Roach v. State

34 Ga. 78

Opinion

Emmas', C. J.

The well considered opinion of Judge Fleming is so clear, forcible, and convincing upon all the grounds taken by counsel for the plaintiff in error in this bill of exceptions, that we cannot do better than to substitute it as our own, and make it the judgment of this Court. It is as follows:

“ The motion in arrest of judgment is made on the ground that there was no proof to show that the Court had jurisdiction. This want of jurisdiction is contended for on thp ground that there is no evidence to show that the deceased died in the county of Chatham, or in any other county of the State of Georgia. Assuming for the present, that “ The testimony does not show that Patrick Tye died in the county of Chatham, or in any other county of the State of Georgia,” does it follow that the Court had no jurisdiction ?

By the Constitution of Georgia, “ all crimes shall be tried in the county where the crime was committed. ” Where was this crime committed ? Counsel says “ in the county or placo where the death occurs.” At common law this answer is correct. But section 4,557 of the Code says: “ when any mortal wound shall be given, or any poison shall bo administered, or any other means shall be employed in one county, by which a human being shall be killed, who shall die thereof in another county, the indictment shall be found and the offender shall be tried in the county where the act was performed or done, from which the death ensued. ” It is not denied, that, according to the testimony, the mortal blow was given in the county of Chatham. But the argument is, that this is not enough; that it must be shown that the deceased died in the State of Georgia. , Such is not my interpretation of the statute. My idea is, that the statute assumes, that when the mortal blow is given in one county of the State, the death takes place in that county; but, if, in the course of the trial, it should appeal* that the death took place iii another county, still, that fact should not change the jurisdiction — in this respect changing the common law, and which was all that the Legislature contemplated or intended. In other words, at common law the jurisdiction attached in the county where the death occurred; by statute, the jurisdiction attaches in the county where the mortal blow was given. The next section of the Code gives us the cases in which it is necessary to prove the place of death, in order to give jurisdiction. Section 4,558 says : “ If such wound be given or poison administered upon soil, the jurisdiction over which has been ceded to the Confederate States within the geographical limits of this State, or within the territory of an adjoining State, and death shall ensue therefrom in any county of this State, the indictment shall be found, and the cause tried in the county whore the death occurs.” These are the only cases in which it is necessary to prove thqplace of the death, in order to give jurisdiction. In all other cases, it is only necessary to prove the place where the mortal blow was given. When, therefore, counsel call upon the prosecution to prove the place of the death, .he must first prove that the mortal blow was given upon soil, the jurisdiction over which has been ceded to the Confederate States within the geographical limits of this State, or within the territory of an adjoining State. I refuse the motion, then, even if it be true that there is no proof that Tye died in Georgia. But is it true ? Can any one read this testimony and doubt that Tye, not only died in Georgia, but that he died in Chatham county ? Ro witness has said in so many words, that he died in Chatham county, but it is in evidence that the difficulty in which Tye received his death wound, occurred in “ Welch’s” shop, Chatham county, Georgia. It is in evidence that the wound was a severe one, the knife entering between the 9th and 10th ribs, cutting the cartilage of the rib, and entering the stomach. (See Dr. Mooney’s testimony.) With such a wound, is it probable, is it even possible, that he could have been carried out of Chatham county, much less could he have been carried out of the State of Georgia. The wound was received on the 29th of December ; ho died on the 31st. Dr. Mooney was called in immediately. As he proves that he died on the 31st, can any one doubt that he attended him from the 29th to the 31st ? Can any one doubt that he attended him in Chatham county, and that he attended him until he died ? In the absence of all proof to "the contrary, can any one doubt that Tye died in the county of Chatham ?

The motion for new trial is made on the ground of newly discovered testimony. Applications for new trial on this ground are not favored by the Courts, and very properly not favored, for if they were favored, litigation would become endless. Eor this reason, the applicant is held to very strict rules. It is not one of these rules, as stated by counsel, that the evidence, if produced, might produce a different verdict; the rule is, mightprobably produce a different verdict. The minds of men are so differently constituted, that it is impossible to say what might possibly be the effect of certain evidence. We may, however, have some idea as to the probable effect of evidence; for we are authorized to suppose that evidence will probably have .that effect to which it is entitled. Is it probable that this newly discovered evidence would have produced a different verdict? I feel perfectly satisfied in my own mind, that this evidence ought not to prodnioo a different verdict; and, therefore, I conclude that it probably would not have produced a different verdict. To understand the weight and effect to which this new testimony is entitled, we must take it in connection with the testimony had upon the trial. The new testimony is this : The witness, John W, Counts, it seems, was standing on the corner of Montgomery and Bryan streets, when-he heard a row on the opposite side of the street, and on being informed that one of his company was in a row, went immediately over to see what was the matter. On going over, he looked through a toindoio and saw five persons in the house.'- One was Eoach. The other men were Tye, Welch, and two others unknown to witness. When deponent looked through the window, he saw three men scuffling; they were Roach, Tye, and Welch. Welch was between Roach and Tye, and had Roach around the waist shoving him back, and shoved him back until he got him in the corner, and while Welch was shoving Roach back, Tye struck Roach over Welch’s shoulder, and then put his hand into his pocket, as if to draw a knife, when Roach stabbed him. This testimony, by itself, makes out a pretty fair case of self-defence; but when you connect it with what had happened "before the witness looked through the window, it utterly fails to make out any such case. Let us see, then, what had happened previously. Thomas Roony testifies that Tye, Roach, and Welch, were talking about wrestling, running, and jumping; after they had talked some time, they went into Welch’s, next door, and continued to talk about wrestling, when Roach said he could get a man that could whip them, or something to that effect. As soon as he made that remark, Tye said it was a lye. They instantly jumped up — the whole party; Welch got between them, and Roach drew his knife, struck across Welch twiqe; the first blow missed, the second, witness thinks, struck Tye, and cut him on the head; Welch then shoved Roach back into the corner, when he stabbed Tye. At tire time Tye was struck over the head, he was behind Welch; the positions were the same at the time the stab was given. Roach reached Tyo with his knife, who was behind Welch, by shoving it by Welch. Peter O. Cook confirms Roony in the important fact, that Roach drew his knife in the beginning of the difficulty, and struck twice at Tye, whilst Welch had hold of him, one of the blows taking effect. Dr. Moony confirms both of the witnesses, by proving other wounds besides the one which occasioned death, and which Counts saw from the window. How, then, does the matter stand ? Roach had drawn his knife and inflicted a blow, if not two blows, before the fact occured to which Counts testifies. Suppose that either of the two first blows had been fatal, would not Roach have been guilty? Was not the third blow, and which proved fatal, given in obedience to the same mad impulse that prompted the two first ? It is a far fetched idea to suppose that the third blow was given 'in self-defence; it is clear to my mind, that it was but a continuation of the same murderous assault, with a deadly weapon, to which both the witnesses testify. _ If, at the moment, it was necessary to his self-defence, he brought the necessity upon himself. '.Suppose I see a man in the act of shooting me, and to save myself, I rush upon him with a deadly weapon, would my attack upon him justify his shooting me ? Would his shooting me be considered an act of self-defence ? Would it not rather he considered as a carrying out of his original purpose ? True, his shooting me might, at the moment, he necessary; hut it is a necessity of his own creation, and cannot avail him as a denfenee. Such is the case before me. j Eoaeh had attacked with a deadly weapon ; no apprehension that a deadly weapon would be used to resist him, can justify him in the further use of his weapon. Such use must be considered as a carrying out of his original intention. Any other doctrine would give a loose rein to violence and murder. No man can attack another with a deadly weapon, without T&nowing that he puts his own. life at hazard ; and if this hazard is to justify him, then murder ceases to be a crime.

The motion in arrest of judgment, and the motion for a new trial, are both overruled.