People v. Cleveland

65 N.W. 216, 107 Mich. 367, 1895 Mich. LEXIS 1152
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 10, 1895
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 65 N.W. 216 (People v. Cleveland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Cleveland, 65 N.W. 216, 107 Mich. 367, 1895 Mich. LEXIS 1152 (Mich. 1895).

Opinion

Long, J.

The respondent was informed against, jointly with Robert Mehan and Frank Swidenski, for assault with intent to commit the crime of murder, and on a second trial was convicted, and sentenced to the state prison at Jackson for a term of eight years. He was tried separately..

The people’s proofs tended to show that the complaining witness, Eugene Weatherwax, was the keeper of a general store at Somerset Center, Hillsdale county, and on July 11, 1891, after he had closed" his store for the night, he was called from his living rooms, which adjoined the store, by a party who claimed he wanted to buy some crackers and cheese. Weatherwax.came out with a kerosene lamp in his hand, opened the door of the •store, went in, and started to raise the trapdoor leading to the cellar, where his cheese was kept. While stooping ■over for this purpose, he was called upon to throw up his hands. He turned around and saw two men, one of whom wore a white mask. He still held the lamp in his right hand, and at once attacked the man nearest him with it, striking him over the head, and extinguishing the light. Two shots were fired at him by the two men, each of which took effect, one in his leg and the other in his body. He continued grappling with the man, striking him with what remained of the lamp, the man all the time working towmrds the door, trying to get away. [369]*369This he finally succeeded in doing, and escaped in the darkness. The proofs also tended to show that Mehan was the party with whom the witness Weatherwax had the struggle, and that defendant Cleveland was the party in the store with him, and both of whom shot and wounded him; that another party, who, it is claimed, was Swidenski, was either at the store door, or in that vicinity, stationed as a lookout. The next morning after the affray, Mehan was traced from within two miles of the place to the city of Jackson, and was subsequently identified as the person who attacked Weather-wax. It was claimed, also, that Cleveland was identified as the masked man in the store, who fired one of the shots at Weatherwax.

The people’s testimony tended further to show that, on the afternoon prior to the assault, Swidenski engaged a horse and carriage at Jackson, claiming that he wanted to drive into the country some distance; that Mehan was seen with him in the carriage at Jackson; and that subsequently Cleveland joined them, before leaving the city. The three parties were identified by several persons along the way. While they were driving in the direction of Somerset Center, some parties saw them, but a short distance from there. About 1 o’clock the next morning, defendant Cleveland returned the horse to the livery stable. The theory of the prosecution was that Cleveland and Swidenski returned to Jackson with the carriage, leaving Mehan to find his way there on foot, as he was seen the next morning within two miles of Somerset Center, going in the direction of Jackson; he at that time being without a hat, and having cut out the pocket of his ■ coat, and drawn it over his head, as a skull-cap.

The three parties were arrested, bound over, and at the September term, 1894, of Hillsdale county the case was set for trial. The night before the term commenced, the prisoners broke jail and escaped. In the latter part of [370]*370December of tbe same year,- respondent, Cleveland, was brought back from New Orleans, La., and placed upon trial at the January term. Upon the trial the defense was that the people were mistaken in the identity of respondent, Cleveland, and he sought to establish an alibi. His counsel contend that the court was in error—

(1) In permitting the people to show the acts of Mehan after the affray, his appearance on the way to Jackson and on the succeeding days, the excuse he gave for his then condition, and the result of an examination of his clothing.
(2) In allowing the escape of all the defendants from the jail to be shown.
(3) In not giving certain requests to charge.
(4) In certain portions of his charge to the jury.
(5) In not permitting the respondent to show that he surrendered voluntarily after his escape from jail.

1. It is apparent from the testimony that the three parties, when they left Jackson, had arranged to engage in this robbery. We think there was evidence for the jury to determine the identity of the three on their way there, and there can be little question from the testimony that they were at the store; two of them entering it, and one remaining outside. Mr. Weatherwax testified that he recognized respondent, Cleveland, as the masked man, and who fired one of the shots. By the proofs it was established that a prior arrangement had been made to commit the robbery, and the arrangement had been carried out so far as they were able to do so. It was therefore proper to show the condition of Mehan, who was not on trial, for the purpose of establishing his identity as one of the men who accompanied respondent, Cleveland, from Jackson to Somerset Center, thus identifying the latter’s connection with the robbery. In the case of Ryan v. State, 83 Wis. 486, the charge was burglary. Evidence was admitted, under objection, showing the movements and conduct of each of three persons [371]*371charged with the crime on the next morning after the robbery, and after they had separated. The prosecution having shown that these persons were seen together shortly before the crime, this evidence was held competent. It is true that, when the subsequent facts sought to be.shown are in the nature of a narrative by one of the parties to the transaction, such narration is inadmissible as evidence against a co-respondent; but in the present case no such statements were sought to be shown, and it was competent to show the condition of any one of the three,- immediately after the affray, which would throw any light upon the question of the identity of Cleveland as taking part in the crime charged. What Mehan said as to his condition, as shown by the testimony here, was in no manner prejudicial to the respondent, as its tendency would be to show that respondent was not in his company at the time he received his injuries. See State v. Struble, 71 Iowa, 11.

2. The court properly permitted the prosecution to show the escape of the respondent and the other two from jail. People v. Marble, 38 Mich. 117.

8. The court was asked to charge:

“Even though you should find, and be satisfied beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendant, Cleveland, was seen on the road from the city of Jackson to the village of Somerset Center on the night in question, and was seen in the village of Somerset Center on that night, and was there for the purpose of robbery and of doing his part, — even though this be true, if you should not be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he was actually in the store of Weatherwax, participating in the assault, you could not find him guilty, if the assault made upon Weatherwax was made in an attempt to escape, and not in accordance with a common design.”

Counsel for respondent base this request upon the ruling of this court in People v. Knapp, 26 Mich. 112, where it was said:

“The effect of these rulings was pi’actically to hold [372]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Langston
273 N.W.2d 99 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1978)
People v. Bunker
177 N.W.2d 644 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1970)
People v. Cammarata
240 N.W. 14 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1932)
People v. Simon
220 N.W. 678 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1928)
State v. . Hairston
109 S.E. 45 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1921)
People v. Freelmame
128 N.W. 206 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1910)
McDuffie v. State
49 S.E. 708 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1905)
Thomas v. State
47 Fla. 99 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1904)
State v. Aiken
69 P. 683 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1902)
Musser v. State
61 N.E. 1 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1901)
Fitzpatrick v. United States
178 U.S. 304 (Supreme Court, 1900)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
65 N.W. 216, 107 Mich. 367, 1895 Mich. LEXIS 1152, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-cleveland-mich-1895.