State v. Baughman

82 N.W. 452, 111 Iowa 71
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedApril 13, 1900
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 82 N.W. 452 (State v. Baughman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Baughman, 82 N.W. 452, 111 Iowa 71 (iowa 1900).

Opinion

Ladd, J.

1 Though not held to answer on preliminary examination, the defendant moved to set aside the indictment because a member of the grand jury returning it had previously formed and expressed an unqualified opinion of his guilt. This, a cause for challenge1 by one held to answer '(section 5243, Code), is not recognized by the statute as a sufficient reason for setting aside an indictmtent. Section 5319 of the Code enumerates five grounds, numbering them, on one or more of which the motion to set aside must be sustained. The following sections provide for obviating this by correcting an omission to indorse the names of witnesses, and section 5321 denies the fifth ground — objection to the panel — to one held to answer. In previous sections (chapter 13, title 25) the right to the exercise of challenges to the panel and to individual jurors is given a person held on preliminary examination. Had the lawmakers intended the challenge to individual jurors to1 be available to one not bound over, this would, doubtless, have been mentioned among the grounds stated for setting an indictment aside. Specifying particularly what might be the basis of such a motion, in view of prior provisions, [73]*73and the subsequent reference to corrections and an exception, clearly indicates the purpose of the legislature that the grounds enumerated should be exclusive of all others. Going back of indictments for facts to abate or quash them— usually because of disqualifications or misconduct of grand jurors — formierly led to . great delays and abuses; sometimes to the miscarriage of justice. Our statutes were enacted to simplify the practice as far as practicable, and do away with merely dilatory pleas. To this end objections which may be interposed, and the time, has been definitely fixed. Thus, in State v. Russell, 90 Iowa, 569, the motion to set aside, for that a brother of the injured party was a member of the panel was overruled; this not being one of the statutory grounds. The same ruling has been repeatedly made where the insufficiency or incompetency of evidence .before the grand jury was the cause assigned. State v. Tucker, 20 Iowa, 508; State v. Morris, 36 Iowa, 272; State v. Fowler, 52 Iowa, 103; State v. Smith, 74 Iowa, 584. The supreme court of Oregon has held that only the enumerated grounds were available for such a motion. State v. Whitney, 7 Or, 386. That of South Dakota has reached the same conclusion. State v. Bank, 3 S. D. 52 (51 N. W. Rep. 338). See, contra, State v. Brecht, 41 Minn 52 (42 N. W. Rep. 603). Whether the court, in furtherance of justice, has the inherent power to set aside an indict ment when procured through exceptional m|eans, not referred to in this title, — as through misconduct of the judge, mentioned in State v. Will, 97 Iowa, 58, — ought not to'be-determined until necessarily involved. The only statutory guide defining the manner of performing their duties by the grand jury is the oath prescribed, copied in subsance, from that which has long 'been administered in England, followed in many states of the Union, where it has been uniformly regarded as an examining and accusing body, rather than a judicial tribunal. Our statute makes it the duty of every member of the panel knowing or having rea[74]*74son to believe that a public offense has been committed, triable in the county, to inform his fellow jurors, and be sworn as a witness upon the investigation. Code, section 5260. This alone precludes the notion of an absolutely impartial trial before that body. It. is accordingly held that, the fact of a member of the panel having forinled or expressed an opinion of the guilt of the accused furnished no- objection to the validity of the indictment. State v. Fitzgerald, 63 Iowa, 270; State v. Rickey, 10 N. J. Law, 83; State v. Hamlin, 47 Conn. 95; Musick v. People, 40 Ill. 268; Lee v. State, 69 Ga. 705; U. S. v. Williams, 1 Dill. 495, Fed. Cas. No. 16,716; Com. v. Woodward, 157 Mass. 516 (32 N. E. Rep. 939). See note to State v. Russell, 28 L. R. A. 200.

2 II. The expressions “evidence has been introduced tending to show sexual intercourse between the defendant and May Baughman,” and “evidence has been introduced which tends to show that May Baughman became pregnant,” found in the instructions, gave no intimation as to an opinion of the court concerning +he issue being tried. Such evidence was before the jury, and the court could not well instruct, without making some reference to it. State v. Donovan, 61 Iowa, 370, and State v. Dorland, 103 Iowa, 174, are not in point, as in those cases the word “some,” in referring to- evidence, was condemned, in that it conveyed an intimation of the court’s view of its quantity and weight.

3 III. Nrom the affidavit of Towne it appears that during the trial a juror stated, in conversation at the former’s home, in substance that he was convinced- of the defendant’s guilt, and that it would require a good deal of evidence to change his mind; and, further, that he understood that defendant’s father had been guilty of the same crime, and had run away. Towne claims to have advised him not to talk that way, as evidence might be offered to change, his conclusions, and that the juror stated [75]*75“it couldn’t be done.” Tbe rule generally laid down is that the irregularity, to raise a presumption of prejudice in the absence of connection therewith by either party, must be such as has a natural tendency to disqualify the juror for the proper and unbiased discharge of his duties. 2 Thompson Trials, section 2618. That his conduct was reprehensible is not questioned, but the expression of an opinion drawn from the evidence alone does not, of necessity, indicate undue bias against the accused. True, the court is required to admonish the jury, before each separation, not to converse among themselves or with others on any subject connected with the trial, and not to “form or express an opinion thereon until the cause is finally submitted to them,” and this it is the duty of each juror to obey. Code, section 5383. Notwithstanding this, however, every lawyer knows that, as the trial progresses, the judge and every intelligent juror acquires an opinion, and this no act of legislature or admonition of the court can wholly prevent. It must not be overlooked that it is the fact of an opinion being entertained, and not its disclosure by a juror, that forms the objection The disclosure is evidence only of the opinion being held. “If the entertainment of an opinion of the subject-matter of the trial by a juror during its progress furnished ground for a new .trial, no litigated matter could be brought to a close, for, from the very constitution of the human mind, opinions will be formed as facts are disclosed o.r reasons addressed to the understanding, liable to be and frequently changed, as these facts and reasons are met and confuted by others of an opposite tendency.” All that may be insisted upon is that the minds of the jurors be kept in a receptive attitude, ready to receive any information to be obtained throughout the trial, and accord it proper consideration. If a juror inadvertently mentions the case, or' indicates his convictions at the time being to a person in no way connected vfith the trial, or interested in the result, and by whom no -attempt to influence is made, it does no-t follow [76]*76that, because of such opinion, he will turn a deaf ear to evidence subsequently given on the part of the defendant.

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Bluebook (online)
82 N.W. 452, 111 Iowa 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-baughman-iowa-1900.