Swanson v. State

26 N.W.2d 595, 148 Neb. 155, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 27
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 28, 1947
DocketNo. 32205
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 26 N.W.2d 595 (Swanson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Swanson v. State, 26 N.W.2d 595, 148 Neb. 155, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 27 (Neb. 1947).

Opinion

Messmore, J.

The plaintiff filed an application for a writ of error coram nobis in the district court for Dawson county on July 31, 1946, to which the State of Nebraska as defendant demurred. The trial court sustained the demurrer for - the reason that the application for writ of error coram nobis did not state facts sufficient to justify its issuance. Plaintiff appeals.

[157]*157It appears from the the application for the writ of error coram nobis that the applicant was convicted of the crime of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary, having been committed December 5, 1939. The applicant and his wife were divorced in 1937. The custody of a five-year-old son of the couple was awarded to the mother and, by arrangement of the parties, the father was privileged to visit with and take the son with him on occasions. On October 23, 1939, while on an errand to his pasture, the applicant stopped at the Herbert Malm farm where his divorced wife was staying with the child, for the purpose of taking the child bn a visit with him in to town. During the time he was there trouble occurred and, as a result, Malm was killed. Thereafter the applicant was charged with murder in the first degree.

The plaintiff and applicant, hereinafter referred to as the appellant, contends that in the trial, conviction, and commitment, he was deprived of the equal protection of the laws within the meaning of the due process provision of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.

The ancient common-law writ of error coram nobis exists under the Nebraska Constitution and laws. See Carlsen v. State, 129 Neb. 84, 261 N. W. 339; Newcomb v. State, 129 Neb. 69, 261 N. W. 348.

In Carlsen v. State, supra, this court held: “The common-law writ of error coram nobis to bring into the record facts which were unknown to the defendant at the time of trial through no lack of reasonable diligence on his part, which, if known at the time of the trial, would have resulted in a different judgment, exists in this state under section 49-101, Comp. St. 1929 (now section 49-101, R. S. 1943).”

“It is stated in 2 R. C. L. 307, sec. 262: ‘The purpose of the writ of coram nobis is to bring before the court rendering the judgment matters of fact which if known [158]*158at the time the judgment was rendered would have prevented its rendition.’ ” Carlsen v. State, supra. See, also, Hawk v. Olson, 145 Neb. 306, 16 N. W. 2d 181.

And, as expressed in Stephenson v. State, 205 Ind. 141, 179 N. E. 633, 186 N. E. 293: “The purpose of a writ of error coram nobis is to enable the court to recall some adjudication, made while some fact existed which, if before the court, would have prevented rendition of the judgment, and which, through no fault of the party, was not presented.”

The application must set out the facts which would have prevented the rendition of the judgment and the evidence by which the existing facts can be proved, and must allege facts showing that by the exercise of diligence the petitioner would not have been able, and was not able, to produce the facts relied upon at the trial or before judgment. See 24 C. J. S., Criminal Law, § 1606 (6), p. 154. See, also, Stephenson v. State, supra.

It is a well established rule of law in this jurisdiction that: “A demurrer to a pleading admits only such facts as are well pleaded, mere conclusions of the pleader not being admitted.” Busboom v. Schmidt, 94 Neb. 30, 142 N. W. 290. See, also, Carlsen v. State, supra.

With the foregoing authorities in mind, we proceed to a determination of this appeal by an examination of the record.

The appellant, in support of his contention, asserts he was deprived of regular and careful preparation, and effective representation by counsel at the trial.

The application for writ of error coram nobis discloses, in substance, that a law firm was employed to defend the appellant, by his father. To such employment the appellant claims he objected, his reason being that he did not think it well to have counsel unfamiliar with local conditions and handicapped by distance. The senior member of such law firm became ill and died before the trial was had in the district court. Apparently there was an application for a continuance due to the [159]*159illness of the senior member, requesting further time to prepare the case. The record does not show this application, or any affidavit in support thereof, or the ruling of the court thereon. Subsequent to the death of the senior member of the law firm employed, the other member of the firm carried on the defense of the appellant at the trial, with the assistance of local counsel.

In this connection, the appellant asserts that he was deprived of the defense of self-defense; that he was defended on the grounds of insanity and the unwritten law, and that at all times he was sane and can make adequate proof of such fact. He further contends that a map of the premises disclosing the buildings and location of them and certain other matters appearing thereon, was not introduced in evidence; also, that the five-year-old son was not called to testify; and that available witnesses were not called. The appellant further contends that he thought the case had been appealed to the Supreme Court of this state, and was advised when he made inquiry in January 1946, that the case had not been appealed.

The selection of counsel for the defense was a matter which was entirely within the province of the appellant and the members of his family. The state had nothing to do with the selection of counsel for the appellant. All of the matters upon which the appellant complains, with respect to selection of counsel to defend him, were known to him before the trial, or before the close of the trial.

An application for a writ of coram nobis will be denied, in the absence of a showing that the alleged acts of inefficiency on the part of the petitioner’s counsel upon which the motion for the writ was predicated were not known, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could not have been known, by the petitioner, before the close of the trial. See Mandell v. People, 76 Colo. 296, 231 P. 199.

[160]*160The appellant asserts he desired to interpose the defense of self-defense. If this be a fact, it was known by the appellant at the time of the trial, and whether or not his counsel prepared a proper defense was a matter resting primarily with such counsel and the appellant, and was known at the time of the preparation for, and at the time of, the trial. It was also known to the appellant that the map, which he claims should have been introduced in evidence, was not so introduced at the time of the trial. Reasonable diligence would have disclosed whether or not there had been a writ of error lodged in the Supreme Court of this state.

With reference to the statement appearing in the application wherein the appellant asserts witnesses were available to incidents preceding October 23, 1939, and since the divorce, and makes reference to the prepared statement set forth in such application, all such matters were known to the appellant prior to and at the time of the trial. It was also known to the appellant that during the progress of the trial these witnesses were not called, and there is nothing appearing in the application to show what they would have testified to, had they been called.

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Bluebook (online)
26 N.W.2d 595, 148 Neb. 155, 1947 Neb. LEXIS 27, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/swanson-v-state-neb-1947.