State v. Brown

153 S.W. 1027, 247 Mo. 715, 1913 Mo. LEXIS 307

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: February 19, 1913
• Status: Published

Opinion

WALKER, J.

The prosecuting attorney of Jackson county, on December 20, 1911, filed an information in the criminal court of that county,, charging the defendant with murder in the first degree, in the shooting and killing of Albert Underwood on December 1, 1911. At the January term, 1912, of said First ^Degree, court, the defendant was tried, found guilty of murder in the first degree, and ' his punishment assessed at death. Timely motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were filed and overruled, and an appeal has .been perfected to this court.

The facts disclosed by the evidence are as follows :

Albert Underwood, the deceased, was employed in the auditing department of the Missouri-Pacific Rail-waN Company at its freight offices in the statement West Bottoms in Kansas City, _ Missouri. His particular duties were to receive collections, in the cashier’s office of the said department, on account of freight. The cashier’s office was on the first floor of a three-story building, the entrance to same from the street being through a general hallway in which there were stairs leading to the upper floors. About twenty-five feet from this main entrance a door opens into the cashier’s office where Underwood was employed, his desk being located in the southeast corner -of the office to the right of the cashier’s window. At the time of the killing, a yonng man named Barnes was at work at a desk in the opposite corner to the right of where Underwood was employed; to the left of Barnes was a desk occupied by a man named Proctor, and behind the door which entered the room from the main hallway and near the corner, was another desk occupied by a man named Pnlhamus. Just in the rear of Underwood’s desk was another occupied by a man named Brown, and near Brown’s desk Clayton, another employee of the railroad, was standing.

At about 5:40 o’clock on the evening of December 1, 1911, the door of the cashier’s office leading from the main hall was opened, and one of the witnesses present states that three negro men entered, two of them stopped just inside the door, and that the third, who was the only one seen by the other witnesses, was the defendant. He walked into the room behind the chair where Barnes was sitting, and with a revolver in hand said to Barnes, “Get into the vault, and be quick about it.” The vault referred to was adjacent to the cashier’s office. The defendant then shot at Barnes and the bullet grazed his neck, passing through the right sleeve of his shirt. Defendant then struck Barnes as he was rising from his chair, and felled him to the floor. Turning to Pulha-mus, who was partially behind the door, and pointing his pistol at him, defendant ordered him to get back into the vault. Pulhamus did so, backing towards the vault. While this was occurring, Underwood, th»e •decased, was standing near his desk where he had-been checking off freight receipts. The defendant then pointed his pistol at Underwood, saying, “Damn it, get back into the vault.” Almost simultaneously with this command the defendant fired the pistol, striking Underwood in one of* his hands. Underwood exclaimed, “Por G-od’s sake give me time to get into the vault! ’ ’ With that the defendant shot again, striking and mortally wounding Underwood, who staggered out of the room into the vault. Of the persons employed with Underwood at the time of the shooting, the defendant was identified by Barnes, Pulhamus, Brown and Clayton. In addition to Underwood, these were all of the persons in the room at the time, except one Proctor, who stated he was so frightened he did not stop to take a look at the man who was doing the shooting, but got out of the room as soon as he could after the trouble began.

At the time defendant entered the room, there were lying around on the cashier’s desk several hundred dollars in money and checks. Defendant had previously been employed in the same building, was familiar with the location and arrangement of the offices and where the money was kept.

Immediately after the shooting, defendant tried to get out of one of the windows, but failing in this turned and ran out of the door. In addition to those who witnessed the killing, and identified defendant, he is also identified by W. B. Lentz, the local agent of the railway company, who states that while he was in' his office on the second floor of the same building-in which Underwood was killed at about 5:40 p. m. a young man rushed in saying that “the cashier’s office was being held up and robbed;” that witness rushed out of his office and ran down stairs when he saw a negro man running through the hall towards the front door; that witness saw defendant at the police station on the following Monday and identified him as the man he saw running through the hall; that witness went, immediately after seeing the man run through the hall, to the cashier’s office and found Underwood shot and his associate employees attempting to hold him up to keep him from falling on the floor; that witness called a physician and an ambulance and subsequently Underwood was carried out on a stretcher, pnt in the ambulance and conveyed to a hospital.

Vincent Kennedy, a clerk employed in one of the, offices in the same building in which Underwood was killed, while sitting in his employer’s office, heard two or three shots fired; he ran to the door and partially opened same, and saw a negro man coming out of the door of the cashier’s office. When the man came within four or five feet of witness, the latter saw that he had a pistol in his right hand and something in his .left; that upon the man’s seeing the witness, the former said, “Step back, you son-of-a-bitch, and don’t movethat the witness had a fair opportunity at that time to see the man and identifies him as the defendant now on trial.

A hoy named Ward, also employed at the building where the killing occurred, testified that a few minutes before the shooting he saw defendant in the building and had a conversation with him. Another witness named Oscar Underwood stated that a few minutes after the time testified to by Ward he saw the defendant and a janitor named Powell talking to each other in whispers in the'toilet room at the end of the floor on which the cashier’s office was located.

Defendant’s principal witnesses to establish an alibi — which was the substantial defense in the case - — are himself and a negro man named Lafe Fowler.

The substance of defendant’s testimony is that on the evening Underwood was shot, át 5:20 or 5:25 o’clock, defendant went to a building near the one in which the shooting 'occurred, to collect a small sum of money due him from the janitor named Feather stone Powell. Failing to accomplish the purpose of his visit defendant said to Powell, ‘‘I am going over to Lafe Fowler’s,” the latter being the janitor employed in what was known as the Superintendent’s Building, which, was near the one in which the shooting occurred; that Powell replied, “Gro over and wait and I will come by and pay you your money.” Defendant said, “All right,” and started at once to Fowler’s; that it was about 5:30 o’clock, or possibly a few minutes later when he reached Fowler, remaining with the latter in a room on the second floor until 6 o ’clock, when they left the Superintendent’s Building together. On their way out they passed two men engaged in conversation at the head of the stairs and Fowler spoke pleasantly to them. Upon reaching the front door of the Superintendent’s Building they saw an ambulance before the door of the building in which the killing occurred, and the body of a man being brought out of the building and placed in the ambulance, when it was driven away. Among others gathered about the ambulance defendant recognized Frank Wall, chief delivery clerk of the railway company, and immediately thereafter he and Fowler went to the eating house of a woman named Hattie Bell, where Fowler had been taking his meals, and that defendant waited for him but did not eat, saying that his mother would be expecting him for supper. That after Fowler had finished his meal, he and defendant went to Kansas City, Kansas, where they resided.

Lafe Fowler, a witness for the defendant, testified that he had been employed as a janitor in the Superintendent’s Building for nine years; that he had known the defendant eight years; that defendant came to Fowler’s room in the.Superintendent’s Building at about 5:30 or 5:35 o’clock on the evening the killing occurred; that Fowler was shining his own shoes when defendant came in, and after some common place talk, during which time Fowler was preparing, by changing his clothes, to quit work for the day, they left the building together at about 6 o’clock. As they went down the stairway they saw two men, a Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Daniels, employees of the railway company, standing engaged in conversation near the top of the stairway; that witness addressed them, saying, “Good evening, gentlemen,” to which they responded, “Good evening.” When witness and defendant went 'out of the Superintendent’s Building, they saw a man named Robert Benson, a clerk for the railway company, standing near the outside door on the steps, and an ambulance backed up to the curb before the building in which the shooting occurred and the body of a man being brought out and placed in 'the ambulance; witness said to Benson, “What’s up?” to which Benson replied, “I don’t know, Lafe.” Seeing a number of persons gathered around the ambulance, they went over there, when it was driven away and the crowd begun to disperse. Just at this juncture, witness says he asked Eugene LaRue, who was standing near by and was an accountant for the railway company, “what was going on.” LaRue’s answer is not shown by the record. Witness further says that just as he and the defendant were starting away, he saw Frank Wall, another railway clerk, who said to them, “What are you doing and where are you going?” to which witness replied, “We’re going down west, down St. Louis avenue;” that Wall walked a short distance with them, engaged in conversation in regard to the shooting, and that witness and defendant then went down to the eating house of Mrs. Bell, where the witness took his meals, and Wall went towards Liberty street. That the witness ate his supper at Mrs. Bell’s, and the defendant waited for him, after which they went to Kansas Oity, Kansas, where both resided; that witness was with defendant continuously from the time they met in the Superintendent’s Building at 5:30 p. m. until they parted for the night at Kansas City, Kansas.

Richard Beeson, a clerk of the railway company, says that on the evening of the shooting, sometime after five o’clock, Lafe Fowler shined his, Beeson’s shoes, in the latter’s office in the Superintendent’s Building.

Robert Benson, another clerk who was employed in the Superintendent’s Building, says that on the evening of the shooting at about six o’clock he saw Lafe Fowler and another negro man come 'out of the Superintendent’s Building where Lafe was employed; that when they came out an ambulance had been driven up before the building in which Underwood was shot. Witness positively recognizes Fowler as one of the men he saw, but says he paid no particular attention to the other.

Eugene LaRue, a railway accountant, saw Lafe Fowler and another negro man in front of the Superintendent’s Building just as Underwood was being-brought out to the ambulance but that he did not know who the man with Fowler was.

Frank Wall, chief railway clerk for the railway company, saw Lafe Fowler and another negro man a short time after Underwood’s body had been brought out and placed in the ambulance. The two were walking along, going north. Witness walked with them some distance and among other things asked them which way they were going. They said, ‘ ‘ towards the State line.” Witness left them, going westwardly.. The man with Fowler was the defendant, whom witness now sees in the court room.

Earl M. Daniels, an employee of the railway company, states that on December 1, 1911, at about six o’clock the evening of the shooting, he and another clerk named Hubbard were engaged in conversation at the head or top of the stairs in the Superintendent’s Building, when Lafe Fowler and another negro man passed them, going out. As they passed, Fowler said, “Good night,” which was his usual manner when leaving the building for the day. Witness does not know who the other man was.

W. W. Cooke, a former chief of police of Kansas City, Kansas, testified that the defendant’s reputation as a peaceable, law-abiding man was good.

John J. Dillon, a police officer of Kansas City, Missouri, testified that defendant’s reputation far general morality was bad and that at the time of his arrest defendant said, “I know what you are picking me up for — that Missouri Pacific stick-up.”

Assigments. The errors assigned by defendant for a reversal of the judgment are: . 1st. That the court permitted the State to prove by witnesses Pulhamus and Brown that they had repeatedly made statements outside of court' similar to their testimony under oath.

2d. That the, instruction on alibi was confusing, misleading and ambiguous.

3d. That the prosecuting attorney was permitted in his closing argument to the jury to-state “that Fowler [defendant’s principal witness] deserves to be in the prisoner’s dock with the defendant.”

I. The first ground of error urged by defendant is in regard to the admissibility of the testimony of fkfe^cou °.Ut' the witnesses Pulhamus and Brown on hehalf of the State in answer to questions propounded to them by the prosecuting attorney ks to former statements made by them.

On cross-examination the witness Pulhamus was asked:

“Q. How many times have you talked this matter over with Mr. Boultt? A. I cannot say how many times. Q. A number of times? 'A. A number of times, yes, sir. Q. Also with Captain Stone and Raf-tery? A. Yes, sir.”

On re-examination by the prosecuting attorney the witness was asked: “Q. Mr. Pulhamus, just one question. Counsel asked you if you had talked this matter over with Mr. Boultt and with officers Raftery and Stone, and yon answered, yes, sir. A. Yes, sir. Q. Yon also talked that matter over several times with me? A. Yes, sir. Q. Iíave yon at any time to any of these gentlemen to me or to anybody else, given any statement of the facts in this matter within your knowledge other than yon have stated here to this, jury?

“Mr. Orr (connsel for defendant): We object to that as argnmentative and a cross-examination of his own witness.

‘ ‘ The Court: In view of your examination I will overrule the objection.

“Exception.

“Q, Have yon at any time in yonr conversation with Mr. Bonltt or with Captain Stone or Mr. Raf-tery, or myself, or anybody else, stated facts about this tragedy and what yon saw and observed other than yon have stated to this jury? A. Do yon mean any statement? Q. Have you made any different statement, stated any different from what yon stated 'to this jury? A. No, sir.”

The cross-examination of the witness Brown and his re-examination by the prosecuting attorney was practically the same as that of Pulhamus, to which like objection and exception were saved.

As a general rule, testimony that a witness has, on other occasions made statements similar to what he has testified to in the ease, is not admissible. .It is only where.it is evident that the witness is endeavoring to misrepresent the facts by reasons of his relation to the party or the cause that it is proper to show he has made similar statements before that relation existed. [State v. Taylor, 134 Mo. l. c. 155.]

It is only where a witness is assailed on the ground that he has stated the facts differently on former occasions that he may be asked to give the circumstances under which the statements were made, it being ordinarily incompetent for him to corroborate his own testimony by showing that on other occasions his statements were in harmony with those made on the trial. [Whar. Orim. Evid. (9 Ed.), sec. 492.]

The only question asked the witnesses on cross-examination was whether they had talked over the matter with certain parties named, and the inquiry was carried no further. This did not authorize the prosecuting attorney on re-examination to ask them if they had ever made any other than similar statements to those made on the trial. “It was bolstering up his statement in court by proof of a like statement out of court; and it was therefore open to all the objections to which hearsay evidence is usually.subject.” [Brown v. People, 17 Mich. l. c. 435.]

While the admission of this testimony was technical error, in view of the particular facts in this case, namely, that Pulhamus and Brown had been fully corroborated by several other witnesses as to their testimony in regard to the killing and their identification, of the defendant at the scene of the tragedy, reversible error was not committed in the admission of the testimony complained of because the defendant was not thereby injured, and we rule this point against the defendant.

II. The instruction on alibi complained of by the defendant is in the following language:

‘‘ The court instructs the jury that if there is any evidence before you that raises in your minds a reasonable Alibi doubt as to the presence of the defendant at the time and place where the crime is charged to have been committed (if you find a crime was committed) you will acquit the defendant.”

An instruction in these same words has been approved in State v. Davis, 186 Mo. l. c. 539, in which G-aNtt, J., speaking for the court, says: “This instruction was approved in State v. Adair, 160 Mo. 391, and while in State v. McGinnis, 158 Mo. 123, a different form was indicated as proper, it was not rnled that tlie same principle might not be expressed in fewer words or in different form.” In a later case this court has approved an instruction on alibi in tbe following words: “Unless you find and believe from all tbe facts and circumstances given in evidence tbe presence of defendant at tbe place of tbe alleged murder, and bis guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, you should acquit him.” [State v. Shelton, 223 Mo. 118, l. c. 137.]

Tbe principle to be deduced from tbe foregoing cases and many others is that tbe purpose of an instruction in regard to an alibi where that defense is interposed, is that tbe jury may be told in plain terms that, if upon a full consideration of all tbe evidence in tbe cause, they entertain a reasonable doubt of tbe presence of tbe defendant at tbe time and place of tbe alleged commission of tbe offense, they should acquit him.

Tbe instruction complained of does this in an unmistakable manner and we rule this point against tbe defendant.

III. Defendant complains of certain remarks of tbe prosecuting attorney in tbe opening and closing arguments to tbe jury. tc>rjury."* Tbe remarks in tbe opening argument are not urged in defendant’s brief, but are properly preserved in tbe record and should be considered.

Tbe remarks in tbe opening argument were: “Gentlemen of tbe jury, this is a murder for money.” And in saying later, in tbe same argument, in referring to tbe killing of Underwood: “It was for money. It was for blood money.” And in declaring in' bis closing argument, in a review of the testimony of Lafe Fowler, tbe principal witness for tbe defendant: “I tell you that that man Fowler deserves to be in tbe dock witb tbe defendant. I say it is in tbe evidence in tbis case.”

When tbe remark in tbe closing argument was made tbe following occurred:

Counsel for Defendant: “I suppose that all of tbis is objected to.”

Tbe Court: “Nothing objected to unless you object to it.”

Counsel for Defendant: “I object to tbe statement witb reference to Fowler. There is no evidence in tbis case to warrant it.”

Tbe Court: “Don’t argue it, you have argued tbe case once.”

Counsel for Defendant: “Is it overruled?”

Tbe Court: “You have argued your case once. Objection overruled.”-

Counsel for Defendant: “I beg your pardon. Exception. ’ ’

In regard to tbe remarks made in tbe opening argument tbe inference may be permissible that tbe killing was for money, no other motive- being shown, because it seems to have been generally known that tbe office where it occurred received money daily, and that it was frequently seen lying on tbe receiving clerk Underwood's desk, and that a number of bills was lying on tbis desk at tbe time of tbe killing.

Tbe remark of tbe counsel for tbe State in bis closing argument that tbe witness Fowler deserved to be in tbe dock witb tbe defendant, in tbe absence of any testimony to sustain it, and there was none, could not under tbe facts in tbis case have proved otherwise than prejudicial, in tending to inflame tbe minds of tbe jury against Fowler and in causing them to give little or no credence to bis' testimony. Tbe defense was an alibi. Fowler was tbe only witness aside 'from tbe defendant himself who testified unequivocally to defendant’s presence elsewhere at tbe time of tbe tragedy. To discredit Fowler’s testimony was to practically destroy the defense; this cannot be done in the absence of testimony.

The language of the court in overruling counsel for defendant’s objection to the closing remark had a tendency to aggravate rather than lessen its prejudicial effect. Instead of ruling directly upon the objection, the court said: “Don’t argue it, you have argued the case once;” and upon inquiry by counsel for the defense as to the ruling,-said.further: “You have argued your case once. Objection overruled.” This language reasonably construed, impliedly sanctioned the correctness of the remark objected to, when such remark was without foundation in the evidence.

It is difficult to formulate a general rule defining the limit to which prosecuting attorneys may go in their arguments to juries, and analogous cases afford little aid in this regard. The extent of the prejudice aroused in the minds of the jury by such remarks must, therefore, be measured by the facts in each particular case. Applying this test to the case at bar, we are of the opinion that the remark of the prosecuting attorney in his closing argument was of such a nature as to inflame the minds of the jury to the extent that they could not render a fair and impartial verdict under the evidence, and we.rule this point in defendant’s favor.

Entertaining these views, the judgment of the trial court should be reversed and the cause remanded, and it is so ordered. Brown, P. J., and Paris, J., concur.