State v. Panetta

101 S.E. 360, 85 W. Va. 212, 1919 W. Va. LEXIS 131

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: November 25, 1919
• Status: Published

Opinion

Williams, Judge :

Teresa Panetta was indicted for the murder of one James Areno, tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to an indeterminate confinement in the jienitentiary of not less than one nor more than five years, and she brings error.

The homicide occurred about seven o’clock on the morning of the 2nd of April, 1918, after defendant’s husband had gone to bis work. Sbe is tbe only eye witness to tbe tragedy, and swears deceased entered ber bouse by tbe front door by means of a key, just after sbe bad gotten out of bed and started down stairs. Sbe says Areno made an indecent proposal to ber, and was coming up the stairs and caught bold of ber to assault ber; that she pushed him back and told him to go out of tbe bouse, but that be refused to go and kept on coming up tbe steps toward her; that sbe ran up' tbe stairs to ber bed room, tbe door of which opened right at tbe bead of tbe stairs, got her husband’s revolver off tbe top of tbe dresser, just inside tbe door, and again told him to go, but be kept advancing toward ber sidewise, with bis right arm over bis forehead, and sbe immediately fired two shots at him; that be then turned and went down stairs, and sbe followed him, to open tbe door and let him out through the kitchen; that be took bold of ber again and sbe again shot him. and he fell on tbe kitchen floor and expired in a few minutes. In about ten minutes afterwards, sbe says sbe went to where ber husband was working, told him sbe bad killed deceased, then went to tbe police station and surrendered herself to the officer. Sbe says deceased bad a bey to tbe door, which enabled him. to get in tbe bouse, but does not know where be got it; that be bad previously boarded with ber and ber husband, but that about five months before the killing they bad turned him away. Sbe admits sbe shot and killed deceased, but claims sbe did so to protect herself from a felonious assault which be was attempting to commit upon ber.

Dr. Z. T. Kalbaugh and Lee Hutqhinson, an assistant undertaker, both of whom saw tbe body about an hour after tbe homicide, testify that there were three bullet wounds on tbe body. Dr. Kahlbaugh says, “One a slight abrasion on tbe left arm; one entered below tbe right shoulder blade and tbe other down tbe back further.” Either of tbe two wounds in tbe body, be says, was fatal. Hutchinson corroborates tbe doctor, as to tbe number and location of tbe wounds.

Tbe first error assigned is, that tbe witness Hutchinson, over defendant’s objection, was permitted to point out tbe bullet boles in tbe coat and explain to tbe jury which of them corresponded to certain bullet wounds on tbe body. Tbe instrument with which a homicide is committed and the articles of clothing worn by the deceased, showing marks of violence, are parts of the res gestae and admissible in evidence. This witness examined the body after it was stripped, and also saw it with the coat on, and identified the coat as the one worn by deceased at the time of the homicide. He was, therefore, competent to identify the bullet holes in the coat with the bullet wounds on the body. State v. Welch, 36 W. Va. 690, and State v. Henry, 51 W. Va. 283.

Defendant is an Italian, unfamiliar with the English language, and had to testify through an interpreter. She was asked this question by her counsel: “I want you to tell this jury why you shot James Areno?” .The court sustained an objection to the question, and refused to permit her to answer it. It was shown that, if permitted to answer, she would have said she shot him to prevent him from assaulting her in her home, and that she believed it was necessary to do so to protect herself. The question was then put in this form: “You may state whether or not it was by reason of what had occurred there and about which you have just told the jury that caused you to shoot James Areno?” It was stated by counsel that she would have answered “yes”, if permitted to answer. She was then asked the following question: “Tell the jury what James .reno in your belief came there for?” Counsel stated, if she jre permitted to answer, she would say she believed James reno was about to commit an assault upon her and outrage her arson. The court sustained objections to all these questions and refused to permit witness to answer any one of them. It' was prejudicial to defendant, we think, not to permit her to answer at least the first of said questions. Her mental attitude toward deceased, at the instant she shot him, was material to her defense. The circumstances detailed by her may have been sufficient to satisfy the jury that she had reasonable grounds to believe that deceased intended to commit a felonious assault upon her, but that alone would not justify the killing, she must not only'have had reasonable ground for such belief but she must also have' actually believed that the killing was necessary to prevent it, and that depended upon her state of mind, as to which she was competent to speak. In a murder trial, where one of the issues is self-defense, the accused should be permitted to testify concerning his belief and feelings as to the conduct of the deceased at the time the fatal shot was fired or blow was struck. State v. Alderson, 74 W. Va. 732. In State v. Evans, 33 W. Va. 418, this court held: “Since the passage of our statute permitting the prisoner to testify in his own behalf, he is a competent witness in a case of homicide to testify to the state of his own feelings when the fatal act was committed, his testimony to be taken for what the jury may think it worth.”

It is true that, a little later, while she was still being examined by her counsel, defendant was asked this question: “At the time you shot James Areno were you afraid that James Areno was going to do you harm?” To this she answered, “yes”. But this is not the equivalent of the other questions and answers which the court ruled out, it does not necessarily mean that she was in immediate fear of great .bodily harm, or that she believed deceased was bent on committing a rape upon her person immediately, and fired the shot because she thought it was necessary to protect her person. The refusal to allow the questions and answers thereto to be given, doubtless prejudiced the jury against the defense set up by the prisoner, as her mental attitude is a part of the very essence of her defense.

The court properly refused to permit C. E. Dornon chief of police to testify that defendant’s husband had complained to him, two or three weeks before the homicide, that deceased was coming to his home and annoying him, and asked him if he could not keep him away. We fail to see the relevancy of this testimony, and in addition to its apparent irrelevancy it is hearsay.

Dr. Kalbaugh testified, on cross-examination, that at the time he examined the body he also examined the privates of deceased, and discovered semen on his clothing and exuding from his penis, and that this condition indicated sexual excitement, and on redirect examination, the attorney for the state sought to elicit an admission that he might have been mistaken, that the fluid which he discovered might have been pus, and not semen. But he insisted it was semen, and explained the difference in appearance between the two fluids, and said he saw no direct evidence that deceased had gonorrhea. The state was then permitted to prove by O. E. Dornon, who was present when the Doctor made the examination, that he heard him say “That thing is rotten,” referring to the penis of deceased. This testimony related to a collateral matter and was admitted over the objection of defendant. It was not material whether deceased had gonorrhea at the time he was killed or not. Because it is shown that if he had that disease, it would no.t have prevented sexual excitement or the discharge of semen. It was pertinent for the defense to prove the presence of seminal fluid, as evidence of the sexual excitement of deceased at the time ho was killed. This was corroborative of defendant’s testimony respecting the attempt of deceased to commit a rape upon her. While the state’s redirect examination, or cross-examination of the doctor, whichever is the proper designation of it, may have been proper for the purpose of showing that he might have been mistaken as to the presence of seminal fluid, still after he answered, the state was bound by his answer and could not contradict him. The doctor was not asked regarding this in his examination in chief, but this matter was brought out by the defense on his cross-examination, and for that purpose he might be regarded as a witness for the defense. “If the statements be collateral to the case and be drawn out on cross-examination and not in chief, the party drawing them out is bound by the answer and can not introduce evidence to contradict it.” State v. Goodwin, 32 W. Va. 177. The test of whether a fact inquired of on cross-examination is collateral is this, would the cross-examining party be entitled 'to prove it in support of his case ? 1 Wharton on Evidence, Sec. 559; State v. Goodwin, supra; and State v. Sheppard, 49 W. Va., opinion page 601. It is unnecessary to say whether this error is cause for reversal, but clearly the contradictory evidence of Dornon should not have been admitted.

The giving of the State’s instructions Eos. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and each of them, is also assigned as error. These instructions are lengthy as well as familiar in cases of homicide, and it is unnecessary to burden this opinion with a quotation of them. Eo. 13 simply told the jury the different kinds of verdict they might render under the indictment, if they were of opinion that the evidence' warranted it, beginning with murder in the second degree and going on down the scale, including the verdict of not guilty, but omitting assault and battery. This was not error. State v. Clifford, 59 W. Va. 1. That it does not tell the jury they must believe from the evidence, beyond all reasonable doubt, that defendant is guilty before they can find her guilty of any offense is not material, it does not deal with the law of evidence, but is only for the purpose of enlightening the jury as to the various kinds of verdict that it was in their power to render under the indictment. Defendant’s instruction No. 1 correctly informed the jury on the question of reasonable doubt. Moreover, defendant’s counsel in their brief admit that defendant was either “guilty of murder in the first or second degree, or she was not guilty at all.”

Instruction No. 14 is as follows: “The Court instructs the iury that where a homicide is proven by the use of a deadly weapon, and the plea of self-defense is relied upon, the burden of proving such defense rests upon the prisoner, and to avail her, the facts and circumstances showing such defense must be established by a preponderance of the evidence.” An instruction in this exact language was approved in State v. Hatfield, 48 W. Va. 561, and it is applicable to the proven and admitted facts in this case. Defendant admits killing deceased by shooting him with a revolver, and her plea is self-defense. The law places upon her the burden of proving her defense, and she is entitled to the benefit of the state’s evidenc as well as her own in establishing it. State v. Gravely, 66 W. Va. 375; State v. Waldron, 71 W. Va. 1, opinion page 11. The instruction does not deny defendant the benefit of the state’s evidence that may be favorable to her. It is sufficient if such preponderance in her favor appears from all the testimony and circumstances in the case. State v. Mann, 48 W. Va. 480, and State v. Donahue, 79 W. Va. 260.

Instructions Nos. 15, 17, and 18 are on the subject of malice, and, in effect, told the jury it was necessary that malice should exist in order to convict one of murder, but that, if the accused shot and killed deceased, the intent, malice, willfulness and deliberation may be inferred from the act, and that malice need not exist against any particular person, but may be such as shows a heart regardless of duty and fatally bent on mischief nor was it essential that malice should have existed for any length of time before the killing, but is sufficient if it springinto the mind the very instant the accused did the killing. These instructions were proper. State v. Douglas, 28 W. Va. 297; and State v. Welch, 36 W. Va., opinion pages 697-8.

It is insisted that instruction Nos. 19, 20 and 21 should not have been given, because it is claimed there is no evidence to support them. These instructions define voluntary manslaughter, and there is no complaint that they do not state the law correctly. Defendant’s own testimony respecting the cause and manner of the homicide is enough to justify the jury in believing that there was an altercation and heat of passion caused by such provocation. This assignment is also overruled.

The refusal to give defendant’s instructions Nos. 2, 7, 8, and 10 is also assigned as error. The court was justified in refusing all of these instructions, except No. 10, because the points are covered by others given, which are more appropriate to the case as shown by the evidence. Defendant’s No. 10 was properly refused because it does not correctly state the law. It reads as follows:

“The Court instructs the jury that the defense interposed by the prisoner in this case is that of self-defense and that if, upon consideration of all the evidence, they believe that the defendant has made out such defense, they should find a verdict of not guilty; and the jury is further instructed that if^ upon consideration of all the evidence, they are not fully satisfied that self-defense has been established but have a reasonable doubt that the plea of self-defense is made out, it is their duty to acquit the defendant.”

The last half of the instruction, beginning at the semicolon, does not state the rule of evidence correctly in regard to proving self-defense. Where a homicide is intentionally committed, as in this case, and the defendant seeks to justify it, it is his duty to prove it to the satisfaction of the jury, or it must appear to their satisfaction from all the facts and circumstances in the case; and if the jury are not satisfied that such defense is established by a preponderance of all the evidence, they are not justified in acquitting the prisoner. The killing with a deadly weapon being admitted by defendant, the burden of proving justification shifted to her, and the rule of reasonable doubt, has no application tí) that issue. Tbe admission rebuts tbe presumption of innocence wbicb is tbe basis of tbe rule requiring sufficient evidence to satisfy tbe jury beyond all reasonable doubt of guilt. 2 Bishop New Crim. Proc., Sec. 1095; 3 Bishop New Crim, Proc., Sec. 599; 13 B,. C. L. 908; State v. Abbott, 8 W. Va. 741, 763-6; State v. Jones, 20 W. Va. 764; and State v. Dillard, 59 W. Va. 197.

Tbe court permitted tbe jury, over tbe objection of defendant, to take tbe coat worn by deceased at tbe time be was killed to tbe jury room, and tbis is assigned as error. It bas always been permissible to exbibit to tbe jury, on a trial for homicide, tbe weapons used and any of tbe apparel of tbe slayer or tbe deceased showing blood stains or other marks of violence, to be inspected by them. Deceased’s coat was exhibited to tbe jury and tbe witness who identified it pointed out tbe bullet holes in it. It appears to have been tbe practice at common law for tbe trial court, within bis sound discretion, to allow such articles, as well as written documents under seal used in evidence, to be taken by tbe jury to their room. Hopkins v. State, 9 Okla. Crim. 104, 36 Anno. Cases, (1915B), and extensive notes beginning on page 742; 16 C. J. 1083; 2 Bishop New Crim. Proc., (2nd ed.), Sec. 982a; Hocbeimer on Crimes and Crim. Proc., Sec. 250; and 12 Ency. Pl. & Pr., 589. Tbe modern rule, respecting tbe kind of written documents that have been introduced as evidence that may-be allowed to go to tbe jury room, is not uniform. See 2 Thompson on Trials, (2nd ed.), Secs. 2595-6-7; also discussion of the subject by Judge Brannon in State v. Stover, 64 W. Va., beginning at page 670.

Counsel for defendant argue that, inasmuch as we have bad a statute permitting papers read in evidence to be carried by tbe jury to their room when they retire to consider of their verdict, other articles are impliedly excluded. This is’a non-sequitur. Tbis statute originated in Virginia at an early day, and was adopted by West Virginia at its formation. As first enacted it read as follows: “Papers read in evidence, though not under seal, may be carried from tbe bar by tbe jury.” Tbe clause, “though not under seal,” indicates that the purpose of tbe statute “was to include such papers as were not permissible to be taken to tbe jury room, under tbe common law practice, and has no relation to other articles of evidence, not in writing, as to which there was no necessity for a statute authorizing such use of them. As originally enacted it was held the statute did not include depositions, State v. Cain, 20 W. Va. 679 and Welch v. Franklin Ins. Co., 23 W. Va. 282, and opinion at page 309; and in 1882 the legislature of West Virginia amended it so as to include depositions.

It would be improper for the jury to experiment with an article which had been introduced in evidence out of the presence' of the accused, in a manner otherwise than had been shown in the trial, for such would be, in effect, taking evidence out of the presence of the accused. Note to Hopkins v. State, supra, at page 744, Anno. Cases; and 12 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 590. But it is impossible to conceive of any improper experimentation the jury could have made with the coat. It was a dumb witness that told but one story without variation. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion in permitting the coat to be carried to the jury room.

Having to remand the case for another trial on account of the error hereinbefore pointed out, it would be improper to enter upon a discussion of the assignment of error based on the want, or insufficiency of the evidence.

Reversed and remanded for new trial.