if the prisoner had supposed that the life of his victim could have survived the deadly blow long enough to reveal the name of the murderer, that dagger would never have been seen in this court. It was confidence in the efficacy of its plunge that induced its owner to preserve it. But character is relied on. It is a melancholy truth that many in this country and in England, who have stood in the fullest confidence of their fellow citizens, have nevertheless been guilty of crimes. (The case of Dr. Dodd in England, and Noah Gardner in this city, were particularly referred to, as proofs, that character of itself was no security against crime.)

Having said thus much as to the objections, I will refer to the facts in proof. It has been asked what motive could influence the prisoner to this crime? A passion, gentlemen, more deep, more violent, more headstrong, than even that thirst for pernicious gold which but yesterday, we saw had driven another to commit the crime of murder—the passion of jealousy. Gordon, the friend of the prisoner, has stated the existence of this feeling, and it explains the conduct of the prisoner. Nor is this & jealousy existing in the mind alone. Gordon tells you that three months before this murder, you have it in evidence, that deceased taunted prisoner about his wife. YoU have, too, in evidence the threats of the prisoner. Can it be said, then, that with these threats, this quarrel, another person could have perpetrated the crime ? If any quarrel had existed between the deceased and any one else, it might have been proved, and must at any rate not be assumed. (The district attorney then examined the testimony at length, laying particular stress upon the declaration made by the deceased to Riley after he went to the hospital, and believed himself dying, that the prisoner inflicted the wound; and also upon the examination of the prisoner, as taken at the police office,the day after the death of the deceased.)

Having gone through the facts, I will call your attention, in order that we may not differ about the law, to some few authorities, and it shall be briefly. (Referred to 1 Chitty, 234. respecting the undue enormity of punishment inflicted for a slight transgression; quoted in reference to, and in the hypothesis of the truth of the statement in prisoner’s examination, that on the evening, of the assault deceased first took up a brickbat as if to attack prisoner. Other authorities were also adduced on the general ■points.)

-Gentlemen, the prosecutor concluded, I have now done my duty. It has been a painful duty, and one in the discharge of which, I trust, you will not think I have been unduly pressing; and I can only pray that you may differ from me, if you can do so consistently with your oaths.

By the Court.-—So much has been said, gentlemen, relative to" the declaration of the deceased, that we consider it necessary to caution you in the outset that it is important you should separate in your minds, and devest of all effects, the affidavits which may have been said to be made by deceased, or the mere assertion of counsel, from what has1 been legally proved. That the deceased came to his death in a violent manner, is not disputed; it is for you to decide whether the prisoner at the bar inflict-ted that wound; and if so, under what circumstances: whether under circumstances that would constitute it murder or manslaughter, or justifiable homicide. (The Court here marked out the distinctions between these of-fences, and then recapitulated the facts in evidence.) In reference to the attempt to prove an alibi, all the time had been accounted for but about fifteen minutes ■ and it is to be conceded those 15 minutes might have been sufficient for the commission of the crime. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that he did commit this crime, it then remains to be seen with what disposition it was committed. (With this view the judge read Gordon’s evidence over, thinking it highly material, and commented upon it, particulnrly on the fact that prisoner had invited that witness to go home with him, which appeared to negative the idea, that the prisoner at that time contemplated murder.) Then, as to the lameness of the prisoner, it also appeared very material, as it rendered it difficult to reconcile with probability the idea of this lame old man attacking, with premeditation, and with such an instrument, a young athletic man, as deceased is proved to have been. (The Judge carefully read and weighed all Gordon’s testimony.) He then adverted to the examination of the prisoner—put it to the jury to determine-whether, under all circumstances, the interview between deceased and prisoner was not an unpremeditated thing. The confession of the prisoner appears to bear the intrinsic marks of truth ; for his storv is one that would hardly have been feigned or contrived. Afler all this investigation, it remains to be ascertained what crime was committed. It is clear, there was no cool, premeditated málice. There may indeed be murder, without long meditation ; but the story here is, that prisoner was menaced by a young, athletic man, with a brick-bat.— If, in order to save himself from such an assault, he had used his dagger from a belief that his life was in danger, it would be justifiable homicide. If he could have escaped by flight, but chose to remain at the hazard of life, it is manslaughter, but no murder. Connected with this part of the case is this dagger, and this is undoubtedly au unpleasant feature of this affair. How prisoner came to carry this dagger, is the question. It appears there was a previous quarrel between prisoner and deceased, and the prisoner might have thought himself liable to have been assaulted by deceased, and armed himself to guard against it: but even if this were true, it cannot be considered a justifiable act to be thus armed; as the consequences of going sb armed, often proves fatal to life. The reasons suggested may perhaps account for the prisoner being armed with this dagger, without imputing necessarily an intention to commit murder.— Then, as to the declarations of the deceased—that made in the presence of prisoner, when carried to deceased's house by the watchman, being as promptly and fuíly denied by prisoner, must not be considered as going for any thing. As to the declarations to Riley, after deceased became aware of his approaching death, that “ Anderson stabbed him this is the naked fact: but An- , , ,711 i i i derson may have stabbed, and yet not have murdered him. And may it not be inferred, that at such a moment, if deceased had not been conscious of some provocation on his part, of having been the aggressor, in a high-handed manner, he would not have reflected with satisfaction on his own conduct, and would have spoken, therefore, without anger, of the prisoner’s act? As to these confessions, too, if you should be of opinion that the court decided wrongly in admitting them, as evidence, you are at liberty to, and must reject them. You are also, if they are received by you, to weigh them with other testimony, and determine for yourselves as to the degree of credit to be attached to them. After treating of all the other topics, the Judge said, that as to the character, it must be admitted that the prisoner had established a very excellent one; but character, it must be borne in mind, was too often forfeited. After all, gentlemen, the case rests with you. If guilty of murder, it is your duty to say so, and the law must have its course. If you think him guilty of manslaughter, you will say so: but you must only pronounce a verdict of guilty of murder with a clear conscience, not by a mere inclination, as by the dust of the balance of your mind, but according to rational evidence. If not guilty of murder, in your judgment, it is competent for you, under the indictment, to bring in a verdict of manslaughter; with these remarks I deliver the cause to you.

The jury retired at 11 o’clock, and at half past 11, returned with a verdict of “guilty of manslaughter»1

1. It has been repeatedly decided that the dying declarations of a person mortally wounded, who is conscious of approaching dissolution, are to be received, whether he expresses his belief that he will survive or not. 2 Leach, 563. 1 East. P. C. 353. 1 Chit. C. L. p. 464. The situation of the deceased may be such after a wound given, as to incapacitate him for conversation to the extent necessary to express his belief of his situation, and yet upon being interrogated may designate by name the person who caused his death: his consciousness of approaching death may be gathered from the wound and from the illness of the party. Ibid. Swift’s Ev. p. 124. 6 St. Tr. 195. 201.

2. No principle of law is better settled, than that, where it appears the party was not conscious of his approaching dissolution, although he might be actually dying when the declarations were made, they cannot be received in evidence. Woodcock's case, Leach, 563. and Radburn’s case, p. 364.

3. In all cases whether the deceased was conscious of approaching death at the time the declarations were made, is a fact to be decided by the Court, and is not to be left to the jury. 1 East. P. C. 353 2 Leach, 360. 563. But see Woodcock’s case, Leach, 563. McNally’s Ev. 263 264.

4. I cannot find in any case, English or American, an authority that the declaration of a dying person can be received as evidence when he has a faint and lingering hope of recovery. On the contrary, if he thinks he will eventually recover, though he be actually dying, his declarations cannot be received. Dingler’s case, Leach, 638. Chit. C. L. vol. 1. p. 464.