United States v. North Pac. W. & T. Co.

5 Alaska 37

• Court: District Court, D. Alaska
• Decided: January 30, 1914
• Docket: No. 836-B
• Status: Published

Opinion

JENNINGS, District Judge.

It may be conceded that the indictment charges two offenses. An inspection of the record shows that counsel is in error in making the statement that defendants were acquitted on count 1. To the contrary, the record shows that, instead of defendants being acquitted on count 1, what was done was the sustaining by the court as to count 1 of a motion made by the defendants at the close of the government’s case, to dismiss the indictment for insufficiency of the evidence.

Of course, the sustaining of that motion, being without any condition uffiaísoever, ended the trial as to 'count 1, and barred all future trials as to that count. The trial then proceeded as to count 2. Defendants introduced evidence in their behalf, and the trial resulted in a disagreement of the jury.

In the case of U. S. v. P. & A. Ry. & N. Co., 5 Alaska, 59, this court held:

(1) That although an indictment may contain the charge of more than one offense, a demurrer to it on that ground will not be sustained if an election of one count is timely made; for that, by the election of the one count, and the putting of the defendant to trial on that one count only, no prejudice to his rights on the merits would or could be sustained by him. The court is still satisfied that that is the law. The principle is as applicable to the case at bar as it was to the case 837-B.

In the case at bar an election has been made. It was made when count No. 1 was withdrawn from the consideration of the jury at the close of the government’s case and before the defendants had put a single witness on the stand.

What is an election ? What are its formalities ? When may it be made?

“A formal election is not in all cases requisite, and its place may be supplied by a charge of the court withdrawing the objectionable counts from the consideration of the jury.” 22 Cyc. p. 406, 4.

“The conviction was for murder in the first degree under the first count in the indictment, which charged appellant with muraer upon express malice. The second count charged murder in the perpetration of robbery. The latter count was not submitted to the jury. This was tantamount to an election by the state.” Martin v. State, 47 Tex. Cr. R. 29, 83 S. W. 390.

“And it has been held that where the court, after the evidence is in, submits the case to the jury, on an indictment containing several counts, on one count, such submission will constitute an election on the part of the state, and the other counts will be regarded as dismissed. White’s Ann. Code Cr. Proc. § 404, subd. 8. And see Clyde Parks v. State, 29 Tex. App. 597, 16 S. W. 532; Smith v. State, 34 Tex. Cr. R. 123, 29 S. W. 774; Moore v. State, 37 Tex. Cr. R. 552, 40 S. W. 287; Holt v. State, 39 Tex. Cr. R. 282, 45 S. W. 1016, 46 S. W. 829. And see Ency. Plead. & Prac. vol. 10, p. 553. We hold that the action of the court in submitting the case at a former trial on the first count was tantamount to an election and dismissal of the other counts in the indictment, and on the succeeding trial the case should have been submitted only on the first count.” Parks v. State, 46 Tex. Cr. R. 100; 79 S. W. 303.

“But, if an election has been necessary, appellant cannot complain because the court submitted the first count only for the consideration of the jury, and this was tantamount to an election by the state.” Smith v. State, 34 Tex. Cr. R. 124, 29 S. W. 775.

“Where thei’e are several counts in an indictment, and the court limits the jury in their finding to one of said counts only, it is tantamount to an election by the state to rely upon that count alone. Dalton v. State, 4 Tex. App. 333; Weathersby v. State, 1 Tex. App. 643. The court is not required to charge upon a case not made, nor supported by any facts, except it be to direct an acquittal. It is the duty of the court to charge the law of the case. Where there is no evidence to support one or more of the counts included in the indictment it would not be incumbent upon the court to give in charge the law upon such count or counts. The court might have required that such unsupported counts be dismissed by the district attorney, or he might have informed the jury that the unsupported counts would be disregarded by them, and either of the latter modes of practice would have been perhaps the better practice; or the court could have instructed the jury to return a verdict for appellant upon the two latter counts, and then, under appropriate instructions, submitted the count charging the theft of the cattle. But the action of the court was tantamount to this. There was no error in the matter complained of, and we can see no reason why the verdict is not sufficiently certain to support the judgment when we look to the charge of the court.” Parks v. State, 29 Tex. App. 597, 16 S. W. 532.

“Time for Election.—a. In general. Some conflict exists as to when an election should be compelled, some authorities holding that it should be as soon as the evidence of distinct offenses is developed, and others that the court may in its sound discretion permit proof of several offenses; but the authorities agree that an election will be required before defendant is required to introduce his -proof.” 22 Cyc. 40S, and cases cited thereunder.

In the Summers Case two offenses were'charged, a demurrer on that ground was interposed, no election was made, the demurrer was overruled, an appeal was taken, and the Supreme Court said there was error. Error—why? Because two offenses were charged; no election was made. Defendant said: “I will test the correctness of the ruling on the demurrer. You have charged two offenses, and I don’t know which to prepare for.” In the case at bar two- offenses are charged. A demurrer on that ground was interposed. No election was then made. What did defendants then do ? They did not stop then and there, standing mute, as did Summers—saying in effect: “I know not which offense you purpose to- try me on.” On the contrary, they entered pleas of not guilty. They went to1 trial. At the trial an election was made. It was made (as said in the text and decisions cited) when the court dismissed count 1. That left count 2 as the count on which the trial proceeded. If they had been acquitted on count 2, of course that would have been an end of the case. If they had been convicted on count 2, perhaps the conviction would have been set aside because the election was not sooner made; but the defendants are not in any position to say now that the election has not been made in time. That election was made on the 20th of January, 1913. Ever since that date they have known that the only charge they are to be tried on is the charge contained in the second count of the indictment. They are therefore in a better position now than they were at the beginning of the other trial. Then they could say: “We know not what charge to prepare for.” Now they cannot say that. Whatever error there was before, now that error has been cured.

Counsel asks what would have been the result if defendants had been convicted on count 1. If they had been convicted on either count at that former trial, the conviction could probably have been set aside, because the error under which they entered upon the trial was no-t cured in time. But they were not convicted on either count. Neither were they acquitted on either count, and now the error has been cured.

The motion is denied.