State v. Broughton

192 N.W. 118, 154 Minn. 390, 1923 Minn. LEXIS 647
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedFebruary 2, 1923
DocketNo. 23,147
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 192 N.W. 118 (State v. Broughton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Broughton, 192 N.W. 118, 154 Minn. 390, 1923 Minn. LEXIS 647 (Mich. 1923).

Opinion

Dibell, J.

Defendant was convicted of the crime of carnal knowledge of a female under the age of 18 years. He appeals from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

The defendant, a steam shovel engineer, was working with a state highway crew at Montgomery. The offense is claimed to have occurred in a tent which the defendant and another had near the work. The case presents the usual direct affirmation by the girl which is met by the usual direct denial of the defendant. There are circumstances tending to support the story of the girl and others tending to support the testimony of the defendant. The girl made immediate complaint to her mother. There is some inconsistency in' the times given of the occurrences important in the transaction, but not such as to make unbelievable the story of the [392]*392girl. In some respects the defendant’s account of facts in connection with the transaction are not favorable to him. Though the jury had difficulty in reaching a verdict, the evidence well sustains it.

There was no error in refusing to submit a lesser degree or an included offense. The evidence justified a verdict of guilty of the crime charged, as it justified a verdict of not guilty of any .offense. We are unable to see a reasonable ground for the finding of a different offense. The defendant was altogether guilty or not guilty at all He claims that there was no offense. The testimony of the girl and of the attending physician indicates that that charged, if any at all, was committed.

One Taylor, who worked with the defendant, and was about town with him on the evening of the alleged crime, was a witness called by the defendant. He and another girl were with the defendant and the prosecutrix at the time they started in a general way in the direction of the tent. Later he saw the defendant. He was asked as to his appearance and indicated, though not claiming that he gave particular attention, or perhaps claiming that he gave no special attention, that it was not unusual. He was put to a prolonged cross-examination. Much of it was not directly material. From the record it seems likely that he was confused, and answered questions perhaps recklessly and without reflection. In the verbal combat he was no match for the cross-examiner and was on the defensive and answered a little at random. A portion of the cross-examination was as follows:

Well, now, as a matter of fact, didn’t you look at the defendant when you saw him in there, for the purpose of seeing what his appearance would indicate?

•A. I did not.

Q. You knew he had been off with a young girl?

A. I knew he was walking with this girl, yes.

Q. You didn’t know where he had been to?
A. No, I did not.
Q. You didn’t know what he had done?

[393]*393A. I did not.

Q. And you were not curious to know whether you could find out by looking in his face?

A. It was none of my business.
Q. And that’s the reason you didn’t note?
A. That’s it, exactly.

Q. It was none of your business what the defendant did with that little girl, and that’s the reason you didn’t attempt to learn from his appearance whether anything had transpired or not.

A. Well, I was pretty sure just about what happened, that’s why.
Q. I have no doubt but what you were.
A. I sure was.

Upon redirect examination counsel for the defendant sought to explain what the witness meant. What occurred is best understood, by quoting from the testimony:

Q. Mr. Taylor, you said, in answer to counsel’s questions, I was pretty sure what happened. What did you mean by that?

By Mr. Odell: Wait a moment, to that I object as incompetent, and immaterial and calling for a speculation of the witness.

By Mr. Moonan: Well, if the court please, I don’t want a remark of that kind to stand upon the record, it wouldn’t be fair to the defendant, and I think it would not be fair to the defendant.

By Mr. Odell: Well, I know the purpose of it, and I submit it isn’t competent.

By the court: He may answer, answer please.

A. Well I know Mr. Broughton, and knew him to be a very nice young fellow and I didn’t think there was anything wrong, that there could have been anything wrong.

By Mr. Odell: Now, I move to strike out the first part of that answer as not responsive to the question.

By the Court: Well, I didn’t understand. That may be stricken out, I thought counsel was inquiring then with reference to another matter.

By Mr. Odell: I move to strike out the entire answer as incompetent.

[394]*394By the Court: Strike it out.

By Mr. Odell: Manufacturing evidence in that way, no man ever heard of it.

By Mr. Moonan: Take that down.

By Mr. Odell: Take it down, Mr. Reporter, and give him an exception with a capital E.

By Mr. Moonan: Take everything down.

By Mr. Odell: Yes, sir.

By Mr. Moonan: Now, I ask the court to admonish counsel that those remarks are improper.

By the Court: Well, I think both counsels should be admonished that those remarks are improper.

By Mr. Moonan: Will the Court indicate where I have failed?

By the Court: Well, the Court doesn’t care to indicate, if you have any questions ask them; I say, any remarks of that character better be let unsaid.

By Mr. Moonan: I wasn’t aware, your Honor, that I had made any, and I regret it, if I had, and I wasn’t aware that I had.

By the Court: You may proceed, if you have any questions.

By Mr. Moonan: Well, if the Court please I was about to explain what my 'purpose was in this question.

By the Court: That isn’t necessary.

By Mr. Moonan: Well, may I make another offer to prove?

By the Court: Surely.

By Mr. Moonan: I offer to prove by this witness, at this time, that his answer, in reference to the words used, to-wit: I was pretty sure what had happened was meant to indicate that- nothing improper had happened between the young lady, Miss Hanschuh, and this defendant, the statement having been made in answer to plaintiff’s interrogatory, and the words being “I am pretty sure what had happened.” The reason the offer is made is because an improper inference might be drawn from that against the defendant.

By Mr. Odell: I object to it as incompetent and immaterial.

By the Court: Counsel certainly knows that that isn’t proper.

By Mr. Moonan: I wouldn’t have offered it if I did, your Honor.

[395]*395By the Court: It isn’t proper, and it should not have been offered.

By Mr. Moonan: May I have an exception?

It was proper for the witness to explain the answer to which he had been driven by the cross-examination. Counsel for the defendant was not in the wrong. It was proper that he elicit an explanation.

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376 N.W.2d 233 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1985)
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31 N.W.2d 37 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1948)
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212 N.W. 588 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1927)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
192 N.W. 118, 154 Minn. 390, 1923 Minn. LEXIS 647, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-broughton-minn-1923.