State v. Prince

167 S.W. 535, 258 Mo. 315, 1914 Mo. LEXIS 341

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: May 26, 1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

BROWN, J. —

From a conviction of the crime of murder in the first degree and the imposition of a life sentence, defendant appeals.

The information charges defendant, Joe Prince, as principal, and Arthur Prince and William Prince as accessories before the fact, with the murder of one Charles Jordan in Laclede county .on May 31, 1913. A severance was granted and defendant was tried separately.

Alleged errors urged here for reversal are: (1) admission of incompetent evidence; (2) improper argument; (3) separation of the jury after the cause was submitted to them; and (4) the refusal of an instruction on manslaughter in the third degree.

The family of defendant consisted of his father, Arthur Prince, and several brothers who resided on a farm near the village of Pease in Laclede county. The deceased resided on an adjoining farm about seventy-five yards distant from defendant. There is a lane leading from the village of-Pease to the farms occupied by defendant and deceased, whiph lane they used in common for a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards, where a gate opened into the field of deceased. The lane extended beyond said gate to the home of defendant.

There is only slight evidence of ill-will between defendant and deceased prior to the evening of May 30,1913, at which time they engaged in a quarrel about a hog belonging* to defendant which had gotten into the field of deceased. According to the State’s witnesses defendant cursed and threatened to kill deceased on that occasion; while according to defendant’s witnesses. deceased, during* that quarrel, called defendant vile names and threatened to kill him. The wife of deceased testified that the quarrel and the accompanying threats made by defendant so alarmed her that she carried! a shotgun to deceased to enable him to protect himself. However*, neither the gun nor any other weapon was then used, and the quarrel ended without any physical violence to. either party.

On the following morning deceased attended a sale several miles from home, going and returning on horseback through the lane hereinbefore mentioned. About one o’clock that day the defendant, with his father, one of his brothers and two of his brothers-in-law, Tom Parriek and Walter Green, went to Pease on foot and remained there until about five p. m. At that hour deceased rode into the village and stopped a few moments to get his mail. At or about the same time the deceased arrived at Pease, the defendant, his father and two brothers-in-law, started home along the lane before mentioned. The brothers-in-law, Parriek and Green, had passed the gate which connected the premises of deceased with the lane, a distance variously estimated at from ten to thirty steps, while defendant and his father were opposite said gate when the deceased overtook them. Deceased dismounted and was shot and killed by defendant with a revolver. There is a sharp conflict in the .evidence as to who was the aggressor, the testimony of the State tending to show that deceased merely alighted from his horse to open the gate and did not wish any trouble with defendant; while the evidence on behalf of defendant is to the effect that deceased was advancing upon and threatening defendant with an open knife when killed.

Five witnesses for the State testified that they watched defendant, his father and brothers-in-law as they started home; that they stopped' until deceased started to ride into the lane; that they then went on to the gate, which opened into the premises of deceased, where defendant and his father stopped again and remained until deceased arrived, alighted from his horse and walked up to the gate, when defendant, who was standing about eight feet away, shot deceased twice with a revolver without any provocation, so far as they could observe. The witnesses last named testified that they were about one. hundred and fifty yards distant, and that the lane was straight and the view unobstructed, so that they could see the shooting plainly. The father of defendant was standing some six feet away when the shooting occurred.

The only witness introduced by the State who was close enough to hear the words which passed between defendant and deceased immediately preceding the killing was Walter Green, one of the brothers-in-law of defendant, who states that when deceased came in sight of the village of Pease defendant and his father went np the lane about half way to the gate of deceased and stopped. Green gave the following additional, evidence :

“Q. Then what did they do ? A. Well, they just stopped there.

“ Q. Did you go up the road? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Did you overtake them? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Well, now just state to the jury what you ■heard, if anything, and the movements of these parties ? A. Well, they was standing around there talking to one another a right smart that evening, and when they saw Charley coming Arthur motioned— . . . Arthur motioned for the boys to come on he said, ‘ Come on and let’s go.’

“Q. Whp do you mean by the boys ? A. I guess he meant Joe.

“Q. Who did you mean? A. Arthur and Bud and Joe.

“Q. Did he motion to the defendant here? A. Joe was standing with him, and he motioned, I guess for Bud, and he said, ‘Come on boys, let’s go.’

“Q. Go ahead and state. A. They went on about half way between the mill and the corner of the fence and stopped and. waited until Charley went into the store and got his mail and come out and rode into the lane before they started on.

‘ ‘ Q. Then where did they go ? A. They went on up to the corner, I suppose.

“This last statement was objected to by the defendant; which objection was, by the court, sustained.

“Q. You was there and saw them, didn’t you? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Where did they go? A. Up the road.

“Q. Where abouts? A. At the gate.

“Q. What did they do? A. I wouldn’t say whether they stopped or not, because I was walking on ahead.

“Q. How far was you ahead of them? A. Well, I was about — when they got to the corner?

“Q. Yes? A. About like thirty yards, I guess.

“Q. Who was with you? A. Tom Parrick.

“Q. Did you stop? A. Yes, sir, I stopped when Charley rode up.

“Q. Now state to the jury what was done and said there? A. Well, Joe just kinder stepped out towards Charley and said, ‘Charley, I guess we had better settle our little trouble we had yesterday evening,’ and Charley said, ‘Don’t you guess you had better go on and let me alone?’ and Joe says, ‘I don’t know,’ and Charley says, ‘I think so,’ and Charley got down on the opposite side of his horse, next to the gate with his knife in his hand and got around about the horse’s head and Joe shot him.

“Q. Well, how were they standing, how was Charley standing with reference to facing Joe? A. He was standing with his left shoulder to him, with the side of his head.

“Q. What position was he in? A. Well, he was standing with his left shoulder to him, kinder looking down, I think.

“Q. Looking down at what part of the gate? A. He was looking- down; just looking down.

“Q. Did that end of the gate open or was it the other end of the gate that opened? A. The end where he was at opened. . . .

‘ ‘ Q. How close was Joe Prince to Charley Jordan when he fired? A. He was about four or five feet.

‘ ‘ Q. How close was Arthur Prince to Joe Prince ? A. About six feet of him. ...

“Q. Now, Mr. Green, where did you.pass Joe Prince and Arthur Prince? A. About half way between the mill and the corner at the gate.

“Q. Did you hear any conversation between Arthur Prince and Joe Prince, his son? A. No, sir; not particular.

“Q. Well, did you hear anything? A. I heard Arthur say to Joe to let him have the gun, is about all. . . .

“Q. Arthur said to Joe, ‘Give me the gun,’ did he? A. Yes, sir.

‘ ‘ Q. How far was you from them when you heard1 that? A. I just walked up to them.”

Thomas Parrick, the other brother-in-law of defendant, testifying on behalf of defendant, said that he (witness) was at the home of deceased the night before the tragedy, and that deceased told him if they ever had any more trouble he would kill defendant, and that he (witness) communicated that threat to defendant.

Regarding what occurred at the time the killing took place Parrick testified as follows:

“Q. Now were you down at Pease Mill the day the shooting occurred? A. Yes, sir; I was down to Pease Mill.

“Q. Now just tell the jury what occurred down there? A. Well, we had started home and Charley overtook us at the corner where we go up to the Prince house, and he said, ‘Here is where I have got you, Joe.’

“Q. Who .said that? A. Charley Jordan, and he got off his mare on the opposite side and come around under the mare’s neck with his knife in his hand, and he had his knife up. at Joe and Joe shot him; he shot two shots, right straight along and Charley reeled back the first shot.

“ Q. I will ask you to state how far he got, Charley Jordan got before he was shot? A. Prom Joe he was about three or four feet. . . .

Q. You all walked together until you got up by the gate? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. I will ask you to state if you stopped and waited for Charley Jordan there? A. No, sir; we didn’t stop at all, Charley Jordan rod'e up.

“Q. Did you hear Joe say anything there when the shooting occurred, or just before it? A. No, sir; I didn’t.

“Q. Now, I will ask you to state what was said that called your attention to the fact that he had ridden up there? A. Well, he says, ‘Here is where I have got you,’ to Joe, and I looked around and Mr. Jordan was getting off his horse.

“Q. Well, I will have you to state about what is your distance from Joe and1 Charley Jordan at the time you looked around? A. Well, I was about ten or fifteen steps on up the road.

“Q. Up the lane? A. Yes, sir."

“Q. Was Mr. Creen with you at the time; you say that Mr. Creen and Joe Prince walked up to the gate, did you? A. Yes, sir.

“Q. Now explain to the jury how Mr. Creen was ten or fifteen steps south of the gate, if Joe didn’t stop at the gate? (No answer.)”

The evidence of all the witnesses was to the effect that defendant’s open pocket-knife was seen lying at his feet after he was shot.

The State to establish malice and deliberation on the part of defendant introduced witnesses Elmer Hough and Earl Simpson, who visited the Prince home the night before the tragedy. Those witnesses testified that during their visit defendant expressed intense anger because deceased had cursed him and called bim a vile name the evening before; that defendant said he would “get Jordan (deceased) if he (defendant) had to go under the bed after him;” that he was willing to fight fair, but would not let deceased use a knife on him.

Everett Calton testified to having seen defendant at Pease the afternoon of the tragedy, and that the defendant inquired if he had seen deceased. On being informed that witness had not, defendant stated that he wanted to see deceased about the quarrel they had had the evening before, and further stated that he (defendant) came down there to catch deceased off of his own premises. That he intended to ask deceased to fight fair, and if deceased would not do so he (defendant) would use his gun, showing witness his revolver at the time.

OPINION.

witness'"9 I. After defendant’s witness Parrick had given his evidence, as before recited, he was asked on cross-examination if, prior to the killing, he had heard defendant say anything about shooting deceased, or if he- had any knowledge that defendant intended to shoot deceased, which questions he answered in the negative. Parrick was then asked if he did not visit the home of Charley Jordan, the deceased, the evening he was killed, and there, in the presence of Burrell Hough and Pete Everett, state that “it was too bad that Charley was shot; that witness and Arthur Prince had tried hard all evening to keep Joe from killing Charley, but could not keep it down.” This question was objected to on the ground that defendant was not present and could not be bound by the alleged statement made by witness Parrick; and on the further ground that it was an attempt to impeach the witness on an immaterial matter. These objections were overruled, and defendant excepted. Defendant then replied to the question as- follows: “If I said it, I did not say it that way. ’ ’

Witnésses Hough and Everett were then called, and, over defendant’s objections and exceptions, testified that witness Parrick did make the statement attributed to him in the interrogatory above quoted.

The admission of this evidence is assigned as error prejudicial to defendant. We find, however, that this evidence was not improper. The witness Parrick had very recently'associated with defendant, and had notified defendant of the alleged threat made against him by deceased; and if defendant had also made any threats against deceased or preparation to shoot him the witness would have been as likely to know of that fact as anyone else; and when he stated that he did not Imow of any intention on the part of defendant to shoot deceased that evidence was very material. The rule is that when the cross-examination is about a matter which the party conducting the examination has a right to prove as a part of his cause of action or defense, then the answers elicited1 by such cross-examination are material, and may be impeached or discredited by showing that the witness has made statements which conflict with his answers as given in his cross-examination. The fact that the conflicting statements amount to an accusation against defendant, who was not present when they were made, does not alter the situation. [Paris v. Waddell, 139 Mo. App. 288, l. c. 291.] In Underhill on Criminal Evidence (2 Ed.), sec/222, the rule is announced as follows:

“It is never permissible to cross-examine upon matters wholly irrelevant and collateral to the crime merely for the purpose of contradicting the witness on those points by other evidence. And1 if the cross-examiner shall happen to bring out irrelevant facts he is concluded thereby, and cannot contradict them. It is proper, however, to ask the witness if he did not at a particular time and place, which must be mentioned, give a different account of relevant facts to that which he gave on his direct examination. If he denies that he has- done so, a sufficient foundation is laid for his impeachment, which may then be accomplished by the testimony of a witness who was present and heard the contradictory statement. ’ ’

The conclusion we have reached on this point is also supported1 by the rulings of this court in State v. Cooper, 83 Mo. l. c. 701-2; State v. Mulhall, 199 Mo. 202, l. c. 212; and 1 Greenleaf on Evidence (16' Ed.), p. 590. Defendant’s first assignment will therefore be overruled.

Argument. II. It is insisted that reversible error was committed by L. C. Mayfield, special counsel for the State, in saying to the jury in his closing argument that “the history of Laclede county has been stained by the blood of forty-three murders.” Upon objection the trial court admonished the attorney as follows: “That is improper argument and should not be made to the jury. We are now trying this one case.” Defendant excepted to the remarks of the special counsel, but did not ask for a more pointed reprimand. While the remarks were improper, we do not think they were sufficiently prejudicial to defendant to warrant a reversal. No request was made for a more pointed reprimand, and, upon a careful review of the whole case, we find that what the court said was sufficient to cause the jury to confine their consideration to the one case then on trial. If the improper argument had been repeated, as it was in many cases that have come before us, or if the improper argument had been sanctioned by the trial court, the result might be different. [State v. Ferrell, 233 Mo. 452; State v. Hess, 240 Mo. 147, l. c. 159-60.]

Separation III. Regarding the alleged misconduct of the sheriff in permitting the jury to separate, we will say that the separation is shown by affidavits, which prove that certain of the jurors were taken by the officer having them in charge from the room where they had been locked up to a toilet-room down stairs to answer a call of nature, and then promptly returned to their room. Such a separation does not constitute reversible error. . [State v. Spaugh, 200 Mo. l. c. 608, and cases there cited.]

Thirdl^gree1' IY. Defendant also complains of the refusal of the court to instruct the jury on the law of manslaughter in the third degree. The Missouri cases cited by defendant (State v. Eastham, 240 Mo. 241, and State v. Turner, 246 Mo. 598) are not in point, because what was said in those cases related to manslaughter in the fourth degree.

There is no part of the evidence which tends to prove that the killing was involuntary. Therefore the instruction for manslaughter in the third degree was properly refused. [State v. Watson, 95 Mo. 411; State v. Goldsby, 215 Mo. l. c. 54; Sec. 4462, R. S. 1909.]

Exceptions. Y.- The Attorney-General insists that we ought not to consider the alleged errors noted in defendant’s bill of exceptions, because the transcript of record proper does not show that the trial court ordered the bill of exceptions filed and made a part of the record proper. In support of this insistence the following cases are cited: Alt v. Dines, 227 Mo. l. c. 422; Sheppard v. Wagner, 240 Mo. l. c. 431-432; Bank v. Hutton, 224 Mo. l. c. 52; Novinger v. Railroad, 131 Mo. App. l. c. 338; Webster v. Berry, 140 Mo. App. l. c. 386; Fulkerson v. Houts, 55 Mo. 301; and Thorp v. Railroad, 157 Mo. App. l. c. 501.

The only entry in the record proper showing that the bill of exceptions was filed is as follows:

“On December 8, 1913, in vacation, the defendant filed his bill of exceptions.”

The certificate of the trial judge appended to the bill of exceptions (a copy of which we find m the transcript) recites that he approved said bill and ordered it filed and made a part of the record in the cause. The mere act of the clerk in filing the bill pursuant to the order of the judge (as recited in his certificate), together with the notation by the clerk on the record proper of the fact that the bill was filed, and the date of such filing, is all that is necessary to make the bill part of the record. There was no judicial duty resting upon the clerk to declare and adjudge the bill to be a part of the record proper.

Under section 2029, Revised! Statutes 1909, as amended by Laws 1911, p. 139', a trial judge may now approve, sign and order a bill of exceptions filed after the expiration of the time granted for filing same, and the clerk may file such bill in vacation without any previous order of the court, except the order of the judge in vacation embraced in his certificate showing that the bill has been approved and signed by him.

Since the amendment of 1911, above noted, the cases cited by the Attorney-G-eneral are no longer authority, and1 his contention must be disregarded;

Finding no error in the record by which the rights of defendant were prejudiced, the judgment will be affirmed. It is so ordered.

Walker, P. J., and Faris, J., concur.