State v. Hagerman

47 Iowa 151
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedOctober 20, 1877
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 47 Iowa 151 (State v. Hagerman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Hagerman, 47 Iowa 151 (iowa 1877).

Opinion

Seevers, J.

l. criminad law: rape: degi-ee oi force, The following instruction was asked by the defendant and refused by the court: “The jury must be satisfied, not only that the prisoner intended to gratify . . . , , t . , his passions on the person ot the prosecutrix, but that he intended to do so at all events, notwithstanding any resistance on her part; and if the jury does not so find from the evidence they should acquit.” The evident meaning of this instruction is that before there could be a verdict of guilty the jury must be satisfied “ the prisoner intended to gratify his passions on the person of the prosecutrix, at all events, and notwithstanding any resistance on her part.” The State v. Cross, 12 Iowa, 66. The assault must have been made with the intent to commit a rape at all events, even if the prosecutrix exerted every effort in her power to prevent it. The instruction should have been given, and because it was refused there must be a reversal, unless such an instruction was substantially given in [152]*152the charge of the court. The only instruction given by the court, bearing on this question, is as follows: If the defendant intended merely, and only, at the time and place charged, to have sexual intercourse with the witness, Helena, if she would consent thereto without force, then he would not be guilty of an assault with intent to commit a rape, even though the testimony may show that the defendant is guilty of an assault or an assault and battery.” There is a material difference between this instruction and the one refused. The principle here recognized is that any degree of force, however gentle, is sufficient. We do not understand this to be the rule. But the assault must have been made with intent to commit a rape, notwithstanding all possible resistance that could be made. The intent must have been to perpetrate the Crime at all events, regardless of what the prosecutrix might or could do to prevent it.

_._. instvuetion. Other errors are assigned and discussed by counsel, but we discover no other prejudical error in the record. It is usual in cases of this character to give instructions embodying the thought of the first and second instructions asked and refused, and we see no objection to them. In fact, we regard the better rule to be in cases of this character to admonish the jury as to the difficulty of disproving a charge of this kind, and also as to the outcry made by the prosecutrix at the time. But we are not prepared to say that in view of the charge given there has been any prejudical error committed in this respect.

Eor the error in refusing the iourth instruction asked there must be a reversal.

Reversed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Baskin
220 N.W.2d 882 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1974)
State v. FILCHER
158 N.W.2d 631 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1968)
State v. Pilcher
158 N.W.2d 631 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1968)
State v. Ellison
144 P. 10 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1914)
State v. Snider
91 N.W. 762 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1902)
Dockery v. State
34 S.W. 281 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1896)
Stevens v. People
41 N.E. 856 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1895)
Porter v. State
26 S.W. 626 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1894)
Blannett v. State
4 Ohio Cir. Dec. 32 (Huron Circuit Court, 1894)
Blannett v. State
8 Ohio C.C. 313 (Ohio Circuit Courts, 1894)
Shields v. State
23 S.W. 893 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1893)
People v. Fleming
29 P. 647 (California Supreme Court, 1892)
Hollis v. State
27 Fla. 387 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1891)
Walton v. State
15 S.W. 646 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1890)
State v. Kendall
34 N.W. 843 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1887)
State v. Canada
27 N.W. 288 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1886)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
47 Iowa 151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hagerman-iowa-1877.