State v. Bricker

112 N.W. 645, 135 Iowa 343

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: July 3, 1907
• Status: Published

Opinion

Sherwin, J.

At the time it is charged the defendant had carnal knowledge of the prosecuting witness she was under fifteen years of age, the age of consent fixed by Code, section 4756. On her cross-examination the prosecutrix testified that the penetration did not bruise or lacerate her, and, on the State’s motion, the answer was stricken out. There was no error in the ruling. She had already testified that the act was not painful, and, if the question of laceration was a materal one, it was sufficiently answered. The defendant was not permitted to show by a physician that in his opinion the prosecutrix had had intercourse with males more than twice, and, if she had not, that the act would cause pain. The evident purpose of this testimony was to show previous intercourse with other men and consent, neither of which was competent in this case. The statute makes it a crime to carnally know a female under the age of consent, and no act on her part can change it.

The appellant claims that he offered to show that the prosecutrix was at the time of the alleged intercourse infected with a venereal disease which would have been communicated to him had he carnally known her. The record does not sustain the claim, however. It appears that the trial court directed appellant’s counsel to dictate his offer of evidence during a recess of the court, which was done. But the further attention of the court was not called to the matter, nor was there a ruling on the offer. It is manifest, therefore, that there can be no merit in the appellant’s claim.

Error is claimed because the court refused to instruct that there was no corroborating evidence tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime. The claim is not well founded, however. Whether there is any such evidence is a question for the court, but its weight and sufficiency is solely for the jury under ordinary circumstances. State v. Crouch, 130 Iowa, 478; State v. Norris, 127 Iowa, 683.

The county attorney in argument to the jury stated that he knew that the prosecuting witness was telling the truth, and that the defendant was guilty. It does not appear that the attorney was claiming any knowledge other than that possessed by the jury, or that the jury understood the statement to be anything more than the expression of his opinion from the record made on the trial, and, such being the case, we think there was no prejudice in the remark.

It is alleged that the verdict is contrary to the instructions of the court, and that it is not sufficiently supported by the evidence. We have given the record a careful examination, and reach the conclusion that there is no merit -in either contention.

The judgment must therefore be affirmed.