Source: https://casetext.com/case/state-ex-rel-page-v-terte
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 12:50:42+00:00

Document:
2. INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS: In Possession of Prosecuting Attorney: Material to Defense: Statute: Burden upon Applicant. The statute (Sec. 1378, R.S. 1919) authorizing the judge, before whom an action is pending, in his discretion and upon due notice, to order either party to give to the other an inspection and copy, or permission to take a copy, of a paper in his possession and under his control "containing evidence relating to the merits of the action or defense therein," places upon the party applying for the order the burden of showing some basis for an inference that the paper contains material evidence, and unless the application for the order states facts tending to show that the paper comprises evidence material to the merits or defense it should be denied.
3. ____: ____: ____: Conclusion of Pleader. An allegation in the application for an order to inspect and obtain copies of documents in the possession and under the control of the adversary party, that such documents "are or may be material to the issues in said cause," is a mere conclusion of the applicant and presents no issue, and does not authorize the court to make the order. It states no facts from which it may be inferred that the documents contain "evidence relating to the merits or defense" of the pending action.
4. ____: ____: Hearsay: Impeachment. An application for an order on the prosecuting attorney to produce for the inspection of defendant written statements of witnesses whose names are indorsed on the indictment, in his possession and under his control, calls for hearsay, and therefore for evidence which would not be admissible except by way of impeachment in the event that the witnesses testify to a state of facts different from those contained in the written statements, and the statute does not authorize the court to order the production of papers in the absence of a showing that they contain evidence material to the issues in the pending case.
5. PROHIBITION: Jurisdiction: Threatened Act. Where an act beyond or in excess of jurisdiction is threatened by the circuit court, prohibition to restrain such act is the proper remedy.
James R. Page, relator, pro se.
(1) An order directing the prosecuting attorney to produce for defendant's inspection statements taken from the witnesses, after the commission of the crime and the indictment of defendant, was wholly in excess of the jurisdiction of the court. State ex rel. Ry. Co. v. Woods, 292 S.W. 1033; People ex rel. Lemon, Dist. Atty., v. Supreme Court et al., 156 N.E. 84; State v. Hall, 175 P. 267; State v. Yee Guck, 195 P. 365; Taylor v. State, 221 S.W. 614; Tinker v. State, 253 S.W. 532; Davis v. State, 270 S.W. 1022; Currie v. State, 279 S.W. 836. (2) The court has no jurisdiction to order produced for inspection any statement or writing made in the investigation of the facts, or in preparation for trial, because they are not "evidence." State ex rel. v. Trimble, 254 Mo. 542; State ex rel. v. Broaddus, 245 Mo. 123. (3) A writ of prohibition from this court is proper where the lower court exceeds its jurisdiction, the same as when it has no jurisdiction at all. State ex rel. v. Reynolds, 209 Mo. 161; State ex rel. v. Burney, 186 S.W. 23.
H.C. Waltner and Rodman L. Henry for respondent.
(1) The provisional rule should be vacated and relator's petition dismissed, for the reasons that respondent's rulings were in conformity with Sec. 1378, R.S. 1919; the court had jurisdiction over the subject-matter and of the parties and was invested by the statute with "the discretion" of compelling the production of the documents, papers or other written evidence then in the possession, charge or control of relator and connected with the causes, and "in the absence of the abuse of this discretion" the order and citation on relator to permit inspection of such deeds, etc., should be enforced. (2) It was discretionary in the trial court to compel relator to produce the alleged papers and documents for the inspection of the defendant under the provisions of Sec. 1378, R.S. 1919. No abuse of this discretion is shown or claimed. Therefore, the Supreme Court will not reverse the ruling of the trial court in a discretionary matter unless it clearly appears that the discretion has been abused. State v. Fitzgerald, 130 Mo. 407; State ex rel. v. Trimble, 254 Mo. 542; State ex rel. v. Broaddus, 245 Mo. 123. (3) The competency or incompetency of the alleged books, papers, records, etc., sought to be examined was not put in issue by relator before the trial court. For aught that appears from the records it was all competent.
Original proceeding in prohibition. Relator, as Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County, seeks to prohibit respondent, Judge of the Circuit Court of said county, from making and enforcing an order in the cases of State of Missouri v. D.L. Piggott et al., Nos. 10961, 10962 and 10963 pending in said circuit court, requiring relator to produce for the inspection of the defendants in said causes, written statements of witnesses and other documents and papers alleged to be in the possession of said relator.
"Defendant says that said statements of said witnesses and such deeds, mortgages, bills of sale, books, documents, papers or other written evidence is or may be material to the issues in said cause."
Respondent, as judge of said court, heard this motion on August 26, 1929, and at the conclusion of said hearing, announced that he was bound to follow the opinion of this court in State of Missouri v. Tippett, 317 Mo. 319, 296 S.W. 132, and make an order compelling relator to produce for defendant's inspection the written statements of witnesses and other documents called for in said motion. Thereafter, upon application of relator, our provisional rule in prohibition issued, prohibiting the making of said order. Respondent made return to the provisional rule in which the facts heretofore stated are admitted. Other facts are alleged in the petition for the writ and in respondents' return which we deem immaterial to a determination of the issue presented.
Respondent contends that our decision in State v. Tippett, 317 Mo. 319, 296 S.W. 132, 135, authorizes the making of the proposed order.
"The only authorities we have found tending to support this pronouncement follow: Sprinkle v. State, 102 So. (Miss.) 844; Chesapeake O. Ry. Co. v. Swartz, 80 S.E. (Va.) 568, l.c. 571.
"`No reason has been assigned wherein there was error in overruling this motion. It is true that it is said the statement was necessary and material to the defendant in the preparation and proper presentation of his defense, but as to wherein or how material we are left to conjecture.
"`Nor has it been made apparent to us why it was necessary, for the purpose claimed by defendant.
"Furthermore, the courts of the country have decided the question contrary to the pronouncement in the Tippett case. This is indicated by decisions in other jurisdictions which follow: People ex rel. Lemon, Dist. Atty., v. Supreme Court of State of New York et al., 156 N.E. 84; State v. Hall, 175 P. 267; State v. Yee Guck, 195 P. 363, l.c. 365; Taylor v. State, 221 S.W. 611, l.c. 614; Tinker v. State, 253 S.W. 531, l.c. 532; Davis v. State, 270 S.W. 1022; State v. Bankston, 116 So. 565, l.c. 566; Currie v. State, 279 S.W. 834, l.c. 836; Santry v. State, 30 N.W. 226.
"We correctly stated the rule in the Fitzgerald case, and the pronouncement on the question in the Tippett case is overruled.
"We next consider the question as presented in this proceeding. In State ex rel. v. Broaddus, 245 Mo. 123, l.c. 141, 149 S.W. 473, we held that a party on the taking of his deposition could not be compelled to disclose names of witnesses ascertained by investigation subsequent to the injury of plaintiff. From this it would seem that a litigant could not be compelled by an order of court to disclose the facts as reported to him by witnesses to the occurrence.
"The party proceeding under the statute has the burden of showing some basis for an inference that the paper contains material evidence. [State ex rel. v. Trimble, 254 Mo. 542, l.c. 553, 163 S.W. 860.] Did respondent Murphy's petition for the order tend to show any such basis? We do not think so. The statements were made subsequent to the occurrence, are hearsay and not admissible in evidence. [State ex rel. v. Wood, 316 Mo. 1032, l.c. 1040, 292 S.W. 1033.] In this situation respondents are reduced to the contention that in the course of the trial the statements may be available for impeachment. This possibility will not sustain the order. The lawmakers intended no such use of the statute. The power granted is for litigants who, in good faith, seek material evidence by showing some basis for a belief that the adversary party is in possession of papers subject to inspection and containing such evidence. The statement made by respondent Murphy to the claim agent would not be used by him for impeachment, and the employees of relator may not be called as witnesses. The proceeding for the order is an effort to pry into the preparation of the defendant for trial. This is condemned by all of the authorities. [10 R.C.L. 1091.] In preparing for trial, the plaintiff and defendant have the right to interview persons acquainted with the facts. If an interview is refused, depositions may be taken."
In the case at bar, the application for the order does not measure up to the requirements of the statute. It calls for the production of all deeds, mortgages, bills of sale, books, documents, papers or other written copies of evidence in the hands of the prosecuting attorney, which are in any way connected with the case then pending. There is no hint or suggestion as to the contents of these documents, and no facts are alleged tending to show that they contain any evidence material to the defense of the party asking for their production. It is true that the application for the order states that such documents are or may be material, but such an allegation is a mere conclusion of the pleader and presents no issue.
". . . But a party to a pending action has no right to call for the books, papers, and documents of his adversary merely for the purpose of entering into a `fishing examination' of them. To authorize their production, there must be a substantial showing that the book, paper, or document sought for contains material evidence in support of the cause of action or defense of the party asking for it. A mere suspicion that it contains such evidence does not warrant an order for its production. The enactments upon the subject generally make it a condition that the books, etc., required shall contain evidence relating to the merits of the case."
The application for the order also asks for the production of written statements of certain named witnesses. No reason is assigned why these statements should be produced, and no facts are alleged which tend to show that the statements contain evidence material to the defense of the party asking for their production. Besides the written statement of these witnesses would be hearsay, and therefore not admissible in evidence except by way of impeachment in event the witness testified to a state of facts different from those contained in the written statement made by him. The statute does not authorize the court to order the production of papers in the absence of a showing that they contain evidence material to the issues in the pending case. The fact that it cannot be determined in advance of the trial whether the written statement of a proposed witness will become material or competent for any purpose, clearly shows that the statute does not authorize the enforced production of such statements.
For the reasons stated, it follows that our provisional rule should be made absolute. It is so ordered. All concur, except Walker, J., absent.

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