Case Name: Eastham v. Holt, Judge
Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Jurisdiction: West Virginia
Decision Date: 1897-09-14
Citations: 43 W. Va. 599
Docket Number: 
Parties: Eastham v. Holt, Judge.
Judges: (McWhorter, Judge, eonourring.)
Reporter: West Virginia Supreme Court
Volume: 43
Pages: 599–637

Head Matter:
September Term, 1897.
CHARLES TOWN.
Eastham v. Holt, Judge.
(McWhorter, Judge, eonourring.)
(ENGLISH, Pkesident, and Dent, Judge, dissenting.)
Submitted September 3, 1897
Decided September 14, 1897.
1. Prohibition — Abuse of Power — Jurisdiction of Court.
Prohibition. When it lies for abuse of power when court has jurisdiction, (p. 601.)
2. Grand Jury — Discharge of Grand Jury — New Grand Jury List.
Grand Jury. When it may be discharged. Does its improper discharge impair indictment by a subsequent jury? How many can there be at regular or adjourned term? When court may order new grand jury list. (p. 602.)
3. Grand Jury — Talesmen—Statutes—Common-Law.
Grand Jury. Organization of. Gan circuit court test the qualifications of those on the list? .Does formation or expression of opinion disqualify? Excusing them. Talesmen. Must they come from the county court list- exclusively? Does the statute as to selection and summoning grand jurors exclude wholly the common-law method and powers of the court? Does excusing a competent grand juror impair indictment if his place is filled by a competent one? (p. 605.)
4. GRAND 3 wry — Challenge to the Array — Evidence.
Grand Jury. Is there a right to a challenge to the array or polls, or must objection be by plea in abatement? Can accused ask a particular charge, or except to the charge? Has his counsel the right to discuss questions as to competency or organization? Has defendant the right to send witnesses to grand jury? Gan grand jury hear evidence other than that of state? (p. 617.)
6. Grand Jury — Indictment—Murder—Manslaughter.
Grand Jury. Is a charge that where a homicide is proven, and no circumstances of excuse appear, it is proper that the indictment should be for murder, erroneous, in not saying that the jury have power to find an indictment for manslaughter? 'Does it affect an indictment for murder? (p. 615.)
6. Indictment — Bias of Judge.
Does bias of the judge impair an indictment? (p. 615.)
7. Disc ha roe op Accused — Nolle Prosequi.
Discharge of Accused. When he is entitled to, if not indicted, or on nolle prosequi, (p. 617)
8. Judge — Abuse of Power.
Will keeping a grand jury in custody of sheriff, or refusing to bail, or refusing to sign exceptions as to formation of grand jury, show such abuse of power by judge as to impair indictment? (p. 612.)
9. Constitutional Daw — Prohibition.
Is the statute giving power to a single judge of Supreme Court to award a rule in prohibition constitutional? (p. 620.)
Petition of one Eastham for a writ of prohibition directed to one Holt, judge of the Circuit Court. 'Writ-denied by operation of law, because of a divided Court.
Denied-
O. W. Dailey, F. M. Reynolds, Maeshall McCormick, 0. O. StRíeby, J. T. MoGeaw, W. B. Maxwell, H. G. Moe-eett, and E. C. Reynolds, for petitioner.
A. G. Dayton, J. J. Davis, John A. Howaed, War. 0. Clayton, A. M. Cunningham, A. B. Paiisons, and Wm. G. Conley, for respondent.

Opinion:
BRAnnon, Judge:
Eastham was indicted in the Circuit Court of Tucker County for the murder of Thompson, and he obtained from a judge of this Court a rule against the judge of the cir cuit. court of that county to show cause why a writ of prohibition should not be awarded to him to prohibit the circuit court from further proceeding upon said' indictment. The State of West Virginia moves to discharge that rule as improvidently awarded, and thus we have the question whether prohibition lies in this matter. This Court has repeatedly laid down, in harmony with the law elsewhere, that the writ of prohibition lies only where the inferior court is entertaining a cause where it has no jurisdiction, or Avhere, having jurisdiction, it abuses that lawful jurisdiction, and there is no other adequate remedy, and that it does not lie where other processes answer the demands of justice according to the usual legal procedure. Observe that, to warrant prohibition, two things must concur : (1) That the court has no jurisdiction, or is abusing its lawful jurisdiction; and (2) that there is no other remedy to correct its error. Code 1891, c. 110, s. 1; County Court v. Boreman, 34 W. Va. 362 (12 S. E. 490), and citations. No one can or does question that the Circuit Court of Tucker has jurisdiction to impanel a grand jury to inquire of and prefer an indictment for murder, and to try the case upon such indictment, or that it had jurisdiction in this particular instance; but the claim of Eastham's counsel is that, though that court had lawful jurisdiction of the subject-matter, yet that in the action of the court in the formation of the grand jury, and the bias and prejudice of the judge manifested in dealing with the grand juries while considering the case, and in other respects, the court abused and exceeded its lawful power, rendering the very indictment itself no indictment in law, — a mere nullity. Let us see whether the circumstances do make this indictment a mere blank in law; for, if it is not such, a prohibition can not be allowed.
A grand jury indicted Eastham for involuntary manslaughter, — a misdemeanor; and the prosecuting attorney, thinking that he should be tried for a higher grade of offense, dismissed this indictment by nolle prosequi. The court then made an order directing the county court to meet, and make up a list of persons from which grand jurors were tobe drawn, and adjourned until an adjourned term, when a grand jury was impaneled, and reported that they could not agree to find "A true bill," or "Not a true bill," and were adjourned until tbe next morning; and, as the judge's answer to the rule says, after the adjournment the prosecuting attorney called on the judge, and stated that the foreman had requested him to say to the judge that it was useless to hold the grand jury longer, as it was hopelessly divided, and would not be able to reach a finding of any kind. The record says that they reported they could not agree in a finding. Eastham represents that the grand jury said that they had not as yet agreed as to his case. No other business remained for the grand jury. Taking the judge's answer and the record as true, the discharge of the grand jury was not improper. It is within tbe discretion of a court to discharge a grand jury. It is a common-law power. Our code recognizes this power in saying that "when one grand jury has been discharged another may, by order of the court, be summoned to attend the same term. " Code 1891 s. 10, c. 157. And section 9 says that, when one grand jury has found an indictment not a true bill, another indictment may be sent to it, or acted on by another grand jury, showing that the State may have another grand jury, and persist in her prosecution. Of course, it can do so where there is no finding at all, as here. It is not possible to say that we must minutely inquire whether this discharge was wise, and, if not wise, that it shall vitiate an indictment found by a subsequent grand jury. The defendant cannot take advantage of it, as its discharge released him from peril from that grand jury, unless we assume that it would have found for a low grade of offense, .or none, and then say he had a vested right to have his case passed on finally by that grand jury. We cannot say this. And, if it had returned "Not a true bill," it would be no bar to a second indictment. How can it affect a later indictment? That stands on its own feet, and the discharge of the former grand jury is irrelevant in considering the indictment by a subsequent one; the question then being, is the work of the later grand jury a valid indictment? The court ordered the clerks of the county and circuit courts, on the motion of the State, as authorized by chapter 157, section 1, to draw another grand jury, and on a subsequent day of the term it assembled and found an indictment for. murder. Burton's Case, 4 Leigh, 647, states the common-law to be that another grand jury may he ordered upon two occasions. (1) If before the close of the session the grand jury have brought in all their bills and are discharged, and a new offense is committed, or an offender is brought in. (2) "The second ordinary instance of a new grand jury returned is upon the statute 3 Hen. VIL c. 1, namely, a grand inquest to inquire into concealment of another grand inquest, 'etc. 2 Hale, P. 0. 154, 156." So says Chit. Or. Law, 314; Thomp. & M. Jur. § 497. Likely it was thought by the judge that under the principle here stated he was warranted in calling another jury. There was found in the grand jury room, and shown him, a memorandum signed by the clerk of the second jury, reading as follows : "We, the grand jury, find from the evidence before us as follows: That R. W. Eastham made numerous threats against E. E. Thompson. We find thatR. W. Eastham assaulted Thompson in the car; one wit. testifying that, to the best of his -knowledge and belief, that Eastham fired the 2 first shots. We find thatF. E. Thompson died from wounds received in the above encounter." As his reason for ordering a new list of grand jurors to be made up, the judge states that he learned reliably that the county clerk, whose duty it was to draw the grand jury, was openly and avowedly in sympathy with the accused, and that the names in the box from which grand juries were to be drawn, and from which the last one had been drawn, were on slips of paper not folded so as to conceal the names, but open, so that the clerk, if he desired, could select particular ones, and that he (the judge) was reliably informed and believed that such clerk would, if possible, draw an unfair and partial grand jury, and that, as he thought it to be his duty and power, he opened the box in the presence of the prosecuting attorney and clerk of the circuit court, and found said slips of paper unfolded and the names unconcealed, so that any one drawing names could make choice, and therefore he ordered a new list. Section 2, chapter 157, allows the court to open this box, and section 1 allows the court to order a new list. A large discretion is here given the court for the administration of justice. Surely for its mere exercise we cannot review it.
We must now inquire as to the third grand jury, for here is the kernel of the case. I view all antecedent circumstances as immaterial, as this grand jury and its indictment. must stand or fall on their own strength or weakness. These antecedent circumstances as to the two former grand juries may be used as circumstances to sustain the grave charge made against the judge of bias against the accused, to which I will below refer. We have seen that when one grand jury is discharged another may be summoned for the same term. But it is said this was the third at the same term, and that not more than two can sit at the same term. Why not? This ought not to be the law, if it is; for there may occur grave offenses during a long term, and the public and the accused have the right to a speedy trial. It is clear that a criminal court possesses at common law, without statute, inherent power to impanel grand juries, and I know no limit; but I know, on above authority, that it can summon new grand juries at the same term, and this inherent power carries the ability to summon new ones as often as necessity exists. Opinion in Burton's Case, 4 Leigh. 648; Shinn's Case, 32 Grat. 899. But counsel say that when the Code says that, when one grand jury is discharged, "another" may be summoned for the same term, it means only one other, — a very strict construction, depriving a court of a power given by common • law for wise purposes in the speedy administration of justice. It means no such unreasonable thing. It only means to declare, out of great caution, what the common law gave, — a power to have further grand juries. Why so narrowly construe a remedial clause? If it had been intended to change the common-law power, and limit to one grand jury, why did not the lawmaker, if he had in his head that purpose, say so? Mere implication cannot so crop the powers of a court. And just now I notice, what is strongly conhmatory of this view, that Code, c. 157, s. 1, provides that "any circuit-court may, at a special or adjourned term thereof, whenever it shall be proper to do so, order a grand jury to be drawn and summoned to attend such term." Who is to judge when it is proper to do so, — the judge or prosecuting attorney, or an accused? I say the public functionaries, as grand juries are to subserve public ends. And it may well be that more than two juries are needed at a regular or adjourned term. This shows, in connection with section 10, saying that when one jury is discharged another may be summoned, a clear intent to have a second jury, or more, either at the regular or adjourned term (that is, two at the adjourned term), and not to count the one at the regular term, and thus disable the court from having two or more at the adjourned or regular term. So it is clear that no law forbids three grand juries at one term.
It is alleged that the list of grand jurors is not mentioned in the record of the county court. There is no denial that the list was in fact, made by the county court. It is found in the possession of the lawful custodian, the clerk, as well as ballots made from it. This duty of a county court is merely ministerial, not judicial.
Another objection is that the court illegally excluded certain grand jurors. The court asked the jurors whether they knew the circumstances of the case, or had formed or expressed an opinion about it. The broad position is taken that, when the county court makes its list of persons for grand jury service, it finally settles their qualifications, and the court cannot inquire into their qualifications, to see if they are freeholders, or otherwise qualified, because section 8, chapter 157, Code, says that all grand jurors shall be selected from the list by drawing ballots, and those drawn must serve, qualified or not. If so, one not a freeholder when placed on the list, or becoming such later, must be seated, in the teeth of the act disqualifying him. If he is then deaf or insane, or afterwards becomes so, he must, serve, under this doctrine. The law says that the county court shall select freeholders who are "in other respects qualified," and not constables, hotel keepers, surveyors of roads, or owners or occupiers of mills. It can not have been meant that the court, which has the duty of impaneling, is powerless to carry out this legislative intention by inquiring into qualifications. The Michigan act says those drawn "shall be the jury to try the cause" (Comp. Laws 1857, § 4392), — as strong language as our act; yet, held, the court may select others. Mining Co. v. Johnston, 23 Mich. 37. The old law was that the slier-•iff should return a list. Did anybody then imagine that the court, could not go behind his decision and test their competency? They always did so. The only difference is that now the county court makes the list, performing a merely ministerial act, not judicial; and this list does not conclusively establish the qualifications of those on it, but merely presents names for lawful selection from them by the court impaneling the jury, according to its functions at the common law. In both cases the lists are only lists. The court can test qualifications: The court in this case put to the jurors fair and impartial questions, as to whether they had heard the facts, or had formed or expressed an opinion as to the case, and excused five, and put others in their places. I do not think this was proper, because our statute allows the unsworn statement of two grand jurors to call for an indictment, and this shows that a bystander fully conversant with facts may be a grand juror. And I do not think the formation or expression of an opinion as to the case calls for exclusion, though Chief Justice Marshall, in the great trial of Aaron Burr, (Fed. Cas. No. 14,692g) for treason, allowed this objection, and other very respectable authorities have allowed it. 3 Bob.'Prac. 89. It is fair to say that much authority can be found giving a court, even in felony trials, power to discharge jurors. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 258, 259. There it is laid down that, as the selection is for the court to secure fit persons, large discretion is given, and that "it by no means follows that, because certain causes have been declared sufficient to justify the trial court in excusing a juror, the sufficiency of excuses in general must be considered a matter of law. On the contrary, it may be considered as the recognized rule that the discharge of a juror under these circumstances is a matter addressed to the sound discretion of the court, which will not be reviewed in the absence of evidence showing prejudice to the complaining party from the abuse of such discretion." 5 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 5. And in section 580, subsec. 1, Thoinp. & M. Jur., this doctrine is applied to grand juries. The great law writer, Bishop, says perhaps a greater number of courts have upheld this ground of exclusion, and he only doubts it. because of the difficulty of enforcing it where so many cases come before a jury, rather sanctioning the principle of excluding for formed opinions, and treating it. as an open question. 1 Bish. Or. Proc. § 881. But it is treated in argu ment in tliis case as utterly unheard of, and as violating the right of the accused and unprecedented. Complaint is made as if the jury were not fair, and yet an examination calculated to get an unbiased jury, free from formed opinion, is relied upon to overthrow its work. How could those questions hurt the State or the accused? But I do not think it proper to exclude for this cause, as there can he no challenge of grand jurors for favor, though there may he for cause, as not a freeholder. Mere favor will not do. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 574; State v. Hamlin, 36 Am. Rep. 54; note, Com. v. Green, (Pa. Sup.) 12 Am. St. Rep. 906 (s. c. 17 Atl. 878); State v. Davis, 34 Am. Rep. 706; Com. v. Woodward (Mass.) 34 Am. St. Rep. 302, and note (s. c. 32 N. E. 989). Challenge for favor does not prevail in Virginia. 3 Rob. Frac. 92.
The judge, in-his sworn return to the rule, says he had learned that grand jurors had been approached and tampered' with by friends of the accused, and he deemed it his duty to put these questions, in the effort to get an impartial grand jury, and thought it proper, under the circumstances. The statute says they shall be freeholders, and "in other respects" qualified; and the court may have thought this course proper, under this language, and no doubt acted in this in good faith. But he enforced a qualification not a qualification. Then what is its effect? Does it nullify the indictment? I think not. There is no claim that those substituted were disqualified. This Court held that if qualified jurors -were rejected, and qualified jurors substituted, this would not vitiate a verdict, because, so the case is tried by a fair, qualified jury, that is all the party can ask. I refer to the discussion of this subject in Thompson v. Douglass, 35 W. Va. 337, 340 (13 S. E. 1015). I now find the position there taken sustained by authorities not there given. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 251, says: "Where a statute simply provides that an exception may be taken for disallowing a challenge, no exception lies for allowing a challenge," — and says : "The reason is that when a competent jury, composed of the requisite number of persons, has been impaneled the purpose [of the law is accomplished. Neither party can be said to have a vested interest in any juror. Therefore, though one competent person has been rejected, yet, if another equally competent has been substituted in Ids stead, no injury has been done." bee Id. § 259. Judge Obristiancy affirmed this doctrine in Mining Co. v. Johnston, 23 Mich. 37. See (strong instance) Com. v. Livermore, 4 Gray, 18, where a juror in a criminal case was excused, though qualified, and it was held no error. Judge Hughes, in the United States Circuit. Court of Virginia, thought it better to excuse such juror, and held that where a foreman is relieved, and another substituted, it did not affect the indictment. U. S. v. Belvin, 46 Fed. 381. See (strong case) State v. Hunter, 43 La. Ann 157 (8 South 624). State v. Schieler (Idaho) 37 Pac. 272, holds it right to excuse a grand juror informed of facts. I refer specially to a case just met with, and the opinion, holding that a grand juror may be excused by the court on its own motion, if the one substituted be qualified. See the opinion in U. S. v. Jones, 69 Fed. 973. Yet here, in the case of a mere grand jury, this is claimed to nullify its Avork. For stronger reason this rule applies to a'grand jury, as said in the Vermont case of State v. Ward, 14 Atl. 187, 194, where it is said that the accused had no vested right to a particular grand juror, and the right to excuse, exercised for good purposes to promote justice, was properly exercised. See that opinion. It is a mere irregularity, or rather error of judgment, in the judge, but the grand jury is none the less one assembled under color of law, by a- competent court, and not a body of usurpers, wholly unauthorized. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 140, says: "The grand jury is merely an accusing body, and the liberty of the ' citizen does not require that nice inquiry should be made into the manner in which it has been organized. The main question is whether the prisoner has been justly accused or not. Such attacks have been successful in American courts with scandalous frequency, and almost universally to the thwarting of public justice and the injury of society. But with reference to the constitution of the .body to try the prisoner the question is entirely different." Thompson & Merriam say in section 554: "In view of the fact that, the finding of a grand jury is only an accusation, at most, it is not surprising that courts should not be astute in discovering technical irregularities in the process of procuring this jury [grand jury]," — and quotes Justice Swayne as saying in U. S. v. Ambrose, 3 Fed. 287: "Whatever occurs iu regard to the constitution of a grand jury is really a matter of very little importance to the defendant. It is fairly to be supposed that if one grand jury, made up in good faith, has found an indictment, another, on the same testimony, would find another. So that the only benefit to the defendant, even if that be a beneficial result, would be delay before the trial." Same effect, 9 Am. & Eng. Euc. Law, 8, note. Having said that this mere error of judgment of the judge does not make the grand jury a body of usurpers, void and of no authority, I refer to the dissenting opinions of Judges Beatty and He Haven m the California case of Bruner v. Superior Court, 28 Pac. 351, 352, and the case of People v. Petrea, 92 N. Y. 128, where an indictment by a grand jury drawn from a petit jury list under an unconstitutional statute was held valid, and the party tried under it, and it was held no infraction of the right given by the constitution to be first indicted by a grand jury. The court said : "The grand jury, though not selected in pursuance of a valid law, were selected under color of law and semblance of legal authority. The defendant in fact enjoyed all the protection which he would have had if the jurors had been selected and drawn pursuant to the General Statutes. Nothing could be more unsubstantiated than the alleged right asserted by the defendant under the circumstances of this case. An indictment was found by a body drawn, summoned, and sworn as a grand jury, before a competent court, and comjrosed of good and lawful men. This fulfilled the constitutional guaranty. The jury was a defacto jury, selected and organized under the forms of law." "Moreover," said the judge, "they were good and lawful men, duly qualified to sit as grand jurors." Mere irregularity in the manner of selecting the grand jury, when objection does not go to the competency of jurors, can not be taken advantage of even on plea in abatement. 1 Wharf. Cr. Law, § 472, note, and State v. Ward (Vt.) 14 Atl. .192.
After the exclusion of five of those summoned, it became necessary to supply them, as the law requires only sixteen to attend a term. It is argued that they must be from the list prepared by the county court. This would require the clerk of the circuit court to summon the clerk of the county court to meet him and make a new list, and they would have to be summoned by venire facias-, and the statute provides for this formulary to be done twenty days before a term, at least. Plainly, the statute does not provide for all this in case the sixteen attending are cut down below the lawful jury of fifteen.. Is the court powerless to complete the panel? The common-law, in cases wherein the statute does not provide, would .say to the court to go on by directing the sheriff to summon talesmen forthwith. The dispatch of business requires it. Com. v. Green (Pa. Sup.) 17 Atl. 978. The very power to impanel a jury carries with it. this power. Thomp. & M. Jur. 581; Burton's Case, 4 Leigh 645. If there be no common-law power to summon talesmen (I think there is), it is all the more necessary to give this remedial construction to our statute. The argument is that section 3 of chapter 157 says all grand jurors shall be taken from such list, and that not even the language of section 10, that "if the foreman or. any grand juror be unable or fail to attend after being sworn, another may be sworn in his stead," will let the court, fill his place except from the county court list. The act does not say' so. How inconvenient ! The common-law power cannot be taken away by such mere implication. The idea that a court can be thus disarmed of its wonted and necessary powers cannot be sustained. This section does but declare the old inherent common-law power of the court. Again, it is argued that, section 10, when it. says : "If a sufficient number do not attend, the court shall direct the sheriff to forthwith summon as many others as may be necessary, whether their names are in such list or not., but who shall in other respects be qualified to act as grand jurors," — not only does not declare the right of the court to summon talesmen to fill the places of those who attend but are rejected, but impliedly prohibits it, as it allows such summoning only to fill vacancies caused by nonattendance. Rigid construction, — very rigid, — paralyzing, almost, the court from going on with its business. I say that that language, fairly construed, plainly intended to provide against failure to complete, for any cause, a jury from those attending, and only declares the common-law, inherent power of the court, possessed by it because it is a criminal court empowered to inquire by its grand jury and try public offenses, to complete its grand jury once begun. Why say it applies only in one event, nonattendance, when from many causes the sixteen will prove inadequate? The word "forthwith" negatives any idea that you must go through the routine of issuing a new venire facias, summoning clerk, and drawing ballots. The statute declares that it makes no difference- whether those summoned are on the county court's list or not, overriding the contention that talesmen can only come from it, if it applies to other cases than failure to attend. In 9 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 4, we read: "Where a statute provides the manner in which grand jurors shall be selected and drawn, it does not necessarily exclude the common-laAv method; and, if an exigency arises, a court may direct an open venire for the selection and summoning of a new panel."
Next it is objected that these talesmen were summoned by one not authorized. The sheriff' had the court appoint Haller and Lipscomp as special deputies "for the sole purpose of serving the summons on the special grand jury this day drawn" : and it is contended that their authority extended only to those on the list, not to summoning tales-men. This is drawing a very refined point. Those tales-men were a part of that grand jury. If fit to summon those on the list, why not the talesmen? Their power fairly extended to them! I am not sure that a deputy once made is so limited in authority, our statute giving him like power , with his principal. It is claimed that his powers had closed, because the sheriff', before he summoned talesmen, told Haller he had no further use for his services. There was no formal act of removal. But is it possible this can destroy totally the legality of the grand jury, and make its work void? To say so would be a travesty on justice, sticking in the bark and forgetting the heart of the, tree, making solemn legal proceedings perish for mere technicality. Not a word is said against the jurors this deputy summoned. The court swore them in as grand jurors, — a competent court. They did not leaven the mass, and make the jury a usurpative body. Our statute gives no challenge for such cause, — indeed, for any cause; and Tliomp. & M. Jur. § 557, says, as to the objection that a substitut-ue for a sheriff summoned grand jurors, that "statutory challenges to the panel are generally regarded as exclusive of all others, and therefore, if the statutes do not afford means of enforcing the right here conceded, by a challenge to panel, this can be done in no other way. And at coininon-law there seems to be no right to challenge the grand jury panel or jurors." Thomp. & M. Jur. § 507. Section 555 says : "It is not a sufficient ground for a challenge to the array that a jury list was prepared by defacto commissioners only." Much less so where a few talesmen are summoned by an agent of the court, almost, if not wholly, in its sight. With great emphasis the counsel of the accused- cite the case of Bruner v. Superior Court, 28 Pac. 341, bolding, under a California statute providing that where sufficient grand jurors are not present the court shall order the sheriff or an elisor to summon others, that grand jurors summoned by an elisor without its appearing that the sheriff was disqualified, were illegal, and made the grand jury and its indictment void, and justified a writ of prohibition because the indictment was void. This decision is illogical in itself, and loses force when we see that, out of seven judges, three entered dissent in very strong opinions, asserting that, though the elisor had no authority, yet the grand jury was not a void body, but assembled under color of law in a regular court, and was recognized as such. And there is no objection to their qualifications, only to the manner of summoning.
It is objected further against this indictment that the grand jury, at a recess for a meal, was put in charge of the sheriff, as if a petit jury, and this is charged to be contrary to law. It is unusual, but is it contrary to law? If a court thinks its grand jury may be exposed to undue influences, I would suppose it might take this precaution. How could it hurt the accused, in a legal point of view? A grand jury must go only on evidence, and no one has a vested right to have it exposed to danger of improper influences, if the judge thinks there is danger of it. He is the public functionary having supervision of it.
It is objected that the counsel for accused asked to see the indictment, but was refused. It was late at night, and the court was to adjourn ; and the judge says he thought prudent to take care of the paper, and, instead of allowing the original indictment to go into the hands of the attorneys, at once ordered the clerk to furnish a copy within an hour, and it- was furnished. This was a reasonable provision. The Code (chapter 159, section .1) does not give an accused or his counsel the original indictment, but a copy. I fail to see the eiFect of this to invalidate the indictment.
Another point made by the accused is that, the record of proceedings in the case as made in the order book is false, as regards the report made on the case by the second grand jury, and in stating that the talesmen were summoned by the sheriff, whereas they were summoned by Haller, under circumstances above given, and that the judge refused to correct the record. It, is clear that we must follow the court record as made by the constituted authority. The judge, however, admits in his answer that Haller summoned the talesmen; and I have treated that as a fact, and considered the question, though, perhaps, as contradicting the record, it might be disregarded, as inadmissible.
Another i>oint is that the judge refused to sign bills of exception setting out the challenge to the array, the exclusion of persons from the grand jury, the facts touching Haller's acting as deputy sheriff, and exception to charges given the grand jury. Bills were prepared, placed in the judge's hands to consider and before coming into court afterwards he was served with the rule in this case, and announced that for that, reason he would not sign them, as it would be in contempt of this Court, and would not alter said order book for a similar reason. I am clear in my own mind that the rule did not prohibit, the circuit court from manifesting by its order book and bills of exception its past action, but only further steps of prosecution, and yet I cannot say that one might not think, with some plausibility, that it stopped at, once all proceedings whatever. Would it be an abuse of power to think so? But prohibition does not lie for this. A mandamus to compel the signing is the proper remedy. The judge says he is willing and ready to sign when the prohibition ends, thus showing that he does not propose to abuse his power in this matter, so that prohibition, if it would lie, is not necessary on this score. He did sign a bill ,as to ordering a new grand jury.
It is urged that the court charged the grand juries erroneously. I shall not at this point refer to a charge to the second grand jury, as it is immaterial under this head. The accused asked the court to say to the grand jury which found the indictment that it had the right to call for any witnesses, if its members believed they could give testimony bearing on the case. The grand jury is a one-sided proceeding, and before it the accused has no right to appear or to send witnesses. It is only a means adopted by the state for inquiring whether its criminal law has been violated, and to present its accusations for jury trial. By no means does it hear the. whole case. It is only the state bringing a prosecution. The state presents to it its indictment, and the grand jury has only to say whether, upon the. state's showing, the accusation is well made, or proper to be tried by a jury. It is true the jury is sworn to present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; but the connection of that clause with its neighbor words in the oath shows that it is to prohibit them from the influence of malice, hatred, ill will, fear, favor, partiality, or affection ; and it certainly means no more than that they shall present the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as shown by the evidence presented by the state. They find on it. They do not go into a search for evidence to exculpate the defendant. Once lay down the rule otherwise, and the defendant, by some friend on the jury, will call up controversy, and virtually try both sides in the grand jury room, where the state can not be present by her attorney to sustain her charge by a full presentation of the law, and an inadequate investigation into her charge will take place, and prosecution for the gravest crime will be smothered and crime fostered. I know that it will be said the defendant may under this rule be the victim of false or mistaken prosecution. True, but that is inevitable in instances. If the oaths and other safeguards of the grand jury do not furnish adequate security against that misfortune, I can only say the wit of man has yet devised no better. His vindication comes before the petit jury. I know that some authority to the contrary can be shown, but I answer that the vast volume of ancient and modern authority sustains this view. This has been recognized in some states, as in New York, by statutes allowing the grand jury to send for witnesses, showing that it required legislation to admit, such evidence.
Fault is found in the charge of the judge to the grand jury, in that, there would be evidence before it of the killing of a citizen of Tucker County, and "should the evidence be sufficient, to make a prima, facie case of willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing (what I mean by that is, should it be sufficient of itself to show such killing, without explanation by the accused), then you should find an indictment for murder," and stated that upon such indictment on trial the defendant could plead any legal defense. I see no error in this, — nothing that is not warranted by the.usual practice. Is the complaint that this constructively tells the jury that all homicide is prima facie murder, and ought to be so indicted? This is true. It is the usual and proper course, and one advised by the courts in their charges, that it is proper in such case to find an indictment for murder, so that the state and accused can get their respective rights in a high or low grade of crime, according to the evidence. The judge did not tell this jury it could find an indictment for manslaughter, as clearly it could, under chapter 144, Oode. But who will say it is error to omit it from a charge? But what if a judge does err in a charge to a grand jury? The defendant can take no exception to affect the indictment. He can not ask any particular charge. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 600. When once the indictment. has been retured "A true bill," it is immaterial whether the court erred in charging or omitting to charge, as the question then is to try the case, and learn whether the accused is guilty. Failure to charge, though statute requires it, will not affect indictment. Porterfield v. Com. (Va.; 1895) 22 S. E. 352.
I come now to the charge of prejudice and bias on the part, of the judge against the accused. This charge can not. be made upon even a final trial before a jury. Were this tolerated, any one under charge of crime could shear courts of their powers, drive judges from the bench, and greatly impede the administration of justice. Whart. Crim. Pl. & Proc. § 605; People v. Williams, 24 Cal. 31. Prejudice in the breast of a judge, a lawgiver in Israel, is odious under sacred and profane law. is easily and readily imputed by persons in the heat of controversy, and, under the sting of adverse decisions, is difficult, to clearly disprove, and should never be found except upon the most, cogent proof. From the many circumstances in this great and important case, on which is predicated this grave charge, I am unable to verify it. If there is other explanation, we must give it. I do not think circumstances above given will sustain it. Nor do I find others. It is true that when the second grand jury failed to find anything the judge did use language to it which, as he was going to discharge it, was uncalled for and useless; that is, that the court had concluded to discharge It: that, notwithstanding the court had indicated to the jury its duties, some had persistently refused to perform them, notwithstanding it was their duty to report and return indictments to the court; and that the court had no further use for them. Í have heard very reputable judges so animadvert upon grand juries. But does this show wrongful bias against the accused? It may be further said fairly, from the face of the case, that the judge thought there ought to be an indictment and trial of the facts of the case before a jury of the country, and that the indictment should be for murder, so as to let a jury pass on the true grade of the offense, if the accused was guilty. I do not see that there is anything unreasonable in this on the part of a public functionary charged in large measure with the administration of criminal law. Does it show that he enforced this indictment unduly? That it is not the free act of a grand jury? Does it show corrupt prejudice against the accused that will overthrow the indictment? We are not on the subject of final trial. Throughout, the proceeding every step of the court in forming and charging the juries, ordering a new list, summoning talesmen, and in other regards, was excepted to by counsel for the accused; and there unfortunately arose much feeling between court and counsel, and heated controversy and oral altercation, but that was between court an counsel. Does it show corrupt prejudice by the judge against the accused, that led the judge to enforce, and that did enforce, this indictment? That is the point. Can all this invalidate a solemn finding of a true bill by the grand jury, and justify this Court in excusing the accused from answering before a jury whether it is a true bill? Does the mere discharge of the second jury work such a result? Does the impaneling another jury on the demand of the State's attorney, who stated that he wanted another jury specially to inquire into this transaction, show this? Could the judge refuse such a demand? After the court's order for another grand jury, it. announced to counsel that it had up to that time allowed them to discuss questions they had raised touching instructions to the grand jury and other matters, not because they had the' right, or that Eastham had any standing in court until indicted, but out of courtesy, but that they would not be allowed to discuss any question relating to the summoning, impaneling, or organization of the next grand jury, or charges to it, but would be allowed exceptions to the action of the court, without hearing. This is relied on in the petition. What is wrong in this? Discussion of the subjects specified by the court had been had. A court has a right to limit discussion. There is no right to discuss the formation, summoning, or charging a grand jury. That belongs to the court, and is a matter largely of discretion. Thomp. & M. Jur. § 578. I doubt whether these matters can be made the subject of exception. I do not think they can. So far as available, it is by plea in abatement, not for exception and discussion pending the formation of the panel. In my experience I have never known it practiced. If allowed, where would it end? Is there even aright to a challenge to the panel or the polls of a grand jury unless statute gives.it? Thomp. & M. Jur. § 507, says not. 1 Bish. Or. Proc. § 876, says it does not prevail in all states. I can find no instance in Virginia. Our statute does not give it.
It is stated in the petition that when the indictment for involuntary manslaughter was dismissed the court refused to discharge the accused. The State's attorney resisted discharge, asking another grand jury. 1 Bish. Or. Proc. § 870a, says that, when a grand jury has ignored an indictment, one in jail is generally entitled to discharge, but that, of course, he may be detained on an amended accusation; "and, indeed, the court may continue the case for examination at a future term, or otherwise decline the discharge, if the witness have not appeared, or the grand jury has not acted on the case." Though a misdemeanor indictment was found, yet the State not wishing to prosecute it, and asking another hearing before a grand jury, I understand it to be in the power of the court, and common practice, to bold the prisoner at the kState's motion. Our Code, in section 12, c. 158, discharges a prisoner if not indicted before the end of the second term, plainly allowing the State till then to hold the prisoner upon her charge. Though an indictment for a minor grade of offense, or a faulty indictment, be found, which the State refuses to prosecute, it is equivalent to the case of no indictment found, and under the plain intent of the statute the State is allowed to detain the defendant under the mittimus issued by the justice until the end of the second term. So I do not see that the court either exceeded its power, or erred in this matter.
Clearly, as to refusal to bail, there was no abuse of power, as that is in the undeniable discretion of the court. Of course, refusal to discharge or bail could not. vitiate the subsequent indictment.
So I conclude that there is no ground for holding this indictment either absolutely void, so as to warrant prohibition, or voidable, so as to overthrow it on plea in abatement. . There is no strength in petitioner's present case. The matters he complains of as irregularities affect none of his substantial rights, and are merely technical. Of course, prohibition does not lie on the theory of want of jurisdiction in the circuit court to impanel a grand jury and try a case of murder ; and therefore the only theory on which to rest it is that the court, because of some of its actions, abused its lawful jurisdiction, in exceeding its' powers. What do we mean by the declaration that prohibition lies when a court in the exercise of a conceded jurisdiction abuses its powers? I answer that it is where the court on its way in the case does some collateral act which under no circumstances, on any state of facts, it could do in the case. If it be a mere mis-step, an error of judgment, in the regular disposition of the case, I say in the line of the case, writ of error, not prohibition, lies, as perhaps where a justice holds plea of a money demand over three hundred dollars, or as in McConiha v. Guthrie, 21 W. Va. 134, where a court, though it had jurisdiction to condemn land for public use was proceeding to condemn land within twenty feet of a dwelling, because that was prohibited by law, — under no circumstances could be done. That case I have always doubted, as there was jurisdiction, and the error was correctable by writ of certiorari. So where a unit, cause of action is split into several. There is no other remedy against a plain abuse. This qualification to the rule against prohibition where the court has juriediction, namely, that it lies where there is an abuse of power, is shadowy and ill defined. Unless limited as I state, it will bring many cases into prohibition not properly belonging to it, and stop the wheels of other usual proceedings before courts have had time to even determine upon their own jurisdiction; prohibition will supplant the ordinary procedure, as Judge GReen said in Jelly v. Dils, 27 W. Va. 272. AVliy not let a court go on to the end of a case, when perhaps neither writ of error nor prohibition will be called for? But it is said our statute has enlarged the scope of prohibition by giving it as of right "in all cases of usurpation and abarse of power, when the inferior court has not jurisdiction of the subject-matter in controversy, or, having such jurisdiction, exceeds its legitimate powers." I do not think this carries the writ further than its common-law function. Bullard v. Thorpe (Va.) 30 Atl. 36. Thus none of the acts of the court complained of as an abuse of power are acts of such abuse as to warrant a writ of prohibition. They áre not of that character, but, if wrong, are remediable on writ of error, should it ever come to that point. But suppose them to be such acts as are an abuse of power. What then? Prohibition does not still lie, for the simple reason that, if the actions of the court that are complained of have any effect to impair the indictment, they are to be availed of by plea in abatement. In Virginia want of qualification or other objections to' a grand jury are to be made effective by that plea, and writ of error in case of adverse decision on it. Cherry's Case, 2 Va. Cas. 20; Long's Case, Id. 318; Moore's Case, 9 Leigh, 639; Kerby's Case, 7 Leigh. 747. McConiha v. Guthrie, supra, decided since chapter 110, Code 1891, pointedly says that, even if there be an abuse of power, prohibition does not lie, if writ of error will cure the grievance. See Walcott v. Wells (Nev.) 24 Pac. 367. Look at our case of Buskirk v. Judge, 7 W. Va. 91, holding that, when the law indispensably required an examination of one charged with felony by a county court before indictment and trial in a circuit court, prohibition would not lie to stop a circuit court- trying him before examination. A much stronger case for prohibition than this. Prohibition is utterly untenable in this case.
One of counsel for the Htate makes, with confidence, the point that the rule for a writ of prohibition, having been issued by one of the judges of this court in vacation, was without jurisdiction in him to award it, as the Constitution gives original jurisdiction in prohibition to this Court, to be exercised only in term, and not, by a judge alone. It is at once seen that this presents the question whether the last clause of section 1, chapter 110, Code 1891, allowing a judge to award a rule in vacation, is constitutional. This is a matter of gravity, and merits serious consideration ; but as the rule is that, if the case can be disposed of on other grounds, a court will not pass on the validity of an act of the legislature, I will not further refer to it.
This holding only. calls upon the x>etdtiouer to answer before an impartial jury of his country whether his act of slaying Thompson is a crime against the laws of his country; only demands what the law demands of all men charged with crime, that he pass what he ought to have, and unquestionably will have, — a fair, just, and impartial trial.
Judge McWiioRTER concurs in this opinion. The Court being equally divided, the motion to dismiss fails; but then comes the apx>licatien of Eastham for a writ of prohibition, — his x^etition and rule being, per se, a standing, affirmative motion. It fails, as the Court can take no affirmative action, issue no process to stay the court below, without a majority for it. This is another notable instance of the evil of the Court's being composed of an even number of judges.
Note by
Bjbanxon, Judge.
When I wrote the above opinion at Charles Town, I was interrupted daily by arguments of counsel and did not have access to authority. The importance of the case and the division of the Court seem to justify the addition of this note.
As to the. point that the indictment is void because the. court excused grand jurors because they had formed or expressed an opDinion, what I said above I. find justified by further examination of authority. Whar. Or. PI. <fc Prac., see. 346, says:
"It is a good cause of challenge to a grand juror that he has formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt of a party whose case will probably be presented to the Grand Inquest." In the Pa. case of Commonwealth v. Clark, 2 Brown, 325, on full argument and consideration oí Chief Justice Marshall's rule in the great Burr treason trial, a defendantwas allowed a challenge, after jury was sworn, for favor in that he had expressed an opinion oí the prisoner's guilt. In State v. Bradford, 57, N. H. 198, it was held that the court may excuse grand jurors for reasons appearing to it satisfactory, and the exercise of its discretion will not be reviewed. Ln U. S. v. Gale, 109, Justice Bradley said, as I stated above, that there was a distinction between the allowance of qualiñed and disqualified jurors, adding that 'Disqualified jurors upon the panel may be supposed injuriously to affect the whole panel; but if the individuals forming it are unobjectionable and have all the necessary qualifications, it is of less moment to the accused what persons may have been set aside or excused. The present case is of the latter kind. No complaint is made that any of the grand jurors who found indictment were disqualified to serve, or were in any respect improper persons. It is only complained that the court excluded some persons for improper causes because they labored under the disqualification created by the 820th section of the revised statutes, which is alleged to be unconstitutional. It is not complained that the jury actually impanelled was not a good one, but that other persons equally good had a right to be placed on it."
As bearing on the contention that the excusing of jurors vitiates the indictment, and also the claim that the action of the county court in making a list for grand jury service is final, and that the circuit court can for no cause inquire into qualifications, I cite People v. Leonard, 106 Cal. 302, holding that the court may go into qualifications of those drawn as grand jurors, excuse some and summon others from by-standers, and that list is not final. I quote from the case of U. S. v. Jones. 69 Fed. R. 976: "The real contention of the defendant is, that the court had no power to excuse any grand juror for any cause whatever, unless he came within the disqualification or exemption mentioned in the statute In other words, the court had no authority to excuse any jurpr of its own motion unless he was a minor, alien, an insane person or prosecutor and that the statute furnished the only guide for the action of the court. If the first position of the contention is correct, then it would follow that if the accused whose cause was to come before the grand jury had been on the list drawn from the-jury box, the court would have been compelled to accept him as a grand juror, and to have allowed him to act in all cases except his own. If twelve of the grand jurors had testified that they had formed and expressed opinions that the defendant was guilty, and that they should vote in favor of indictment without further evidence, the court would have no power to excuse them, or either of them. If it was brought to the attention of the court, in a reliable manner, that one or more of the jurors had offered in advance of being sworn, to sell his vote for any sum of money to either party, the court would have no power to excuse the juror. These illustrations are sufficient to show the absurdity of the defendant's contention. Sueli results would be utterly subversive of every principle of justice; would be contrary to the spirit and genius of free institutions; would be a reproach to any court that would permit such a practice to be pursued, and a dark blot upon the jurisprudence of any country. There is no law that gives an accused person the absolute right to have grand jurors accepted by the court who have formed and expressed unqualified opinion that he is innocent. There is no law, rule or practice that compels the court to-accept any grand juror to be on the panel who has formed and expressed an opinion that the accused is guilty." People v. Durrant, 116 Cal. 179.
It will not do to say that only the defendant can except to bias in grand jurors. The opinion just quoted repels that. One biased in favor of the accused is just as objectionable as one biased against him. I met with a case where one who was surety on the prisoner's bail-bond, was held properly rejected, but the particular case has slipped me. There are so many authorities which sustain the action of courts in excusing jurors because they had expressed or formed opinions, that they shake my mind as to the position I took in the above opinion that the court has no authority to inquire of jurors as to the formation or expression of an opinion. On second thought, the mere fact that our statute allows an indictment to be found upon the unsworn statement of two members of the grand jury does not show that it is wrong to interrogate them as to fixed opinions, because that only means that the grand jury may act on the statement of facts by two of the grand jurors, not on their mere opinions, and mere knowledge of fact is different from fixedness or prejudice of opinion. However that be in West Virginia, it certainly can be said that the action of the court was notan ún-hearod-of proceeding an d does not nullify the indictment. Our Code on page 157, section 12, says that no indictment shall be abated because of the in-eompeteney or disqualification of any grand juror, yet this Court is asked to hold that the presence of those jurors who took the place of the ones accused, though qualified in every respect, shall abate this indictment.
Now, as to the point that the talesmen were summoned by an unauthorized deputy, and were no grand jurors: In Commonwealth v. Brown, 147 Mass. 585, it was held that a person sworn as a grand juror, whose name had been placed in the jury box, and drawn by the selectmen in respone to venire, though previously the town had ordered it to be stricken from the list, in the absence of his personal disqualification, would not aifeet the validity of the indictment. Here was one acting who was not a grand juror, but his name had been by accident left in the box after it was stricken from the list. The court said: "It has often been held in other jurisdictions that indictments by a grand jury upon which a disqualified person is sitting, is void. The disqualified person may have been one of only twelve who voted for the indictment. 2 Hawk. P. C. chap. 25, sec. 28; U. S. v. Hammond, 2, Woods C. Ct. 197; State v. Symonds, 36 Maine, 128; Doyle v. State, 17 Ohio, 222; State v. Cole, 17 Wis. 674; McQuillan v. State, 8 Smedes & M. 587.
"How such an indictment should he regarded is a question we need not decide, for distinction must be drawn between a juror who is personally disqualified, and one who possesses all the qualifications but is irregularly and imxiroperly drawn. The general rule is that mere irregularity in the proceedings, by which a juror gets upon a panel, does not affect the validity of his action. Commonwealth v. Parker, 2 Pick. 550, 559; Paye v. Danvers, 7 Met. 326; U. S. v. Reeves, 3 Words. 199; U. S. v. Ambrose, 3 Fed. Rep. 283; Hill v. Yates, 12 East, 229, 230; The King v. Hunt, 4 B. & Auld. 433; Hardin v. State, 22 Ind. 347.''