People v. Flynn

55 N.W. 834, 96 Mich. 276, 1893 Mich. LEXIS 757
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 30, 1893
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 55 N.W. 834 (People v. Flynn) 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. Flynn, 55 N.W. 834, 96 Mich. 276, 1893 Mich. LEXIS 757 (Mich. 1893).

Opinion

Hooker, O. J.

The respondent was convicted of the crime of rape. The alleged victim, Lizzie Schroder, together with one Minnie Ebans, attended a dance together, where they met the respondent and one Lemuel Allen, who is impleaded with him. The theory of the prosecution is that the young men induced these girls to permit them to take them to the girls’ homes in a buggy, but that, instead of doing so, they went in another direction. The Ebans girl jumped out of the buggy, and escaped, but the Schroder girl was forcibly taken to a secluded place,- and subjected to sexual intercourse by both of the young men, under threats of personal violence. The defense assert that the intercourse was voluntary.

Hpon the trial, Minnie Ebans was sworn as a witness for the people. She testified that she got out of the buggy, and went to a house, and that the last she knew of Lizzie she was “hollering” for help when she (Minnie) was getting out of the buggy. “ Q. by Prosecuting Attorney. That was after you got out of the buggy? A. Yes, sir. (Objected to by Mr. Lockwood as irrelevant and immaterial).” The court committed no error in overruling this objection. The fact was a part of the res gestee. The same may be said of the testimony in answer to the question, “Which way did the buggy go after you left?” This witness testified that she saw no .more of the boys or the buggy that evening, but that when she reached home Lizzie was at the witness’ house. She was asked where she went before going home, and she stated that she was at police headquarters for about half an hour. She was asked nothing about what she did there, nor did she attempt to state. We see no error in permitting this testimony. The conduct of both girls immediately after [278]*278the transaction might reasonably be the subject of scrutiny.

The respondent was subsequently, confined in the jail, where the girls were taken by the sheriff, to whom Lizzie had stated that Flynn did not have intercourse with her. A conversation occurred there between the sheriff and the girls in the presence of Flynn. At this time Flynn stated to the sheriff that he had intercourse with the Schroder girl. The sheriff, who had been told by her that Flynn had not had intercourse with her, turned to her, and asked her if it was true, and she said it was. The sheriff then said, “Why didn't you tell me this yesterday?'' to which she responded that she was ashamed to confess it to him. The sheriff then asked her if she consented, and she said she did, whereupon he replied, “ Well, then you were perfectly willing that Mr. Flynn should have intercourse with you?'' She said, “No, I wasn't.” The Ebans girl then said, “Lizzie don't understand what you mean by consent.” This last remark was objected to and stricken out. The sheriff then explained to her that if she consented she -would be as guilty as Mr. Flynn, so far as the act was concerned, and then she said she did not consent; that she was not willing; it was against her will that they had intercourse with her. “Q. Did she say anything on that occasion, Mr. Dix, about the reason she permitted it?” Under objection the witness stated: “ She then showed me the marks on her neck, where Mr. Allen had choked her, and thrown her down. She said she was afraid to refuse Mr. Flynn, for fear, she would receive the same treatment, as he had threatened her previous to this. Flynn made no further remarks on it.” Similar testimony was given by the Ebans girl. This testimony was objected to, for the reason that it was hearsay, and immaterial, and that the admission of Flynn that he had intercourse with the Schroder girl was not voluntary. The sheriff stated that the statement was voluntary, and there is nothing to [279]*279show that it was not. Flynn did not testify about the interview. It was therefore for the jury to say whether1 his statement was voluntary. It had no special significance, for Flynn admitted the intercourse upon the stand. The-statements of Lizzie in the presence of Flynn were admissible, in connection with Flynn’s failure to deny them. She stated the fact of the intercourse, which he had already admitted. She gave as a reason that she feared him because of his threats, which he did not deny. This failure to deny the charge of threats was a matter for the jury-

The court committed no error in permitting the witness-. Lizzie Schroder to testify, against the objection that she had disobeyed the order of the court. The record shows that she did not disobey the order. The remarks of the prosecutor to the court in opposition to the objection did not prejudice the respondent, for there is nothing upon which to base the presumption that the witness had been doing anything improper while in company with the other-witnesses.

The witness Lizzie Schroder was asked, “ Whether" you-believed that they intended to kill you.” And again, “Will you state whether or not it [the intercourse] caused you pain?” And again, “I will ask you whether or not, prior to this occurrence, you had experienced what is known as cmonthly periods.’” And again, “State why you did not struggle against Mr. Flynn.” It is plain that all of' these questions were admissible. The one in relation to menstruation was in connection with her statement that she found blood upon her garments after the act.

This covers the objections to the rulings .of the court upon the introduction of evidence.

Some questions are raised upon the charge. The court instructed the jury, in substance, that, if Flynn aided and [280]*280assisted Allen to commit rape upon this girl, he was guilty of the offense. That is undoubtedly the law.

The court gave the eighth request to charge offered by the prosecution, as follows:

“I further instruct you, gentlemen, as requested in the people's eighth request as modified: The jury are instructed that it was not necessary for the complaining witness to tell her mother at once of the alleged rape upon her; and if the jury believe from the. evidence that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged in the information, and that she by reason of the threats made to her by her ravishers and the treatment that she had received was induced thereby to refrain from informing her mother of what had taken place, then the complaining witness would be excused from not communicating the knowledge of the injury to others.
“That is true, gentlemen. At the same time it is true that you may take into account, in'determining the truth of Lizzie Schroder's story, the circumstance whether she did or did not make complaint of it afterwards, and how recently. You may take that into account in connection with all of the facts and circumstances of the case. If you find that she did not complain of it because nothing of the kind happened, why, then, of course you would so consider it. If you find that she made no complaint because of the feelings of terror and mortification induced by what had happened to her, then, of course, she would be excused for not making the complaint."

Also the tenth, as follows:

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Bluebook (online)
55 N.W. 834, 96 Mich. 276, 1893 Mich. LEXIS 757, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-flynn-mich-1893.