Case Name: The State vs. Isaac Winningham and Robert Miller
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1857-01
Citations: 10 Rich. 257
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State vs. Isaac Winningham and Robert Miller.
Judges: Wardlaw, Whither, and MüNro, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 44
Pages: 257–270

Head Matter:
The State vs. Isaac Winningham and Robert Miller.
Under the Act of 1731, $ 43, a prisoner, indicted for a capital offence, is entitled if he requires it, and upon payment of the fees for copying, to a copy of the indictment three days before his trial. The demand for a copy should be made, at the latest, when he is arraigned, and in open Court.
TV., one of five prisoners jointly indicted for murder, upon their arraignment on Thursday, the term being only for a week, said that he was not ready for trial, and insisted upon a continuance, on the ground that ' he was entitled to a copy of the indictment three days before the trial. His motion to continue was refused, and the five were tried on Friday and TV. and M., were found guilty and the rest acquitted :■ — On appeal, held, that what TV. did, amounted to a demand of a copy of the indictment, and that he was entitled to a new trial ex debito justicies.
M., when arraigned made no motion to continue, but moved for and obtained a bench warrant for some witnesses. On Friday he united with TV., and the other prisoners in moving for a continuance, on the same . ground TV. had taken the day before : — Held, that M. had waived his right to a copy of the indictment, but, nevertheless, the Court, under the circumstances, granted him a new trial, ex gratia.
BEFORE O’NEALL, J., AT' COLLETON, FALL TERM, 1856.
Tbe report of Ms Honor, tbe presiding Judge, is as follows: “ Tbe prisoners, with four other persons, viz: Nathaniel Bowman, William Murray, James Miller and Richard Wil- • liams, were indicted for the murder of a slave, named James,' the property of Col. Lewis Morris.
“ The indictment was-found on Wednesday; on Thursday, the prisoners were put to the bar, and arraigned. Eor the prisoners Robert Miller, James Miller, William Murray, and Richard Williams, Messrs. Perry and Williams appeared. Eor Nathaniel Bowman, Col. Carn appeared. Winningham was without counsel: I assigned to him, Messrs. Youmans and Williams of Beaufort district. Tbe prisoners all pleaded not guilty. The four first named, on being asked if they were ready for trial, moved for, and obtained a bench warrant against some absent witnesses. Bowman’s counsel desired another day to be assigned for trial. Winningham said he was not ready: and his counsel presented for a continuance, the ground, that he was allowed to have a copy of the indictment three days before the trial. I thought it was no ground for a continuance beyond the term. I might, if it had been urged as a ground necessary for preparation, have allowed the case to stand until Saturday, when the three days would have fully expired. Friday was assigned for trial. On that day, as a ground for continuance, all the prisoners united on the ground, that they should have a copy of the indictment three days before the trial. I overruled the ground as a means of continuance beyond the term. Since the Court, I have examined the matter, and am satisfied, that the decision made without reference to authorities, was right.
“By 25 Ed. 3, P. L. 90, it was enacted, that in high treason or misprision of treason, the prisoners should have a copy of the indictment five days before the trial, on paying the fees for the same.
“ The Act of 1731, sec. 43, P. L. 130, directs that persons accused of high treason, murder, felony, or other capital offence, shall have a true copy of the indictment three days before the trial, on requiring the same, and paying the officer his usual fees. This matter, as connected with the challenge of jurorsj and the provision also to have a copy of the panel of the jury,, three days before trial, is noticed in the State vs., Quarral, 2 Bay, 152, and the State vs. Fisher, 2 N. & MeC. 264. All, however, which is said relates to the question of challenge.
“ It will be observed, that the Act gives the right to the accused to have the copy of the indictment three days before the trial, on requiring it. From whom ? From the clerk is the obvious answer. Eor be is to pay “ the officer his usual fees /” There was no application to the clerk, and no offer to pay his fees! Hence the prisoners could take nothing -on this account. But I hold, it is no ground for a continuance if the clerk had refused the copy, on his fees being tendered. The Court would have compelled him to give a copy, and would have assigned a day, allowing three days from the time the copy was furnished. But there being no demand of the clerk, no fees tendered, the party could not ask for more than was allowed, a day, which suited them all, within the term.
“It appeared clearly that the prisoners convicted, and. Bowman' (who escaped a conviction more on account of his-.youth, being a boy of nineteen or twenty years of age, badly grown, than an absence of guilt) were associated in stealing the cattle, to obtain possession of which was the motive to murder the slave James.
“ Their confessions alone were received, and when stated,, will surely be amply sufficient to have convicted the two, who were convicted, and the other, who was not convicted.
“ The proof was clear, that thirteen oxen belonging to Col. Morris, were stolen from his cattle-pen. One of them, a steer, with a red head, escaped, and returned. In the pen was the house of the cattle-minder, James, an exceedingly vigilant and faithful negro. He was missed on Friday, the 10th of October; his skeleton was found on Thursday 17th, about six hundred yards from the cattle-pen. The remains (the skeleton) were fully identified by the clothing, the color of the skin, a fragment of which remains, and other circumstances which it is now unnecessary to mention. It appeared, that his jaw bone had been severed at the chin, one of his lower ribs on the left side was broken, the left arm between the . elbow and shoulder was also broken, the right foot, at the instep, was cut off! It appeared, that a negro, Sancho, belonging to ¥m, Elliott, Esq., was concerned in stealing tbe cattle and killing tbe negro. -
“ Tbe confession of Robert Miller made to McDonald, wbo bad been sent to summon bim to tbe inquest, and wbo warned bim not to tell bim anything about it — to make '(if be cbose to make a confession) bis statement to tbe Magistrate acting as Coroner, — was to tbe following effect: be said tbat Winning-barn and Sancbo bad been twice to tbe pen to get tbe cattle— tbat tbe negro was too watchful — tbat tbey determined to kill the negro — tbat be and Bowman went witb them — tbat Win-ningkam and Sancbo entered tbe pen — tbat be was nigh enough to give assistance, if needed- — tbat Bowman was left in a clump of bushes one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards off— tbat be beard two blows struck — tbat Winningham and Sancbo brought out tbe negro James — tbat be told Sancbo to call Bowman — be was surprised to find be bad joined them— be, Bowman, asked, what have you done witb James, have y'ou killed bim? It was replied, we have fixed bim so he can't get u%>, or halloo any more. Tbe witness told bim not to tell bim about it, to stop: be, Miller, said, be would not have bis neck cracked for one hundred dollars, (alluding to tbe price for which tbe stolen cattle was sold in Charleston.)
"Nat. Bowman told this same witness, ‘I am going to tell all I know.’ He said, tbat be, Winningham, Robert Miller and Sancbo, went on tbe night of tbe murder, near to tbe cattle-pen; be stopped before be got to it; be saw Robert Miller, Winningham and Sancbo, go towards tbe pen — be saw them no more until tbey returned, bearing tbe negro: tbey did not take tbe cattle tbat night-; tbey concluded to take them tbe next, which tbey did. Tbey turned them out, and guarded them tbe next day in Summers’ old field — drove them Saturday night to Charleston, called up tbe butcher before day, and Winningham sold them.
“Robert Bowman, a younger brother of tbe prisoner Nathaniel, proved tbat be saw Winningham guarding six teen bead of cattle in tbe old rice field (wbicb I understood to be Summers’ old field:) be told bim they were stolen cattle. Tbis witness proved, that bis brother Nathaniel told bim, that Robert Miller, Isaac Winningham and Sancho, killed tbe negro: be said Isaac knocked bim down, Robert Miller cut bis throat, and Sancho carried bim out: be stood behind a clump of bushes. To Wm. McDonald, Winning-ham gave this account of bis whereabouts; on Saturday night, after tbe murder, be said, be started to go through Caucaw swamp — met at an Island a white man, and a negro driving six bead of cattle — tbe white man hired bim to help drive: tbe witness asked bim if they paid toll at Rantoles ? — be said, tbe negro let them through without paying toll, did not know who tbe white man or negro was^>'
“ Tbe acting Coroner proved, that be told Co* hám and Bowman not to criminate themselv»: ment made before bim. Winningham stated tfia axe, (found, as I understood, in tbe pen): h<|\ S; Sancho with it on Thursday. He said, that be, and Sancho, went Thursday night for tbe cattle, drove'H«3.em out of tbe pen: did not see (James) tbe negro. On Thursday, Sancho said be bad killed bim. He saw Robert Miller on Thursday. He, Winningham, told Bowman on Thursday that Sancho bad killed tbe negro. He said they took twelve bead of cattle, drove them into tbe swamp : be said Bowman sold tbe cattle in Charleston for one hundred and eighteen dollars: — his, Winningkam’s share, was eighteen dollars— Robert Miller got thirteen dollars and eighty cents, Sancho got three dollars. He said Sancho told him he killed James with an axe. He said, all the (six) prisoners had knowledge of this murder, and received their shares of the money for which the stolen cattle were sold. ■JBowman^^
“There was much other testimony corroborating this proof, and going far to implicate James Miller, Murray and Williams.
“ Tbe Solicitor bad indicted tbem as accessories before tbe fact to tbe murder, in one count, as committed by Sancbo tbe slave, and others: be offered under tbe authority of tbe /State vs. Sims, 2 Bail. 35, tbe confessions of tbe slave to show bis own guilt. It was received for that purpose alone, and tbe jury were told that it could have no effect beyond it.
“ I submitted tbe case most carefully to tbe jury. I presume, James Miller, Murray and Williams owe their escape very much to my saying to tbe jury, that I thought they ought to be acquitted, tbe proof not being as to tbem sufficient to convict, although a very strong case of suspicion bad been proved.
“ It was in reference to tbem that tbe confessions of Bowman, Miller and Winningham were received on tbe ground, that they were accomplices. And in reference to tbem I said to tbe jury, if they all were confederated to steal tbe cattle, then tbe confessions or admissions of each would be evidence against tbe others. Tbe proof was clear, that they were all associated to steal tbe cattle, in this case, and in another subsequently tried, in which they all were convicted of stealing tbe twelve oxen. But of this instruction the prisoners have no right to complain, for their own confessions with that of Bowman, their confederate, present at tbe murder, were alone received.
“ Tbe jury very properly convicted Robert Miller and Isaac Winningham.”
They appealed and moved for a new trial, on tbe grounds
T. Because, the prisoners were entitled to a copy of the indictment, three days before tbe trial, and tbe same was refused.
2. Because, tbe declarations of some of tbe prisoners were received against the others, before proof of combination and conspiracy.
3. Because, bis Honor charged the jury, that if the defendants were connected in the stealing, or the killing, the confession of one is evidence against the whole.
4. Because, there was no evidenee of confederacy to commit the homicide.
5. Because, the statements or confessions of * the slave (Sancho) were incompetent.
6. Because, the verdict was contrary to the law and evidence.
Youmans, Williams, Perry, for appellants.
jPayne, Attorney General, contra.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Withers, J.
We have given to this cause such degree of anxious consideration as propérly belongs to one involving such momentous consequences, embracing not merely what concerns the prisoners, on the one hand, but something of what concerns the reasonably prompt application of public justice, on the other. We have been able to detect no mistake in the instructions given to the jury, or in any ruling upon questions of evidence upon any of the grounds, impeaching it, that have not been obviated by the report. It is quite unnecessary, therefore, to enter into the discussion of matters, derived from such grounds of appeal as the topics of argument here. It is also proper to say, that the resolution of the jury of the whole evidence, as to the guilt of the prisoners, does not present anything which would justify this Court in interposing, by the exercise of its high discretion in capital cases, between tbe verdict of tbe jury and its most grave consequences.
Tbe subject wbicb must be discussed and adjudged, arises upon tbe first ground taken, to wit, that in relation to tbe right of tbe prisoners to a copy of tbe indictment three days before tbe trial.
Tbe 43d sec. of an Act of 1731, 3 Stat. 286, after reciting, (among other things,) that innocent persons, under criminal prosecutions, may suffer, from ignorance of tbe laws, as not knowing howto make a just defence, enacts, that "all persons that shall be accused and indicted for high treason, petit treason, murder, felony, or other capital offence whatsoever, shall have a true copy of tbe whole indictment, but not tbe names of tbe witnesses, delivered to them, or any of them, three days, at least, before be or they shall be tried for tbe same, whereby to enable them, or any of them, respectively, to advise with counsel thereupon, bis or their attorney or at-tornies, agent or agents, or any of them, requiring the same, and paying tbe officer bis reasonable fees for writing thereof, paying the usual fees for tbe copy of every such indictment."
Tbe first question is, at what time, at tbe latest, must tbe prisoner, or bis representative, "require" tbe said copy, upon pain of being held to a waiver of tbe right ?
There seems to be no period, when this musí be done, so suitable as that of arraignment. Of course application may be made at any time before, or a copy may be tendered tbe prisoner before. It is perfectly clear, that three days are peremptorily granted to tbe prisoner to use a copy of tbe indictment on tbe business of preparing for bis " trial," and arranging tbe means of showing what is called bis "just defence.'' There may be instances, where a prisoner is not arrested and may not know even that an indictment has been preferred and found against him, and notwithstanding be may be captured and instantly arraigned. In many cases, especially those in which, a prisoner is unable to employ counsel, obscure and friendless, though he be incarcerated in the jail of the district where the indictment is found, he is yet as little able to have any sufficient knowledge of proceedings, as if he were beyond seas. Upon arraignment, the indictment is read to him: it may be bunglingly done, and he, in the confusion of terror and shame, dull of apprehension, wholly unlettered; but he is thus formally accused of what touches his life, and such occasion presents the earliest period at which we can be sure he can hear it and have any knowledge of its contents, for the first time. We do not think it safe, therefore, to fix a rule that shall compel a prisoner, charged capitally, to submit to a computation of the three days granted from a period anterior to that of arraignment.
The next question is, shall we consider what occurred at the arraignment of these prisoners, in conjunction with others, as equivalent to a requisition of the copy of the indictment ? The presiding Judge did not so consider it. It is to be regretted, that the counsel who raise the question, had not been more explicit, or that a clearer understanding, of what they affirm was meant, had not been given to the Court.
Winningham and Miller do not occupy the same position in the particular now considered. Upon the arraignment none of the five prisoners, except the former, referred to the right in question, though the others were represented by chosen counsel, and he had to appeal for the like benefit, to the favor of the Court, guarranteed (as it is) by the same section of the aforesaid Act. Miller, with three of the others, moved and obtained a bench warrant for witnesses represented to be absent and material; that, undoubtedly looked to atrial, and this would have been impossible, during the time, if Miller meant to insist upon the privilege, now in contemplation, which the statute accorded to him, though a copy of the indictment might also have been demanded in perfect consistency with such a motion to secure witnesses if the time had been sufficient. It was Thursday, however, and the three days would have ended with the term. Winningham said he was not ready for trial, and insisted upon a continuance, upon the ground, that he was " allowed to have a copy of the indictment three days before the trial." A continuance beyond the current term was denied. This occurred in the presence of the other prisoners, and we have no means of knowing whether Miller and his counsel may have been then silent, as to a continuance or a copy, and failed to make a point in relation thereto, in consequence of what was addressed by the Court to Winningham's case. So it was, nothing was said as to that matter, on the part of Miller, until all were produced for trial, when Miller and the rest took the same ground that Winningham had taken upon arraignment. Touching Win-ningham's case a majority of the Court feel constrained to say, that what he did, being, as we have said, at the right time, or the suitable time, for that purpose, should have been regarded as " requiring" a copy of the indictment. The statute seems to be solicitous to secure this privilege, as one of consequence in the vindication of innocence, and though we are far from expressing the opinion that the present is such a case, yet it is not safe to be too exact in the interpretation of what is, for the most part, hastily done on circuit, to the exclusion of what the law considers a material right in such cases as this, and we cannot venture to place Winningham's right, under the law, upon what we might conclude as to his manifest guilt. The right is in no degree dependent upon the special qualities of any case. It is considered fit and proper, that the right in question should' be exercised in open Court, and upon arraignment; whereupon an order (which sometimes may be necessary to effectuate the object) can be made obligatory upon the clerk, to be executed upon the condition that the prisoner, his agent or attorney, pay the fees, as provided by law. This would shut out all contest or ambiguity, as to whether the demand was made and when made; so that the computation of time can. be attended by accuracy. It would be unsatisfactory, tbat one whose life is imperiled should fail to obtain a copy of the record, where it was demanded in good faith, by reason of inability to pay the fees. It is, perhaps, not likely to occur; but, however that may be, the law must have its course.-
We have a case, overlooked in this discussion, and unpublished when the State v. Quarral, 2 Bay, 152, and the Same v. Fisher, 2 N. & McC. 264, were decided. It was adjudged in 1794, anterior to the earliest of those two, and is the case of the State v. Gray Briggs, 1 Brev. 8. The indictment was for horse stealing: the prisoner was arraigned on Thursday, (as in the case before us,) and demanded, under the same Act of 1731, a copy of the indictment, and three days to prepare for trial; was produced for trial on the Monday following, objected that the three days had not expired, because Sunday, which was non-juridical, was one of these, citing 4 Burr. 2130, and 1 Dallas, 327. Sed joer Curiam, Waties, J. — " The rule with respect to time is, to include the day on which the motion is made. The computation of time must commence from the time when the motion was made. The whole day must be included, because there can be no fractions of a day." However this resolution may conflict with judicial interpretation, of good repute, English and American, we must accept it as good authority for us, and the more readily since it may aid to withdraw what would otherwise prove a great impediment to the course of speedy public justice, in consideration of short terms, and great pressure of dockets. Two points are determined directly or inferentially: 1, that arraignment is the proper time, not too late at any rate, to demand a copy of the indictment : 2, that the day of the motion shall be reckoned as one day of the three allowed. With alacrity in the finding of the bill and prompt arraignment, the last position may serve to diminish the hazard of that delay' of public justice towards tbe innocent, or towards great offenders, as the case may be, which may ensue in many cases, as the matter is, from demanding a copy of the indictment at a term restricted to six days for all kinds of business, and the first day devoted to the summary process docket. But the right is clear; it may prove of vast consequence in some cases, we are not to say in which, however we may suspect, that in the present instance it is of little consequence upon the merits. If the evil be such as we fear it may prove to be, a remedy can be applied by the legislature by reducing the term of three days. As the matter of right is beyond our discretion or control, it must be conceded to Winningham, ex debito justicim.
The diversity in Miller's case has been pointed out. Claiming, as already said, a matter of strict, naked, legal right, which when due we cannot withhold, and when not due we ought not to concede to a case in which we are confident clear justice has been administered, a majority of us have been driven to the conclusion, that in strictness, Miller waived his right to claim the benefit (if any there be) to be derived from the Act of 1731. We have encouragement to say so from what is said in the two cases above cited, from 2 Bay, & 2 N. & McO., as well as in the observations of Judge Story, in the case of the United States v. Curtis, 4 Mason, at p. 244, as follows; " a party may have a legal right to an exception, which he cannot take in every stage of a cause. The law points out an order in its proceedings, and requires that a party should take his exceptions, and demand his privileges, at such time as general justice and convenience require; otherwise he is deemed to waive them. A party is certainly at liberty to waive any privileges introduced solely for his benefit; and if he is satisfied in going on without them, and sustains no prejudice thereby, there seems no ground to arrest the judgment, or grant a new trial, on this account In that same case, after the jury had possession of it, and the complaint was, that the prisoner had not been furnished with a copy of tbe indictment, it was proposed by tbe Court to withdraw tbe cause, that'the privilege should be allowed, not that it was matter of right in the prisoner, but of discretion in the Court.
Notwithstanding what we have laid down for law as to Miller's case, to a majority of the Court, (and I am not of that majority on this point,) it appears proper to exercise in behalf of Miller, the high discretion with which the appellate tribunal is vested, in capital cases, and which has been heretofore exercised (vide the State v. Kirby, 1 Strob. 155) to grant a new trial, whenever any misapprehension may have affected the line of a prisoner's defence, or ample time or opportunity may not have been had by one whose life has been declared forfeited, to meet a material question suddenly started, and working some surprise, and the like. Kirby's case was one affected by this last consideration. It may be, as some of the Court think, that Miller did not press a motion that he might have made, after hearing what befel Winning-ham's. Under such circumstances, in view of the fact that there is serious division in the Court, and that it is not desirable to separate the fate of the two, who have been partners in the shocking crime imputed to them, and have been tried together, upon such point as has been herein discussed, it is thought best to send both persons before another jury, who, after the prisoners shall have had every legal right which they can claim from the law, and every advantage that can be conceded by a liberal discretion, will, in the end, do that solemn duty which the highest sanctions impose, as well towards the guilty as the innocent.
The motion for a new trial is granted to Winningham as a matter of strict, technical, right, and, upon the considerations set forth, to Miller, ex gratia.
Wardlaw, Whither, and MüNro, JJ., concurred.
O'Neall, J.
In these cases I adhere to the views stated in the report, and the prisoners ought not to have a new trial.
If there was the slightest ground to believe, that either, or both prisoners were believed by any one to be innocent, I would willingly, nay gladly, consent to a new trial, although I believed there was no legal ground for it. But when they stand before me plainly guilty of the most atrocious murder, ever committed in the State, I should feel that I was derelict in my duty if I did not hold them to a strict observance of law.
Neither of them legally demanded a copy of the indictment, and how a proposition to continue can be construed into such a demand, I confess I cannot perceive.
Motion granted.