State v. Musick

101 Mo. 260

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: April 15, 1890
• Status: Published

Opinion

Sherwood, J.

Indicted under the provisions of. section 1262, Revised Statutes, 1879, for an assault with malice aforethought, the defendant on being tried was convicted, his punishment assessed at four years in' the penitentiary and judgment accordingly, hence his appeal.

The testimony for the state was substantially as follows: The defendant called at the store of P. R. Burnett, at Wolfe’s Point, in Moniteau county, Missouri, late in the evening of July 25, 1887, just as he (Burnett) was closing up, and inquired for the “blacksmith.” The blacksmith was A. J. Smith, the prosecuting witness and injured party, who was engaged in the business of blacksmithing at that place. Burnett told him he was over home, but he would be along pretty soon. Defendant said “he had been telling lies on Mm and lie had to take it back, or he would put a hole through him.” He walked behind the counter and commenced looking in the showcase, and by this time Smith stepped into the door. As soon as defendant saw him he said: “Old man, you have been telling lies on me, and have to take them back.” Smith said : “Louis” or “Bud, what’s the matter? Explain your self.” Defendant then pulled out his revolver, came out from behind the counter and advanced two or three steps toward Smith and shot him, the bullet taking effect in and breaking his right arm. Before defendant shot, Burnett who was standing between the two men, attempted to prevent defendant from shooting, but was compelled by the latter to stand aside. He then pointed the pistol at Smith’s breast and attempted to shoot, him again, but it snapped ; and when he could not make the pistol fire he commenced striking him over the head with it. Smith then seized him and pushed him ov¿r down behind the counter and held him until he promised he would let him alone if he would let him up. Smith let him up and went back to the house. There had been no previous difficulty between the parties, and nothing had been, or was, said or done by Smith to provoke the difficulty at the time.

The defendant testified in his own behalf that he was in the store at Wolfe’s Point and Smith came there. “ When he came in the store I said, 4 Look here, I understand you have been telling lies on me.’ He said, ‘Explain yourself, sir.’ I told him then that I understood he had been telling it around that I had told him that I had seduced a certain girl, I told him that was all a lie and I would like to get him to straighten it up. He run at me and said, 4 You little son of a bitch, I will break your neck.’ He run at me and I shot him.”

He further testified that Smith struck him on the right shoulder, bruising it considerably, and that this was about the time he shot him; that he aimed to shoot him about the shoulder, and that he shot without any intention of killing him ; did not attempt to shoot him a second time; and that he shot him because he was not able to stand up and fight him. It was also shown that defendant was physically weak; that one of his legs had so perished away that it was of little use; and that his reputation was excellent as a peaceable citizen.

At the instance of the state the court gave these instructions:

“1. If the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant Lewis Y. Musick, at the county of Moniteau, at any time within three years next before the finding of the indictment, feloniously, on purpose and of his malice aforethought, did shoot at Andrew J. Smith, with intent to kill the said Smith, the jury will find the defendant guilty and assess the punishment at imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than two years and not exceeding ten years. ■

“2. The court instructs the jury that the words on purpose as used in these instructions mean intentionally, not accidentally. The word malice as used in the indictment does not mean in the legal sense mere spite or ill-will or dislike as it is originally understood, but it means condition of mind which prompts one person to take the life of another without just cause or justification, and signifies that state of disposition which show's a heart regardless of social duty and fatally bent on mischief. Aforethought means thought of beforehand for any length of time, however short.

“3. If the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant shot at A. J. Smith, and aimed to shoot him in a vital part, the law presumes that he intended to kill him.

“4. The jury are instructed that they are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and of the weight to be given to their evidence, and in this connection the jury are instructed that the defendant is a competent witness in Ms own behalf, but, in determining the weight to be given to his evidence, the jury may take into consideration the fact that he is the party on trial and the interest he has in the result of the cause.

“5. If the jury have a reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt, they should acquit him, but a doubt to authorize an acquittal should be substantial doubt touching defendant’s guilt, and not a mere possibility of his innocence.”

On behalf of the defendant the court gave the following instructions:

“1. The jury are instructed that a probability of defendant’s.guilt as charged in the indictment is not sufficient to warrant a conviction, nor is it sufficient that the greater weight or preponderance of the evidence supports the allegations of the indictment; nor is it sufficient that, upon the doctrine of chance, it is more probable that the defendant is guilty ; to warrant a conviction of the defendant he must be proved to be guilty so clearly and conclusively that there is no reasonable theory upon which he can be innocent when all the evidence in the case is considered together.

“2. The jury are instructed that to constitute the right of defense the actual striking of a blow is not necessary, nor is it necessary that the assailant be in striking distance.

“3. If the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant Lewis Y. Musick apprehended a design on the part of Andrew Smith to commit a felony on him, or to do some great personal injury, and that there was a reasonable cause to apprehend immediate danger of such design being carried out, and that he shot Smith to prevent the accomplishment of such design, then the shooting is justified upon the ground of self-defense, and you should acquit. It is not necessary to this defense that the danger should have been real and actual, or that the danger should have been impending and immediately about to fall; if you believe that the defendant had reasonable cause to believe these facts and he shot under such circumstances, as he believed, to prevent such expected harm, then you should acquit.”

There was written on the margin of said instruction the following, to-wit: “ Gfiven because not objected to.”

“4. The court instructs the jury that, although they may believe from the evidence that the facts and circumstances proved and relied on to establish defendant’s guilt are in doubt, or that the intent of the defendant to kill, as charged in the indictment, is in doubt, then, if the prisoner has by evidence satisfied you that he was a man of good character for peace and quietude of life up to the time of the alleged offense in this case, the presumption of law is that the alleged crime is so inconsistent with the former life of defendant that he could not have intended to commit such a crime, and it would be your duty to give the defendant the benefit of that presumption and acquit him.”

“6. The court instructs the jury that, although they may believe from the evidence that defendant shot at and wounded A. J. Smith in the right arm, yet if from the evidence they find the shooting consistent with any other intention than the intention of killing said Smith, then they should find the defendant not guilty.

“7. The court instructs the jury that in this case the law raises no presumption against the prisoner, but every presumption of law is in favor of his innocence, and in order to convict him of the crime alleged in the indictment, or of any lesser crime included in it, every material act necessary to constitute such crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt; upon any single fact or element necessary to constitute the crime, it is their duty to give the prisoner the benefit of such doubt and acquit him.”

The court refused the following instructions asked on behalf of the defendant as above referred to:

“8. The court instructs the jury that if they find that Lewis Y. Musick, the defendant, shot A. J. Smith with a view merely of disabling him, though the defendant made the first attac/c, they .may find him guilty of common assault, and assess his punishment at a fine of not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

“ 9. The court instructs the jury that the intent in this case is not one of inference of the law, but a question of fact to be proven to the satisfaction of the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, before they are justifiable in finding a verdict of guilty.”

I. When a deadly weapon is used.in making an assault upon a person, the law, in the absence of countervailing testimony or circumstances, will imply or presume malice as the concomitant of the act. So that law, in like circumstances, will presume a man intends the natural and probable consequences of his act.when he makes an assault with a deadly weapon by shooting at a man. And it is proper for the court, in developing the law of the case to the jury, to disclose to them the force and effect of such presumptions. This has been the constant course of practice in this state, and is affirmed by a multitude of our decisions. State v. Landgraf, 95 Mo. 97, and cases cited; State v. Tabor, 95 Mo. 585, and cases cited; State v. Wisdom, 84 Mo. 187; State v. Thomas, 78 Mo. 327. These authorities sanction the giving of the third instruction for the state as one eminently proper to give, and the evidence fully warranted it.

II. It is contended that an instruction should have been given looking to the conviction of defendant of a lower grade of offense than that charged in the indictment, but necessarily included therein. It is undoubtedly true that such an instruction is proper where the evidence justifies its giving. R. S. 1879, sec. 1655. Does the evidence in this case, considered as a whole, warrant the giving of such an instruction %

It will have been observed that the defendant went to the store armed with a revolver, and inquired for the “ blacksmithOn being told that Smith, the person referred to, was over home, but would be.along, pretty soon, the defendant said Smith “ had been telling lies on him, and he had to take it back, or he would put a hole through him?' He then went behind the counter and awaited Smith’s coming. When Smith came into the door, defendant said: ‘ ‘ Old man, you have been telling lies on me ; ” and, when Smith called upon him for an explanation of what he meant, defendant drew his revolver, cocked it and came from behind the counter, and compelled Burnett to stand aside when he tried to prevent the shooting.

These statements made by the state’s witnesses were not denied by defendant, and, therefore, stand admitted, as much so as if the defendant had admitted them in terms. His previous preparations ; his threats; his coming from behind the counter with weapon drawn and ready, as well as Burnett’s vain efforts to interpose, all stand admitted. In such circumstances, I do not believe a trial court should stultify itself' by giving an instruction of the nature mentioned. And in considering whether a defendant charged with doing a certain act did so with a criminal intent, his prior and accompanying acts are all to be considered, and the rule in civil cases as to the existence of a fraudulent intent may be invoked here. When speaking of the rule in relation to a fraudulent intent, Suthebland, J., in Babcock v. Bolder, said: “Intent or intention is an emotion or operation of the mind, and can usually be shown only by acts or declarations; and, as acts speak louder than words, if a party does an act which must defraud another, his declaring that he did not by the act intend to defraud is weighed down by the evidence of his own act.” 24 N. Y. 632, cited in Wait on Fraud. Con. [2 Ed.] sec. 796.

It is true, we have said that instructions should be given in accordance with the testimony of a defendant witness in a criminal case (State v. Banks, 73 Mo. 592; State v. Palmer, 88 Mo. 568), but we have never yet said so in such circumstances as the present case presents ; a case where the facts not denied, and, therefore, admitted, countervail and overthrow the feeble force of any testimony of the defendant as to his non-murderous intention in firing the shot. On the physical facts of this case, and the admitted facts of this case, no one can doubt that the defendant came from behind the counter not to repel but to make an attack; to carry out his previous threats; there is no other reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the premises in evidence. There was no error, therefore, in the refusal of the defendant’s eighth instruction, saying nothing of other faults which that instruction contains to the effect that one man can make the first attack on, and shoot, another ; break his arm with the intent of disabling him, and still be only guilty of a common assault.

III. As. to the third instruction given at the instance of the defendant in relation to self-defense, the remarks made in the preceding paragraph may be considered in this connection (State v. Anderson, 89 Mo. loc. cit. 332), and it may further be said that the state could not appeal from the giving of that instruction, and it was certainly most favorable to the defendant. This disposes of that instruction, as well as its marginal indorsement. •

IY. The other instructions given on behalf of the state are the customary instr actions and require no further comment; nor do the other very favorable instructions for the defendant require any further discussion.

V. Relative to the alleged absence of the defendant from the court room, while his counsel was examining Smith, one of the proposed panel, and substituting Wieneke in his place, it may be said: First. As to matters occurring in the court room, i. e., in the presence of the court, the only way matters of exception can be saved is by the bill of exceptions in the usual way, and not by ex parte affidavits as attempted in this instance. State v. Hayes, 81 Mo. 574. So that there is no legitimate evidence before us of the absence of the defendant.

Second. Besides, the record shows that the defendant was present when the jury were examined on their mir dire, and when the list of the panel qualified was delivered to his attorney.

VI. It appears that, about the close of the examination of Pauline Smith, Mr. Wood, the prosecuting attorney, called her attention to a note book which contained, it seems, her testimony at the preliminary examination, and asked: “Is that your signature?” and she answered “yes.” It does not appear that any further use was made of the book, whether to refresh the memory of the witness or otherwise; and it is not seen how the question asked and answered could have worked the defendant any hurt, but his counsel objected, and thereupon the court said: “ Very well, object and object; the supreme court will get its fill of your objections.” This remark is also assigned for error. It is impossible to see how this remark, somewhat petulant though it may have been, could have damaged the defendant’s cause. At all events, it does not constitute reversible error in a case as plain as this one.

VII. Contention is made that the prosecuting attorney in his closing speech was permitted, over the objections of defendant, to make remarks outside of the record. The remarks complained of are these: “ What position are we to be placed in if a person in any case must prove the intent of a man save by the actions of a man? How may we, now as a witness put upon the stand, dive down into the depths of a man’s heart and determine his intent save by the proof of his actions and his conduct? Gentlemen, that matter appears to be too plain, too simple, for any other discussion. The court tells you if he shot at him with a loaded pistol and aimed to hit him in a vital part the law presumes he intended to kill him. And if a man shoots at the body of a man he shoots at the bulk of a man, he has aimed at a vital part. Instead of waiting for Smith to reply he shoots him down. ' If you believe a man under those circumstances can -turn in and shoot a man. down who is in the transaction of his ordinary business, if that is the law of this country, then there is very little protection for us in this country.”

These remarks are clearly within the record and within the line of legitimate argument, and the threat of the court to fine the counsel for the defendant if again he interrupted the prosecuting attorney when speaking within proper bounds was only the performance of the plain duty of the court to preserve proper order and decorum in the conduct of the cause.

Till. One ground of the motion for new trial is newly-discovered evidence, but that motion does not comply with the rules laid down by this court in frequent instances, in that it is not supported by affidavit, and does not disclose any diligence, or any other of the six requisites mentioned in the following cases: State v. McLaughlin, 27 Mo. 111 ; State v. Ray, 53 Mo. 345 ; State v. Fritterer, 65 Mo. 422 ; Cook v. Railroad, 56 Mo. 380 ; Snyder v. Burnham, 77 Mo. 52.

IX. There was no error in refusing to permit the defendant to introduce testimony to show that after the shooting he had surrendered himself to the sheriff. Such self-serving acts or declarations are wholly inadmissible and irrelevant to the issue joined.

X. Another ground urged for reversal is that all of the instructions were not given to the jury when they retired ; but this contention is not supported by the evidence, which shows that the jurors were kept in the court room one night when considering of their verdict, and that if any instruction was subsequently found on the table in that room it must have been accidentally left by the jurors. But there is no proof of its having been thus found, by affidavit or otherwise, and the mere recital in the motion to that effect possesses no probative value. State v. McDaniel, 94 Mo. 301. And, at any rate, the seventh instruction given for defendant even had it been missing could not have prejudiced him.

XI. Lastly, it is insisted that error was committed by the trial court in refusing defendant permission to file a supplemental motion for new trial, within the statutory four days, but if, as already seen, no error had been committed in the previous rulings of the court, it is not readily seen how any subsequent action of the court relative to such supplemental motion, could have prejudiced the defendant.

We affirm the judgment.

All concur.