Williams v. State

1939 OK CR 6, 86 P.2d 1015, 65 Okla. Crim. 336, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 94
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 27, 1939
DocketNo. A-9463.
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 1939 OK CR 6 (Williams v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. State, 1939 OK CR 6, 86 P.2d 1015, 65 Okla. Crim. 336, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 94 (Okla. Ct. App. 1939).

Opinion

BAREFOOT, J.

The defendant, Ben R. Williams, was charged in Garfield county with statutory rape, was tried, convicted and sentenced to serve 30 years in the penitentiary, and has appealed.

Among the errors urged for a reversal of this case are:

(1) That the court erred in permitting evidence of a purported confession of defendant made to certain officers while he was in jail awaiting trial.

(2) That the court erred in permitting certain evidence which it was claimed was a privileged communication.

(3)That the evidence offered by the state was insufficient to support the verdict.

*338 (4) That the court erred in failing to instruct the jury upon questions which were material to the issues involved.

The evidence in this case revealed that defendant was arrested on the 4th day of August, 1937. He was immediately placed in jail. On the 5th day of August, 1937, the chief of police of the city of Enid, went to the county jail for the purpose of having a conversation with defendant, and took with him one of his police officers, so that he might listen to the conversation. The evident purpose of this visit was to have defendant speak of the circumstances surrounding the crime with which he was charged, in the presence of the chief of police and his subordinate officer. When this evidence was offered in the trial of the case the court excused the jury, and after hearing the witnesses, overruled the motion of defendant, and then permitted the witnesses to relate the conversation to the jury.

The chief of police testified:

“Q. I believe you stated in your preliminary examination by the county attorney that the conversation you had with the defendant, Ben Williams, took place about August 5, 1937, in the county jail? A. Yes, sir. Q. Was that pertaining to the case now pending against him? A. Yes, sir. Q. At that time did you inform him that any statement he made might be used against him as evidence, that you might testify as a witness in the case? A. It was just a casual conversation. Q. You didn’t inform him of that, did you? A. No, sir. Q. Was there some conversation about his pleading guilty to the charge filed against him and receiving a sentence of two years ? A. Yes, sir. Q. Was that mentioned? A. Yes, sir. Q. So the things he said to you were after you had mentioned to him that a two-year sentence might be arranged ? A. No, sir, I don’t think so. Q. When was it? A. I questioned him with relation to the girl and he admitted that he had a time or two. Q. What did he say? A. I asked him if he had had relations with Dorthy Lewis, and he said he had a time or two, but it wasn’t rape, and I informed him of the seriousness of it, that 15 years was the least he could get and he informed me *339 that it wasn’t rape in the first degree because she was willing, and that there had been other boys with her. Q. Can you give his exact words? A. That is, about his exact words. Q. Then you told him you would try to get him two years? A. My understanding with him was that it was two years, for second degree rape, if she was willing. * * * Q. But the degree of rape was discussed there between you and he? A. Yes, sir. Q. You have been apprised of the statutory penalties? A. Yes, sir. Q. Who had told you? A. The county attorney. * * * Q. Now, Chief Hess, would you say when that conversation was had, and the same conversation, it was stated that the reason which he offered to plead guilty was that he would get two years? A. Let’s get that again. Q. He never did offer to plead guilty to anything with a penalty of more than two years, did he? A. No, sir.”

The police officer, Earl Moore, who accompanied the chief, testified to the conversation before the court and jury as had the chief, and also testified as follows:

“Q. Who asked you to go there? A. The chief. Q. He asked you to go and listen to the conversation with Ben Williams, did he? A. Yes, sir. Q. And you did? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know if Ben Williams had been told, or informed of the nature of the charge against him at that time? A. Yes, sir, it was mentioned to him at that time. Q. You don’t know whether the warrant had been read to him or he had been furnished with a copy of it? A. I couldn’t say. Q. Who mentioned the nature of the charge? A. The chief. Q. What was said? A. He said he was charged with an offense of illicit conduct. Q. That is what he said it was? A. As near as I remember. Q. Did he say anything about the punishment? A. No, sir. Q. Nothing said about the punishment? A. No, sir. Q. Did he tell Ben Williams that any statements he might make at that time would be used against him in the trial of the case, that he would take the stand and testify against him? A. Yes, sir. Q. You heard him tell him that? A. Yes, sir. Q. Is that the words he used? A. I don’t know whether that is the exact words or not. Q. Did he tell him he wouldn’t have to make any statements if he didn’t want to? A. Yes, sir. Q. And that if he made a statement it could be used against him in the trial of the case? A. Yes, sir. *340 Q. You heard him say that? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you hear him- say anything about if he would plead guilty what penalty he would get? A. No, sir. Q. Didn’t he tell him if he would plead guilty he would get two years? A. No, sir. * * * Q. Did he tell you he wanted you to talk to him? A. No, sir. Q. Just to listen in? A. Yes, sir. * * * Q. Did Chief Hess tell you he was going to have a conversation with Ben Williams? A. Yes, sir. Q. And asked you to go along and listen in? A. Yes, sir. * * * Q. What did he say? A. He said it would be used against him. Q. Did he tell him he would testify to what he said ? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he tell him he didn’t have to talk unless he wanted to? A. Yes, sir. Q. He told him that? A. Yes, sir. * * * Q. Was there any conversation about the punishment he should receive if he plead guilty? A. No, sir. * * * Q. Did you hear a conversation there in which Ben said that he had not done anything, but to save the girl’s name he would take two years to keep the girl out of court, did you hear any conversation about that? A. I heard him say something about that he would take two years. Q. To keep the girl out of court? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did he say that was his wife’s sister? A. Yes, sir. Q. In that conversation? A. Yes, sir. Q. That is all you had? A. I didn’t have any. Q. That is all the one you were present at? A. Yes, sir. Q, You forgot that while ago, did you? A. He said he would take two years if he could. Q. To save the disgrace on the family, wasn’t that right ? A. There was something mentioned about the disgrace in the family.”

It will be noted that there is a direct conflict in the evidence of the chief of police and Officer Earl Moore. The chief testified that he at no time warned the defendant that the statements which he made might be used against him, and Officer Earl Moore testified positively that he was warned by the chief. Yet both of these witnesses were present and heard the same conversation. The chief of police also testified as to the conversation with reference to defendant expressing a willingness to plead guilty and take a two year sentence. Officer Moore testified that there was no such conversation, but finally admitted on cross-examination that he had heard the two years mentioned.

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Leeks v. State
1952 OK CR 110 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1952)
Hendrickson v. State
1951 OK CR 30 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1951)
Benton v. State
1948 OK CR 18 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1948)
Fry v. State
1944 OK CR 32 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1944)
Jackson v. State
1943 OK CR 87 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Lyons v. State
1943 OK CR 68 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Balding v. State
1943 OK CR 66 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1943)
Story v. State
1941 OK CR 185 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1941)
Clapp v. State
1941 OK CR 180 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1941)
Wood v. State
1941 OK CR 115 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1941)
Coleman v. State
1940 OK CR 109 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1940)
Sealy v. State
1939 OK CR 8 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1939)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1939 OK CR 6, 86 P.2d 1015, 65 Okla. Crim. 336, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 94, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-state-oklacrimapp-1939.