State v. Burton

198 S.W.2d 19, 355 Mo. 792, 1946 Mo. LEXIS 507
Supreme Court of Missouri·Decided December 9, 1946·No. No. 39787.·Published·Cited by 38 cases

Opinion

DOUGLAS, J.

Albert Burton was convicted of statutory rape and sentenced to a term of twenty-five years. Early one Saturday morning the prosecutrix, a fourteen-year-old girl, accompanied her father to Poplar Bluff where he worked, from their home seven miles away. She first visited her grandmother. She was walking along Main Street eating a candy bar when Burton picked her up about 11:30 A. m. He took her to a hotel where he registered her as his wife and then took her to a room which they occupied until 4:30 p. m. the following afternoon. The girl testified Burton had intercourse with her four times. Their presence together'in the hotel room was testified to by the chambermaid.

The girl’s father who had notified the police of her absence and had been searching the town for her Saturday night and Sunday, found her as she and Burton were leaving the hotel on Sunday afternoon. He took her directly to the police station and the police went to the hotel and arrested Burton. Then he took his daughter to a doctor at the hospital where she was examined and found,tp have had sexual *795 intercourse. When Burton was arrested he told the police he had taken the girl to the hotel but was too drunk .to have anything to do with her.

The girl testified she did not leave the hotel room from the time Burton took her there shortly before noon on Saturday until the following Sunday afternoon. A druggist testified Burton and the girl were together in his drug store about five o’clock Saturday afternoon. Other witnesses testified to seeing them walking about the streets together on Sunday.

The girl’s testimony about being taken to the hotel by Burton and occupying a room with him and having intercourse with him is not, contradicted. In some respects it is corroborated. Only her testimony about remaining there constantly and not being able to leave during the entire time is disputed. Since force is not an element of the crime of statutory rape her story is contradicted as to a collateral matter only. Her relation of the facts necessary to prove the crime are convincing and free from doubt. She convinced the jury.

A number of cases have held that in statutory rape particularly a prima facie case can be made on the uncorroborated testimony of the prosecutrix. State v. Thomas, 351 Mo. 804, 174 S. W. (2d) 337. And in rape cases generally the rule is .that corroboration is not essential to prove the act of sexual intercourse unless the testimony of the prosecutrix is contradictory and in ’ conflict with physical facts, surrounding circumstances, and common experience so as to be so unconvincing and improbable that it is extremely doubtful. State v. King, 342 Mo. 975, 119 S. W. (2d) 277; State v. Roddy (Mo.), 171 S. W. (2d) 713; State v. Burton, 355 Mo. 467, 196 S. W. (2d) 621.

Burton complains about the refusal of his “if false in one, false in all” instruction, although the court gave an instruction on the credibility of witnesses which contained no such clause. Discussing such an instruction as the one refused, this court in State v. Caviness, 326 Mo. 992, 33 S. W. (2d) 940 held the trial court had discretion whether to give or refuse it and quoted with approval: “But, though it may not be error to give an instruction of this character in a particular case, it does not follow that it would be reversible error to refuse such an instruction. The trend of judicial authority in this state is to the effect that the propriety of giving an instruction of this character is a matter resting to a -very great extent in the sound discretion of the trial court, and that the action of the trial court iq the matter will not be disturbed unless there is a manifest abuse of such discretion to the prejudice of the appellant. ’ ’ And see the extended discussion in State v. Willard, 346 Mo. 773, 142 S. W. (2d) 1046. In the instant case we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing the instruction.

*796 Testimony of the girl’s father and mother that when she returned her eyes were swollen, she appeared dazed and had fever was properly admitted. “Evidence of the physical and mental condition and demeanor of the prosecutrix after the alleged offense is admissible.” 52 C. J. Rape, sec. 97. State v. Stackhouse, 242 Mo. 444, 146 S. W. 1151; State v. Sanford, 124 Mo. 484, 27 S. W. 1099.

The jury retired to consider their verdict shortly after four o’clock in the afternoon. When they were brought back to the court room an hour later to prepare to go to dinner they had already agreed on Burton’s guilt, but not on the degree of punishment. After their dinner they resumed deliberations until 10:05 p. m. when they were brought back to the court room. They announced they were still in disagreement about the punishment. Then on their own accord they returned to the court room about 10:30 p. m., advised the court of their continued disagreement about the punishment, and requested further instruction. The court gave them the instruction which follows together with 'a third form of verdict by which the jury could return a verdict of guilty without assessing the punishment.

Instruction 9 : “ Gentlemen of the jury you have informed the court that you have been able to agree upon the guilt of the defendant Albert Burton but that you have been unable to agree upon his punishment. You have deliberated in this cause for a period of abmit five hours and eight minutes and your number still stands the same.

“You are instructed by the court that under the laws of this State the jury, after hearing the evidence and the instructions of the Court may retire and shall decide upon the guilt or innocence of the defendant and if the defendant is found guilty assess his punishment in accordance with the instructions of the court. That under the law devolves upon you under your oaths as jurors. If however, after due deliberation, you have been able to agree upon the guilt of the defendant but are unable to agree upon the punishment to be fixed in this cause, you may return into this court a verdict which so states and in. that event the court may assess the punishment.

“The court herein does not assume to tell the jury what verdict to return because you are the sole judges of the facts in this cause. It is the duty of the court to guide you however in matters of law and there has been prepared for you a third form of verdict. You shall return to your jury room for further deliberation.

“The court admonishes you that as jurors in this cause you are permitted to return any of the three verdicts prepared, namely, “Not guilty”, “Guilty and assess the punishment” and “Guilty and unable to agree upon the punishment”, if all twelve, of you can agree, or if all twelve cannot agree upon any verdict you may so inform the court. If all twelve of you have agreed however, only the foreman need sign the verdict which you have agreed upon”

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State v. Burton, 198 S.W.2d 19, 355 Mo. 792, 1946 Mo. LEXIS 507 (Mo. 1946).

198 S.W.2d 19 (State v. Burton) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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