State v. Cron

236 N.E.2d 671, 14 Ohio App. 2d 76, 43 Ohio Op. 2d 201, 1967 Ohio App. LEXIS 344
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 26, 1967
Docket239
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 236 N.E.2d 671 (State v. Cron) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Cron, 236 N.E.2d 671, 14 Ohio App. 2d 76, 43 Ohio Op. 2d 201, 1967 Ohio App. LEXIS 344 (Ohio Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

Cray, J.

(Presiding.) This case is an appeal from a judgment of the Common Pleas Court of Jackson County wherein defendant was found guilty of a felony murder, and mercy was extended by the jury.

Defendant, feeling aggrieved by this judgment, appealed to this court on questions of law and assigned the following errors:

“1. That the defendant was deprived of his constitutional rights and his rights under the statutes of Ohio, particularly Revised Code Section 2935.14, prior to trial, by being denied facilities to communicate with an attorney at law of his choice, or a relative for the purpose of . obtaining counsel, and by being removed from the county of initial detention [Lawrence County] without being afforded the opportunity to confer with counsel.
“2. That the defendant was deprived of his rights under the Constitutions of the United States and of the state of Ohio by being detained and held for a period of five (5) days, without bond, and without being formally charged with any offense.
“3. That the defendant was deprived of his rights under the Constitutions of the United States and of the *78 state of Ohio in that he was held, prior to being formally charged, solely for the purpose of interrogation.
“4. That the trial court erred in failing to release the defendant upon his petition in habeas corpus.
“5. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling the defendant’s motion to quash the indictment in this case.
“6. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for dismissal, for the reason that the prosecuting attorney had failed to supply a bill of particulars seasonably requested.
“7. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for a continuance for time to inspect a bill of particulars tendered by the prosecuting attorney after trial of the cause had begun.
“8. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s challenge to the array.
“9. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s several motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and defendant’s alleged ‘confession,’ which was obtained illegally.
“10. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for a mistrial, based upon improper and highly prejudicial remarks made by said court upon the examination of a prospective Juror, to-wit: one James Stiffler.
“11. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for a mistrial, based upon the fact that the jury was allowed to view the defendant while he was bound in handcuffs.
“12. That the trial court committed an error of law in refusing defendant the opportunity to have the question of voluntariness of an alleged ‘confession’ determined in the presence of the jury.
“13. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling the defendant’s several motions to suppress the alleged ‘confession’ on the ground that it was involuntary.
“14. That the trial court committed errors of law *79 in admitting state’s exhibits consisting of nineteen color slides and one large black and white photograph, inasmuch as those exhibits were highly inflammatory and prejudicial in nature.
“15. That the trial court, in its general charge, committed grave errors of law in referring to the alleged ‘confession’ in relating to the jury that the ‘confession,’ if corroborated, and even though given involuntarily, would be entitled to weight.
“16. That the trial court committed an error of law in refusing to submit to the jury defendant’s requested special instruction on the law regarding ‘abandonment of purpose.’
“17. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for a dismissal made at the close of the state’s case.
“18. That the trial court committed an error of law in overruling defendant’s motion for a directed verdict at the close of all the evidence in the cause.
“19. For all other errors connected with the matters preliminary to trial and occurring at the trial itself to which defendant has objected, as will appear from the bill of exceptions.”

The record shows that the defendant, Alice Marie Evans and James Whitt met in Ironton, Ohio, and plotted the robbery of Henry Hall. They were looking for some ‘ ‘ easy money. ’ ’ Evans drove the three to the residence of Hall near Oak Hill in Jackson County, where the robbery murder was committed. Evans was related by marriage to Mrs. Hall and had been at the Hall home on previous occasions. Evans had purchased a tablet and pencil which defendant and Whitt were to use as ruses to gain entrance to the Hall home. Whitt and defendant posed as insurance agents.

Entry to the Hall home was gained by defendant and Whitt. Whitt and defendant committed robbery upon Hall. Hall was brutally beaten before and during the robbery and, while dying, was placed upon his bed, covered with lard and set afire. Whitt and defendant robbed him of $410, *80 plus watches, jewelry, a revolver and other articles. Evans was cruising in Cron’s car on the road in front of the house. She picked them up after the robbery and drove them to Ironton. On the way, the loot from the robbery was divided among the three participants.

Defendant claims the following prejudicial errors:.

“No. 1 is that his arrest was unlawful and therefore he should be set free.”

Dowell v. Maxwell, Warden, 174 Ohio St. 289, at page 290, says:

“ * * * Any defect or irregularity in either the arrest or preliminary examination does not affect the validity of the accused’s conviction, [citing cases] * #

This assignment of error is, therefore, not well taken.

Upon the same authority we hold that assignment of error No. 2 is not well taken.

In assignment of error No. 3, defendant claims his constitutional rights were violated. He was apprehended in Lawrence County and immediately handed over to the Jackson County authorities. He complains of his treatment in jail in Jackson. While it wasn’t a plush establishment by any means, there was no abuse of defendant in any way. See assignment of error No. 13 for an analysis of the facts surrounding his arrest and incarceration.

His interrogation by the police lasted about 2% hours. He talked willingly to the police and offered to give additional information if anything further occurred to him.

Defendant further claims that his constitutional rights were violated in that the rules enunciated in Escobedo v. Illinois,

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Related

State v. Gingell
455 N.E.2d 1066 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1982)
State v. Mabry
449 N.E.2d 16 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1982)
State v. Payne
280 S.E.2d 72 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1981)
State v. Wilson
384 N.E.2d 1300 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1978)
State v. Fugate
303 N.E.2d 313 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
236 N.E.2d 671, 14 Ohio App. 2d 76, 43 Ohio Op. 2d 201, 1967 Ohio App. LEXIS 344, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-cron-ohioctapp-1967.