State v. McCluer

5 Nev. 132

• Court: Nevada Supreme Court
• Decided: April 15, 1869
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court,

Lewis, C. J. :

The Court below in submitting this case to the jury, charged them in reference to the degree of proof on the part of the State necessary to a conviction, and on that of defendant tó an acquittal, in this manner: “ If however you should be satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant did, on or about the twenty-ninth day of July last, in Lander County, voluntarily, that is intentionally, kill John H. Walker, the law raises the presumption that the killing was malicious, and consequently that it is murder ; and unless the same proof that establishes the killing sufficiently manifest that the crime committed only amounts to manslaughter, or that the accused was justifiable or excused in committing the homicide, the burden of proving circumstances of mitigation, or that justify or excuse it, devolve upon the defendant. This burden being cast upon the defendant, it is not sufficient for him, to raise a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury whether or not such circumstances exist, but it is necessary for him to establish to your satisfaction by preponderating proof that there are circumstances to mitigate, justify, or excuse the homicide.”

What is to be understood by the latter clause of this charge ? Clearly, that if the evidence on the part of the State whereby the killing is established did not also develope circumstances sufficient to reduce the crime to manslaughter or to acquit entirely, then the jury might convict of murder, unless the defendant proved by a preponderance of evidence, that is, as we understand it, evidence outweighing that of the State, that he was not guilty of that crime, and that it was not sufficient for him to raise a reasonable doubt in their minds as to whether he was so guilty or not. This, it seems to us, is the fair interpretation of this instruction. The expression “ that it is not sufficient for the defendant to raise a reasonable doubt as to whether, there were circumstances to justify the homicide,” or not, certainly means, that if upon a consideration .of the evidence, both for and against the defendant, that for him is only sufficient to make it reasonably doubtful whether he has established his innocence or not, the jury must convict. If it be claimed that the intention was simply to instruct the jury that the evidence on the part of the defendant taken entirely by itself in nowise considered with respect to the case made out by the State against him — that is, talcing the affirmative facts or circumstances upon which the defendant relies for his defense, as if the proof by the State had not in’ the least disproved them, then the defendant’s evidence is not sufficient if it only raise a reasonable doubt as to whether they exist or not; we answer that such is not the purport of the instruction, nor is.it at all probable the jury so understood it. It appears jdainly to instruct the jury that the State having made out its case and so thrown the defendant upon his defense, his evidence must do more than raise a reasonable doubt whether he was guilty or not, for if there be a reasonable doubt whether he has established the facts constituting the defense, of course the same doubt exists as to whether he be guilty on the whole evidence or not. Such is the impression which the language of the instruction is likely to convey, and it is hardly possible to presume that the jury did not so understand it. So interpreted, the instruction clearly to our mind misstates the law. It is a wise and humane rule of criminal jurisprudence recognized wherever the common law has made its way, and reaffirmed by our statute law, that in criminal prosecutions the guilt of 'the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But how can this instruction be harmonized with this rule ? Gan it be said if the jury have a reasonable doubt whether the defendant was justifiable or not, or whether there were circumstances sufficient to reduce the crime to manslaughter, that they are satisfied of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. How is it possible to have a reasonable doubt whether a certain fact exists or not, and still be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that it does exist ? Now if the jury in this case had a reasonable doubt whether there were circumstances sufficient to reduce the crime of which the defendant is accused to manslaughter, how could they be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty of murder ? These two states of mind are as incompatible as light and darkness, or doubt and absolute certainty upon the same proposition.

If all reasonable doubts must be resolved in favor of the defendant, what is the difference whether these doubts be raised by the evidence for the State or the defendant ? There certainly can be none: the letter as well as the spirit of the law makes it incumbent upon the prosecution to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The statute, it is true, declares that when the homicide is proven by the State, and no circumstances of mitigation, excuse, or justification are shown, the burden of establishing such mitigation, excuse, or justification devolves upon the defendant; but nothing is said about the degree of proof necessary to be adduced by him to maintain his defense. He is not required to establish the facts constituting his defense beyond a reasonable doubt, (People v. McCann, 16 N. Y. 58; People v. Coffman, 24 Cal. 230); nor by evidence preponderating over that produced against him by the State: but only to raise such doubt in the mind of the jury that they cannot-be satisfied of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. An instruction, substantially like this, was after a very thorough consideration held erroneous by this Court in the case of The State v. Waterman, (1 Nev. 543). It was said in that case, that perhaps the same rule would not apply in cases of homicide ; however, we can see no reason why it should not, nor why the reasoning in that case should not apply here. The conclusion attained in that case, and the views here expressed, are fully borne out by many very respectable authorities: ( The State v. Bartlett, 43 N. Hamp. 224; Hopps v. The People, 31 Ill. 385; French v. The State, 12 Ind. 670; Hall v. The State, 8 Ind. 439; Commonwealth v. McKie, 1 Gray, 61.) This portion of the instruction is therefore erroneous. Nor do we think the defendant is required to establish his defense to the satisfaction of the jury by preponderating proof, if by it is to be understood proof outweighing that on the part of the prosecution. Such is certainly the idea which the instruction naturally conveys. By preponderating evidence, as usually used, is meant evidence outweighing the evidence opposed. The jury in this case must have understood from this portion of the instruction that they could not acquit, unless the proof introduced by the defendant to establish mitigating circumstances outweighed the proof of a deliberate purpose to kill, and the presumption of malice resulting therefrom as made out by the' State. Such is not the correct rule of evidence. What has already been said will apply with equal force to this last portion of the instruction — for if it be sufficient that the defendant’s evidence raise a reasonable doubt of his guilt, or rather if it be such that his guilt is not established beyond a reasonable doubt, he must be acquitted — he is certainly not required to prove his defense by preponderating evidence. Upon principle, surely,' he cannot be. Nor are we without authority to support these views, as will be seen by an examination of the cases last referred to. In The State v. Bartlett the question here considered was very ably discussed, and the proposition embodied in this instruction very clearly shown not to be the correct rule' of law. In Hopps v. The People, which was a prosecution for murder — the defense being that of insanity — the lower Court charged the jury, that if the act was proven to their satisfaction by the weight and preponderance of evidence, to have been one of insanity only, the prisoner was entitled to an acquittal, though the defense be not proved beyond all reasonable doubt. This charge, which is certainly more favorable to the prisoner than that in this case, was held incorrect — the majority of the Court holding, that the defendant was not required to establish his defense by preponderating evidence. So in Hall v. The State, the jury were instructed thus: “ If the property stolen, or a portion of it, was found in the possession of the defendant in a short time after 'the larceny was perpetrated, it would be your duty to find the defendant guilty, unless he satisfies you, from the evidence, that he came by the horse honestly.” Upon this the Appellate Court say: “ This instruction, as a general p2’oposition, was incorrect. The Court should have told the jury that ‘they might’ instead of that ‘they should’ find the defendant guilty.. See a correct instruction on this point, in Engleman v. The State, (2 Ind, 91) — except as to the modification we now append to the second branch of the one under consideration, which is that the defendant was not bound to satisfy the jury that he came honestly by the possession of the property alleged to be stolen; but only to go so far as to raise a reasonable doubt whether he had not so came by it — -for in criminal cases the jury must acquit upon a reasonable doubt.” French v. The State was a prosecution for murder. Upon the trial the jury were instructed, that “evidence which tends to establish the defendant’s guilt, also tends in an equal degree to prove that he was present at tbe time and place when and where the deed was committed. And if he seeks to prove an alibi, he must do it by evidence which outweighs that given for the State, tending to fix his presence at the time and place of the crime.” Of this the Appellate Court say: “ This instruction is not in accordance with the general rule of law, as applied either in civil or criminal cases — for in the former the defendant is not bound to produce evidence which outweighs that of the plaintiff. If he produces evidence that exactly balances it so as to leave no preponderance, he defeats the suit against him.”

And in criminal cases the rule is, that if the defendant produces evidence which raises a reasonable doubt of the truth of the charge against him, he must he acquitted.' And this doubt may arise upon the whole of the evidence in the case. “ Neither a mere preponderance of evidence, nor any weight of preponderant evidence,- is sufficient to convict, unless it generate full belief of the fact of guilt to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt.

There are dicta, and some decided cases admittedly opposed to these views, however we think them fully supported both by principle and the weight of authority. But, so far as this case is concerned, we might admit that the rule as laid down in Commonwealth v. York, (9 Met. 93) which is referred to as a leading case in opposition to our opinion without changing the conclusion here arrived at, for, it will be seen, the rule of that case is strictly limited to those cases where the killing is proven by the prosecution to have been committed by the defendant, and nothing further is shown. (Commonwealth v. Hawkins, 3 Gray, 463.) But it is conceded by the same Court, that in a ease where any evidence whatever is developed by the prosecution tending to mitigate, excuse, or justify the killing, or in any wise to establish a defense, the doctrine of York’s case has no application. Such was the holding in The Commonwealth v. McKie, (1 Gray, 61) a decision, it appears to us, directly supporting the views we have expressed, when applied to a case like this, where the facts and circumstances constituting the defense were developed by the prosecution. In that case Mc-Kie was indicted for an assault and battery on one Eaton with a dangerous weapon. The evidence on the part of the Commonwealth tended to show that the defendant struck Eaton with a dangerous weapon in the manner charged in the indictment; and also that Eaton had spit in the face of the defendant immediately before the striking. The defense was justification, because of the insult offered him. The Appellate Court, although expressly stating that the evidence for the defendant constituted no justification, and saying that the jury should have been instructed that the defendant had not established 'his defense, and that he was liable to be convicted of the offense charged against him, yet reversed the case because the Court below refuséd to charge them “ that if on all the evidence they were satisfied of the beating, but were left in reasonable doubt whether the beating was justifiable, they should acquit the prisoner.” In delivering the opinion of the Court, Judge Bigelow says: “ But further, the rule of the burden of proof cannot be made to depend upon the order of proof, or upon the particular mode in which the evidence in the case is introduced. It can make no difference, in this respect, whether the evidence comes from one party or the other. In the case supposed, if it is left in doubt, on the whole evidence, whether the act was the result of accident or design, then the criminal charge is left in doubt. Suppose a case where all the testimony comes from the side of the prosecution. The defendant has a right to say that upon the proof, so introduced, no case is made against him, because there is left in doubt one of the essential elements of the offense charged, namely, the wrongful, unjustifiable, and unlawful intent. The same rule must apply where the evidence comes from both sides, but relates solely to the original transaction constituting the alleged criminal act, and forming part of the res gestee.

“ Even in the case of homicide, where a stricter rule has been held as to the burden of proof than in other criminal cases, upon peculiar reasons applicable to that offense alone, it is conceded that the burden is not shifted by proof of a voluntary killing, where there is excuse or justification apparent on the proof offered in support of the prosecution, or arising.out of the circumstances attend-ng 'the homicide.” (Commonwealth v. York, 9 Met. 116; Commonwealth v. Webster, 5 Cush. 305.)

All the circumstances of the killing were shown by the evidence on the part of the prosecution in this case; hence it was error to charge the jury that it was incumbent on the defendant to satisfy them by a preponderance of evidence of the existence of the facts constituting his defense. He had the right to claim the benefit of any reasonable doubt upon a consideration of all the evidence.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered.