State v. Corner

237 N.W. 912, 58 S.D. 579, 1931 S.D. LEXIS 133
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 21, 1931
DocketFile No. 7234
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 237 N.W. 912 (State v. Corner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Corner, 237 N.W. 912, 58 S.D. 579, 1931 S.D. LEXIS 133 (S.D. 1931).

Opinion

WARREN, J.

Appeal by Harry Robinson from a conviction charging Corner, Worcester, and Robinson jointly with the crime of manufacturing intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty against two of the defendants, but found the appellant, Robinson, guilty of the charge. Upon a motion for new trial, the appellant submitted his affidavit alleging some of the occurences of the trial, among which are his talking to several jurymen as to how they stood before they were taken out to a midnight lunch. He then alleges that while the jury was in the restaurant, they overheard one Salmon, who had testified as a witness for defendants, talking in a loud manner, stating that the Todd county men were going to show that the Tripp •county men could not run their business. That Salmon’s statement caused considerable resentment among the jurors, and after the jury returned to the jury room, the statements that -Salmon had made were discussed, and that after the deliberation, a vote of the jury afterwards taken on defendant’s question of guilt, showed that a number more voted -for his conviction than on the previous ballot. The latter portion of appellant’s affidavit is as follows: “That finally one of the jurymen suggested that they make a compromise and acquit Frank Corner and convict this deponent. That after some -discussion on the matter they agreed upon settling the [581]*581verdict by such compromise and the juryment who were for acquittal for this deponent agreed to convict him if those who were voting for conviction for Frank Corner would vote for his acquittal and this agreement and compromise was carried out and a verdict rendered accordingly, convicting this deponent and acquitting the said Frank Corner. That the said jurymen this deponent talked to told this deponent that he was not convicted by the honest judgment and conviction of all of the said jurymen, but that those who were for his acquittal changed their votes in order to get the case settled and get released.”

Appellant’s affidavit is followed by one Emmert, a juror. He related the restaurant incident, but qualified his affidavit by saying: “He made some statements (referring to -Salmon) -which this deponent did not exactly hear himself, but later on, while said jury was consulting together on the case and before they reached a verdict, one of the other jurymen told this deponent that said Salmon had stated in the presence of the jury, etc.” The affidavit then related the substance of appellant’s affidavit. A portion of the juror’s affidavit is as follows: “That on the following morning, shortly before a verdict was rendered, someone of the jury made a proposition that they had been there a long time and couldn’t agree and they were about to ask the Court to call them in and advise the Court that they could not reach an agreement, when it was suggested that they make a compromise by acquitting Corner and convicting Robinson. That thereupon, after further consideration said compromise was made, and all of the jurors then voted for the acquittal of Frank Corner and voted for the conviction of Harry Robinson. That deponent does not remember exactly how the vote stood when the said compromise was made, but to his best recollection it stood about 7 for conviction and 5 for acquittal on the said Harry Robinson and the parties voting for acquittal changed their vote for conviction on account of said compromise and acquitted Frank Corner.” Three more jurors made affidavits in substance the same as the one immediately above. Four jurymen submitted affidavits in behalf of the state, a portion of which is as follows:

“Deponent further says that he did not -hear Mr. Salmon say anything, in reference to the case, which had been submitted to them as jurors.
[582]*582“Deponent further says that the fact that Mr. Salmon appeared at the said restaurant did not, in any manner effect this juror in passing upon the evidence of and in said case.
“Deponent further says that his opinion was based solely upon the evidence given from the stand, under the instruction of the Court, and that anything that passed in the restaurant did not, in the slightest 'degree, effect his verdict in this action.”

In State v. English, 41 S. D. 560, 172 N. W. 116, this court, construing misconduct of jurors and the attempt to impeach their verdict by their own affidavits, said: “This charge of misconduct was supported, on motion for new trial, by the affidavits of two jurors and of two other persons. The weight of authority supports the proposition that, in both civil and criminal cases, the testimony of jurors is not competent to impeach their verdict except that, in some states, as in this, it is allowed for the purpose of proving that a verdict was arrived at by a resort to chance. 12 Cyc. 749-75.1; 29 Cyc. 982. This is the established law of this state both in civil and criminal cases. Murphy v. Murphy, 1 S. D. 316, 47 N. W. 142, 9 L. R. A. 820; Thompson v. Gunderson, 10 S. D. 42, 71 N. W. 764; Long v. Collins, 12 S. D. 621, 82 N. W. 95; Ewing v. Lunn, 22 S. D. 95, 115 N. W. 527; Territory v. King, 6 Dak. 131, 50 N. W. 623; State v. Andre, 14 S. D. 215, 84 N. W. 783; State v. Kiefer, 16 S. D. 180, 91 N. W. 1117, 1 Ann. Cas. 268. We must presume that the trial court disregarded the affidavits of the two jurors.”

The defendant strenuously insists that the rule forbidding the jurors from impeaching their verdict does not include a showing made by the jurors of facts relating to misconduct which does not inhere in the verdict itself. At first blush, that would seem to be logical, 'but upon a more serious reflection and considering the authorities, we come to the conclusion that the juror’s affidavits can not be considered. However, it is argued that the verdict in this case was reached -by means other than a fair expression on the part of the jurors and therefore they may be heard to impeach it. The facts here presented do warrant a general inquiry into the meaning of the statutory phrase: “Or by any means other than a fair expression of opinion on the part of all of the jurors. * * * ” Section 4945, S. D. Rev. Code 1919. Any attempt in that direction would be mere speculation at this time. [583]*583The alleged misconduct of which appellant complains, falls within the provisions of this subdivision, but it cannot be shown by the jurors themselves. The law does not undertake to limit or control the arguments by which one juror may convince the mind of another. State v. Wakely, 43 Mont. 427, 117 P. 95, 96. “It is not for a juror to say what effect certain conduct may have had upon the verdict, because of the well-known principle that he cannot be heard to impeach the verdict; but the court must determine from* the facts stated what effect, if any, the alleged misconduct had upon the verdict. State v. Parker, 25 Wash. 405, 65 P. 776.” Marvin v. Yates, 26 Wash. 50, 66 P. 131, 134; Ralton v. Sherwood Logging Co. (decided July 17, 1909'), 54 Wash. 254, 103 P. 28.

In the well-considered case of Keith v. State, 7 Okl. Cr. 150, 123 P. 172, the Criminal Court of Appeals of Oklahoma, reaffirming what they had said in previous decisions, stated:

“It has been repeatedly decided by the unanimous opinions of this court that the affidavits of jurors cannot be received for the purpose of impeaching their verdict.
“In the case of Vanderburg v. State, 6 Okl. Cr. 486, 120 P.

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Bluebook (online)
237 N.W. 912, 58 S.D. 579, 1931 S.D. LEXIS 133, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-corner-sd-1931.