State v. Anderson

86 Mo. 309
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedApril 15, 1885
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 86 Mo. 309 (State v. Anderson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Anderson, 86 Mo. 309 (Mo. 1885).

Opinions

Henry, C. J.

— The defendants were indicted in the Carroll circuit court for the murder of John Rea, and, on a trial, were convicted of murder in the second degree [315]*315at the April term, 1885, of said court, and from the judgment have appealed to this court.

The defendant Baugh and Rea had occupied a cabin together, but had a difficulty, which resulted in their separation, Rea leaving Baugh in possession of the cabin and of some furniture belonging to Rea. Baugh had made threats that if Rea ever came back to the cabin he “would stop him at the door.” To another witness, that if Rea ever came to his house, ‘£ he would never get away alive.” On the morning of the eighth of April, 1884, Baugh went over to see Anderson, who is his cousin, and who was sick, and asked him to go home with him. There is evidence tending to prove that Baugh expected Rea to come to his cabin that afternoon for his goods. Anderson accompanied Baugh home, and about six o’ clock that afternoon, Rea went to the cabin and was-killed near and in front of the cabin door by the defendant Anderson.

The testimony of Anderson and Baugh, if true, made a clear case of self-defence. It was to the effect that Rea came and knocked at the door of the cabin, and was-asked by Baugh who it was, and, answering, was told by Baugh that there had been strife between them and he did not wish' him to come into the cabin, but Anderson said let him come in, and thereupon Rea entered and commenced cutting Baugh with a knife, who ran out of the cabin followed by Rea, and when Anderson went to-the door, he turned back and commencd firing upon Anderson, who got a gun from a rack near the door and shot him.

The following instructions given for the state are-complained of: *

“ 3. If the jury believe from all the evidence in the case, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendants are guilty of murder in the first degree or second degree, as these offences have been defined in these instructions, but have a doubt as to the degree of offence of which the [316]*316•defendants are guilty, the jury will give them the benefit •of such doubt, and find them guilty of the less offence.”
“4. If the jury believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant Anderson is guilty of either degree of murder, as defined by these instructions, but entertaining a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of defendant .Baugh, then they may convict the said Anderson and .•acquit the said Baugh.”
“8. In considering what the defendants have said •.since the fatal shooting, if you find they have said anything in relation thereto, you should consider it all together. They are entitled to the benefit of what they :said for themselves, if true, as the state is entitled to the benefit of what they said against themselves in any conversation of defendants proved by the state. What they .said against themselves the law presumes to be true because against themselves ; but what they said for themselves you are not bound to believe because said in a .conversation proved by the state. You may believe it ■or disbelieve it, as it may be shown to be true or false by all the evidence in the case.”

It is objected to the first of the above instructions, that it permitted a conviction for murder in the second degree, if the jury, believing them guilty of murder, had ,a doubt as to the degree of murder of which they were .guilty. If the evidence satisfied the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that defendants intentionally and maliciously killed Rea, and the only. doubt they had was, whether it was done with the deliberation necessary to constitute the homicide murder in the first degree, .but having none whatever that it was committed with the premeditation, which made the crime murder in the second degree, it was their duty, as the court instructed, to find them guilty of the latter crime. Can it be that it was the duty- of the jury, so believing from the evidence, to acquit the defendants ? Certainly not.

Nor do we see any objection to the second instruc[317]*317tion, which declared that if, beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury believed Anderson guilty of murder in either degree, but had a reasonable doubt of Baugh’s guilt, they might convict Anderson and acquit Baugh. Counsel contend that it is erroneous, in not having confined the belief of the jury to the evidence; but they were sworn to try the cause on the evidence, and could not possibly have supposed that they were permitted, by this instruction, to base their verdict upon anything but the testimony in the cause. Objection is made to the third instruction, that the jury were told that they must consider whatever defendants had said, since the shooting, in relation thereto, all together, thus permitting what one said to prejudice the other. While such a construction might be placed upon the instruction, considered by itself, yet the court, in an instruction immediately following it, told the jury distinctly that the statements made by either of the defendants were-only binding upon him who made them.

The following instructions asked by defendants-were refused:

“1. If, after considering all the evidence in the case, the jury shall entertain a reasonable doubt as to-whether defendant Anderson, in killing John Rea, acted maliciously or in self-defence, then the jury can not convict him.”
“2. The court instructs the jury that if John Rea went to the house of defendant Baugh, and brought on a difficulty with the defendant, and in following up such difficulty was shot and killed by defendant Anderson, then the defendant Anderson, in killing said Rea, is not guilty of murder in either degree.”
“ 3. The jury are instructed that Anderson had the right to go to the cabin of Laurel Baugh along with him and to stay all night with him ; and that if Anderson had lain down on the bed, and Baugh had closed the door, the deceased came to the cabin and asked ad[318]*318mittance, and the door was opened by Baugh, and the ■deceased made an assault on Baugh with á knife and cut and wounded him, and then and there Baugh attempted to defend himself with a pistol, but failed in his defence and was obliged to retreat or fly from deceased, and ran from the door of the cabin, and immediately or within a very short time thereafter, the deceased rushed again towards the door and assaulted-Anderson with a knife and a pistol, or either of them— ■then Anderson had the right to defend himself the same ■as if he were in his own house, and if, in repelling said .assault, Anderson, in the necessary defence of his per-.-sou, with a shot-gun, shot at and killed the deceased, then Anderson was justifiable in his act of shooting, .and neither of defendants is guilty, and the jury must .so find in their verdict.”

The first was properly refused, because the jury had ..been sufficiently instructed with respect to a reasonable ■doubt. The second might properly have been refused, because too vague and indefinite. It does not follow from the fact that one brings on a difficulty, and follows it up, that the other may kill him. He may bring on the difficulty and follow it up in a manner that will not justify the other in killing him.

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Related

State v. Tiedt
229 S.W.2d 582 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1950)
State v. May
72 S.W. 918 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1903)
McShane v. Sanderson
108 Mo. 316 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1891)

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Bluebook (online)
86 Mo. 309, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-anderson-mo-1885.