State v. Hoffman

78 Mo. 256

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: April 15, 1883
• Status: Published

Opinions

Henry, J.

Defendant was indicted for an assault with. intent to kill Orson 33. Miller, and on a trial of tire cause, at the March term, 1882, of the Stoddard circuit court, was found guilty and his punishment assessed at ten years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary.

1. mbally-weafoks: pleading, criminal. Erom the jxidgment he has appealed to this court, and-contends that the indictment is defective because it is not alleged- therein that the pistol “ loaded with p0W-<jer and leaden balls,” with which the shooting is charged to have been done, is a deadly weapon. Where the indictment alleges that the accused shot at, or stabbed another, it is not necessary to allege that the gun or pistol, “ loaded with powder and leaden balls,” or knife or dagger, with which the shooting or stabbing was done, is a deadly weapon. Such instruments are recognized by the statute as deadly, and it is only when the assault is made with other instruments, that it is necessary to allege their deadly character. State v. Greenhalgh, 24 Mo. 373.

2. assault TO kill: evidence. Orson 33. Miller was permitted to testify that he had arrested one Galloway, and that the defendant, while Gallowes in custody, said to Galloway in response to a remark “ let’s go,” made by Miller to Galloway, “You need not go unless you want to that after Miller procured a horse for Galloway, defendant asked permission to speak to Galloway, and, after he had done so, defendant left them, but afterward went into a house where Miller and Galloway were, and asked,, “ What is the matter,” to which Galloway replied: “Oss has my pistol and won’t give it up.” Defendant then said:

“ That is my pistol; lay it down where you got it.” Miller-said : “ I took this pistol from Galloway and did not get it from the stable, but, if it is yours, I will give it to you when Galloway gets started, but will not lay it down.” Miller and Galloway then started to leave the house, when defendant said: “ That is my pistol, and I am going to have it,” and thereupon drew his pistol and fired at Miller, the ball taking effect in his side. He fired a second shot which struck Miller in the head.

The testimony in relation to the arrest of Galloway, and to what was said by defendant prior to the shooting, is objected to as irrelevant. It was a detailed account of the circumstances connected directly with the assault, showing its character, and was competent.

3_._ o-wér to make arrests, Whether Miller was an officer authorized to make an arrest, is wholly immaterial. Defendant was not indicted for resisting an officer in the discharge of his ¿hity, nor was he the party arrested. If Miller had been shot by Galloway, or the defendant had been charged with resisting Miller, as an officer, in the discharge of his duty, the question of his authority to arrest Gallo'way would be material. This is also an answer to the objection to the testimony of Norrid, who stated that on the day of the shooting, Miller told him he had Galloway under arrest. The fact that he had Galloway in his custody was not controverted, and this evidence could not possibly have prejudiced defendant.

4. nowxmm attokney’s bejiabks. Defendant also complains that the prosecuting attorney stated to the jury in his argument that: “ When defendant saw the struggle between Galloway a:a¿[ Miller, he came to the prisoner’s rescue.” The facts in evidence formed a very good foundation for such an argument. Certainly it was not such a distortion of the evidence as would justify a reversal of the judgment.

The prosecuting attorney also stated in his closing argument to the jury: “ That after defendant had fired the shot that felled Miller to the floor, he jumped out of the back door and fled, leaving Miller weltering in his gore.” Defendant’s counsel insists that this was a gratuitous statement, unsupported by any evidence in the cause. Norrid testified that defendant “fired on Miller, and, as Miller turned, he fired again, and Miller fell from the shot, and Hoffman ran out of the south door into the field.”

5. right oj? accused TO BE PRESENT IN court. The remaining point made by counsel is, that defendant was not present when the court passed upon his motion for a new trial, althormh his counsel requested 7 A that he be brought into court to be present at the hearing of said motion.

The 22nd section of the. Bill of Rights declares that: “ In criminal prosecutions the aooused shall have the right to appear and defend in person and by counsel.” If the record only failed to show the presence of the defendant when his motion for new trial was heard and determined, the cases cited by the State’s counsel would be in point; but this record shows, not only that he was absent at the argument and final action of the court on the motion, but that the court refused his request, made by his counsel, that he might be present. In the State v. Underwood, 57 Mo. 40, the accused was present at the final argument and determination of his motion, and the complaint was, that there had previously been a brief discussion of the points made by his motion for a new trial in his absence. In the State v. Brown, 63 Mo. 438, the record did not show the presence of defendant at the hearing of his motion, but no such request as was made in the case at bar was made by Brown, and the court based its opinion upon the provision of the statute: “ That no person indicted for a felony can be tried unless he is personally present at the trial,” holding: “ That the motion for a new trial concedes that a trial of the issues has taken place, * * and is not such a proceeding as is contemplated by the statute or embraced within its terms.” The question here presented is a very different question from that which arose in Broion’s case. The accused demanded his right, under the constitution, to be present, not at the trial in the technical narrow sense of the statute, as construed in the Brown case, for the constitution has no such restricted meaning, but to appear and defend throughout the proceeding against him, which is pending in the trial court until the determination of the cause 'by the rendition of a judgment. If the court could refuse to permit the accused to be present, with equal propriety it could exclude his counsel. The constitution does not declare that either may appear, hut “ that the accused shall have the right to appear and defend iu person, and hy counsel.” He has the right to be there to make suggestions to his counsel, or, if he desire, to argue the motion to the court. It is a constitutional right, hut if neither guaranteed hy constitution nor hy statute so reasonable a request as that of a prisoner on trial for his life or liberty, to he present at any important stop in his cause, should he granted.

The judgment is reversed and the cause' remanded.

Norton and Sherwood, JJ., dissent.