State v. Kneedy

3 N.W.2d 611, 232 Iowa 21

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 12, 1942
• Docket: No. 45649.
• Status: Published

Opinions

Garfield, J.

— Appellant, Herbert Kneedy, was indicted for assault with intent to murder one Cook. Upon the trial the court withdrew from the jury the crime charged in the indictment but submitted the included offenses of assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury and assault and battery. The jury found Kneedy guilty of assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury, on the theory that he aided and abetted Claude Van, who struck the blow. In a separate trial, Yan was convicted of the same offense and his conviction has been upheld by us. State v. Van, 232 Iowa 34, 2 N. W. 2d 748.

At the close of the State’s testimony, appellant moved for a directed verdict because of insufficient evidence. The motion was overruled and was not renewed, although appellant offered evidence in his behalf. Following the verdict, appellant moved for a new trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict. This motion was overruled- and judgment entered on the verdict. The overruling of the motion to direct is not before us. That motion was waived because not renewed and the case is before us as if no such motion had been made. Appellant cannot be heard to say. that there was no evidence to submit to the jury. State v. Asbury, 172 Iowa 606, 615, 616, 154 N. W. 915, Ann. Cas. 1918A, 856; State v. Bosworth, 170 Iowa 329, 331, 152 N. W. 581; Annotation 17 A. L. R. 910, 925, and citations. Nevertheless, the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict is properly reviewable because raised in the motion for new trial. State v. Tibbits, 207 Iowa 1033, 1035, 222 N. W. 423; State v. Dolson, 188 Iowa 629, 630, 176 N. W. 678; State v. Chambers, 179 Iowa 436, 440, 161 N. W. 470. This is the only question before us on this appeal. No other complaint is made.

On the afternoon and evening of January 4, 1941, Yan and Kneedy were in Fitzgerald’s pool hall and beer parlor in Webster City. Shortly before midnight, closing time, Yan, Kneedy, and one Johnson, who was playing pool with Yan, engaged in a heated argument in which loud talk and profanity were used. The argument started when Johnson discovered that five pool balls with which he and Yan had been playing were in Kneedy’s pocket. Yan had placed them there. Johnson accused Kneedy of assisting Yan to cheat in the pool game, which Kneedy testified was played for money. Fitzgerald and his employee, Powell, asked Yan and Kneedy more than once to leave. They both defiantly refused to go. Thereupon Fitzgerald took Kneedy by the collar and pushed him out the front door. Kneedy admitted as a witness that he resisted by pushing back. Powell, with some assistance from Cook, put Van out.

As Yan was being put out, and when within 3 or 4 feet of Kneedy, he turned to Powell and Cook and threatened to get even with them. As soon as Yan and Kneedy were outside, Fitzgerald held the door shut with his foot to prevent them from re-entering. There is evidence that Cook assisted in holding the door shut. It was a double door with large glass panels. Kneedy immediately began pushing the door open and succeeded in opening it a sufficient distance for Yan to reach in and strike Cook, who fell to the floor unconscious. The blow was struck instantly as the door was opened. After Cook was struck, Fitzgerald and Powell went out the door. Both Van and Kneedy “came at” Fitzgerald with their fists doubled up, swinging at him. Kneedy had his fists drawn back ready to hit Powell, but Fitzgerald' prevented this.

Since this appeal presents only the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict, we quote the following excerpts from the record. Fitzgerald, proprietor of the poolroom, testified:

“I was in the pool hall on the night of January 4, 1941. Kneedy and Van had been in there all day in the afternoon and evening, and were there when I came back' from supper. My closing time is twelve o ’clock and I saw them at that time. They got into an argument about twelve o ’clock. * # * I told them to get out. Kneedy said, ‘We don’t have to get out.’ We then put them out. # * * After Yan and Kneedy were put out the front door, I held it shut with my foot. Kneedy pushed it open. I saw this through the glass in the door. Kneedy was directly opposite me with his hands on the glass. Cook was standing about where the two front doors divide. * * * As Kneedy pushed it open, Van hit Cook through the door and Cook fell to the floor. Just as soon as the door was opened Cook was struck. I then stepped outside and both Van and Kneedy came at me with their fists doubled up, swinging at me. * * Mr. ICneedy was doing his part of it. Mr. Kneedy was standing there with his fists drawn bade ready to hit Mr. Powell and I hit Mr. Kneedy then.” •(Italics supplied.)

MeCollough, a National Guardsman who had lived in Webster City all his life, witnessed the affair. He testified:

“Van and Kneedy were both swearing. I heard Fitzgerald tell them they would have to get out * * * and then Powell told them they would have to get out. Kneedy replied, ‘We don’t have to get out.’ Fitzgerald then came back and told them to get out and they still insisted they didn’t have to do so. Fitzgerald then grabbed Kneedy and started for the door with him, and Powell grabbed Van and started with him toward the door. Powell and Van were three or four feet behind Kneedy and Fitzgerald. While Van was being put out he turned his head to the right, and said he would get even with them for throwing him out. * * * his head was turned toward both Cook and Powell. * * * Cook was struck immediately after the door was opened. After the blow was struck I went outside and saw Kneedy standing with his back to the west window and with his fists drawn cmd raised. * * % When Powell went out Kneedy and Van had their fists dra/wn ready to- strike. * * * Kneedy gave no help to Cook and did not come back to see what was wrong. * * * Officer Weedman took Van down the street, and told me to come along because he wanted me to file the information against them. Kneedy and Powell came along behind. Kneedy called me back several times to tell me to keep out of it, and that I had better not go along. He said it would mean trouble for me,.and he asked me if I didn’t think Cook got what he had coming to him and he said he would like to have got those other two guys also ■[i.e. Powell and Fitzgerald]. * * * Kneedy offered no resistance when he was taken out other than to hold his weight back so as to be forced.” (Italics supplied.)

Waggoner, a soldier in tbe Army, also was an eyewitness. He testified:

“Kneedy was being forced out, and didn’t want to go but I didn’t hear him say anything'. The only thing I heard Van say was something about he would get even for being put out. After Kneedy and Van were put out and the door was closed they tried to get back in. * * * Cook was struck immediately after the door was pushed open.”

Powell, the employee who escorted Van to the door, gave the following testimony:

“They were talking loud and using profane language * * * we asked them to go. * # * Kneedy said they didn’t have to go. Van said the same thing. * * * Fitzgerald, Cook and I forced them out. * * * Van said, ‘I will get even with you for this.’ * * * After the door was opened, the blow was immediately struck. * * * I heard Calkins say to Van and Kneedy, ‘You about killed a man. You had better stay and wait till the law comes.’ They didn’t say anything but just began walking'away. Neither Van nor Kneedy stopped to see how badly Cook was hit.”

Lee C. Groves gave the following incriminating testimony:

“I saw Kneedy in the Little Chicago Cafe about 1:00 or 1:30 Sunday morning, January 5, 1941. Kneedy came back to the counter where I was drinking coffee and said to me, ‘We gave Glen Oook what he had coming tonight.’ ” (Italics supplied.)

Appellant’s witness Briggs testified: “At the last game of pool, Kneedy and Van were drinking quite a little.” Kneedy admitted as a witness he had been drinking.

Sam Calkins testified:

“I seen Mr. Kneedy out in the street and Mr. Van had walked down beyond him, and I hollered ‘Boys, don’t run because this man in here is hurt pretty bad and you had better not try to run away,’ and then I went back in the pool hall. Neither Kneedy nor Van came back when I hollered at them.”

Appellant gave the following testimony before the grand jury:

“We were put outside the door and the door w.as shut and I was resentful about being forcibly put out and wanted to get back in so I put my hands on the door that opens and whether or not the pressure of my hands on the door opened the door or whether it was opened from the inside, I do not know, but when the door was opened Claude Van reached in and hit Cook and Cook fell to the floor.” (Italics supplied.)

At the trial, appellant testified:

“I was resentful at the way I had been treated. Nobody touched me but Fitzgerald and I was resentful toward him.”

Principal witness for appellant, aside from himself, was Briggs, whose home was in Dubuque. Van’s home was in Waterloo and Kneedy lived in Webster City. Van and Briggs had come to Webster City together on January 4th. Briggs testified that he and Kneedy associated “a considerable amount of time. He rides around with me in my car once in awhile.” Kneedy testified:

“Van, Briggs and myself had been together several times during the month prior to January 4. I was. in Algona with Van.”

Briggs gave an entirely different version of the attack on Cook than any other witness, including appellant himself. Briggs testified that Powell put Kneedy out and Fitzgerald merely gave some assistance. Briggs also said:

“Cook, just before he closed the door, took a swing with his right hand at Kneedy and said, ‘Now stay out there you crooked sons of b-s.’ Just at that time somebody hit Cook. He fell back and I cordd have picked him up in my hand.”

Details of the injury to Cook from the blow need not be considered. Suffice to say that the blow knocked Cook prone on the marble floor, causing a wound on the back of his head which bled profusely. He was unconscious, for 35 minutes plus the time it took to transport him from the poolroom to his home. Different Avitnesses say he néver appeared the same again. He died 24 days later. The cause of his death was a streptococcic throat infection. Cook’s family physician, Dr. M. B. Galloway, said the injury from the blow could not have caused the throat infection but might have been a contributing factor in his death if it Ioav-ered his resistance.

Some of the above testimony is disputed. Much of it is not denied. In determining the issue before us it is necessary to refer only to the testimony which tends to support the verdict. It is neither our duty nor privilege to decide disputed fact questions. That is the function of the jury whose conclusion is binding upon us unless we are satisfied it is without substantial support in the evidence. State v. Graff, 228 Iowa 159, 174, 175, 290 N. W. 97; State v. Crandall, 227 Iowa 311, 318, 288 N. W. 85; State v. Brown, 130 Iowa 57, 65, 106 N. W. 379.

In overruling the motion to direct made at the close of the State’s testimony, the trial judge, who also presided over the trial of Yan, stated:

“The testimony shows that this defendant Avas not a mere passing bystander who happened to come along. It shows that he was a participant in the brawl from -the very inception, and Avhen the blow was struck he opened the door so that the principal, the man, Yan, * * * could strike Glen Cook, as he did strike him. I haven’t any difficulty whatever in holding under this evidence that the jury has a right to find that he was an accessory, and under our statute the equivalent of a principal in that assault. * * * Now, I think * * * the evidence is very persuasive as far as we have gone in this case. * * * I don’t believe Mr. Yan intended to kill Cook; but they both did intend to beat him up, I think * * * and they beat him up good and plenty; ® * ' *. I see no reason'why the question shouldn’t go to the jury as to whether or not this man was a participant and an accessory, an accomplice, a co-conspirator, and a confederate, in that attack upon Mr. Cook. ’ ’

Section 12895, Code, 1939, makes guilty as principals “all persons concerned in tbe commission of a public offense, whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense, or aid and abet its commission, though not present. ” It is true that one who aids and abets must do so knowingly. State v. Miner, 213 Iowa 193, 195, 238 N. W. 594; State v. McCarty, 210 Iowa 173, 177, 230 N. W. 379; 14 Am. Jur. 842, section 111. The term “abet” includes knowledge of wrongful purpose. 1 C. J. S. 306; 22 C. J. S. 158, 159, section 88b; 1 Words and Phrases (Permanent Edition) 73.

In 14 Am. Jur. 830, section 91, it is said:

“ It is sufficient to render a person guilty of aiding and abetting in a crime, such as felonious assault, if he entertains the felonious and malicious intent himself or if he aids and abets the assault with knowledge that the perpetrator thereof is actuated by such an intent. ’ ’

To the same effect, see 22 C. J. S. 154, 157, section 87a; Annotation 16 A. L. R. 1045, 1046, and citations.

There can be little doubt of the sufficiency of the evidence to show that appellant aided Van in assaulting Cook. By opening the door, he enabled Van to strike the blow. The jury could properly find that the crime could not have been committed without appellant’s assistance. We think the evidence sufficient also to support the finding that appellant acted with the requisite intent or knowledge of such intent on the part of Van.

We have repeatedly held that knowledge or intent is seldom capable of direct proof. It is usually inferred from the proven surrounding circumstances. State v. Van, 232 Iowa 34, 2 N. W. 2d 748, 749, and citations. Participation in criminal intent may be inferred from presence, companionship, and conduct before and after the offense is committed. 22 C. J. S. 158, 161, section 88b; State v. King, 198 Iowa 325, 337, 197 N. W. 981; State v. Brown, 130 Iowa 57, 62, 64, 106 N. W. 379. A common purpose among two or more persons to commit a crime need not be shown by positive evidence but may be inferred from the circumstances surrounding the act and from defendant’s conduct subsequent thereto. 22 C. J. S. 155, 156, section 87a; State v. Carlson, 203 Iowa 90, 93, 212 N. W. 312.

The jury could have found that Yan and Kneedy were close friends and that each regarded the other’s presence as an encouragement and protection; that while they were being ejected Kneedy heard Yan threaten to get even with Cook and Powell. Kneedy told the grand jury he resented being put out and wanted to get back in. But it was closing time, as Kneedy well knew.' They had no legitimate purpose in re-entering and unlawfully sought to force their way back in. It is a reasonable inference that they had a common purpose to carry out Yan’s threat to get even with Cook and Powell. The doors to the pool hall contained large glass panels, and Kneedy and Yan could see the positions of' Cook, Powell, and Fitzgerald. It is significant that Van struck Cook instantly when Kneedy forced open the door a sufficient distance. It is reasonable to infer that the door was opened to permit Yan to strike the blow. This was the conclusion of the trial court.

What happened immediately after Cook was knocked unconscious throws much light on appellant’s participation in the attack on Cook. Both Yan and Kneedy “came at” Fitzgerald with their fists doubled up, swinging. “Mr. Kneedy was standing there with his fists drawn back ready to hit Mr. Powell.” Mc-Collough saw Kneedy right after Cook was struck “with his fists drawn and raised.” McCollough also testified that both Yan and Kneedy had their fists drawn, ready to strike Powell. The common purpose of Kneedy and Van to assault Cook is shown by their joint attempt within a few moments to strike both Fitzgerald and Powell.

If appellant was a mere innocent bystander, it is somewhat strange he showed no interest in the extent of Cook’s injury. Why did he ask McCollough to agree that Cook got “what he had coming to him ’ ’ ? Appellant’s statement to McCollough that “he wquld like to have got those other two guys also,” is an incriminating admission.. If appellant was innocent, why did he threaten McCollough with trouble if this witness would not con ceal what he knew of the affair? Why did Kneedy boast to Groves, “We gave Cook what he had coming”?

There is another fundamental theory under which appellant might have been found guilty. Where two or more persons combine to accomplish an unlawful purpose, each is responsible for the act of another which is a probable consequence of carrying out the unlawful design even though the particular crime committed was not a part of that design. State v. McCahill, 72 Iowa 111, 117, 30 N. W. 553, 33 N. W. 599; State v. Munchrath, 78 Iowa 268, 278, 43 N. W. 211; State v. Pasnau, 118 Iowa 501, 504, 505, 92 N. W. 682; State v. Lyons, 202 Iowa 1195, 1197, 211 N. W. 702; 14 Am. Jur. 825, section 83; 22 C. J. S. 155, 156, section 87a; 1 Wharton’s Criminal Law, 12th Ed., 343, 344, section 258; Annotation 16 A. L. R. 1043, 1047.

There is sufficient evidence from which the jury could have found that Yan and Kneedy combined to accomplish the unlawful purpose of forcing their way back into the pool hall which they had been ordered to leave and from which they had been ejected. Kneedy partially carried that purpose into effect by pushing open the door which was being held shut by the proprietor. The attack upon Cook, who had assisted in holding the door shut, was a natural and probable consequence of attempting to carry out the unlawful purpose of forcing their entrance into the building.

The judgment is — Affirmed.

Bliss, C. J., and S tiger, Sager, and Hale, JJ., concur. Mitchell, Oliver, Miller, and WeNNerstrum, JJ., dissent.