Case Name: Lawrence Rodney McDONNELL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1974-03-15
Citations: 292 So. 2d 420
Docket Number: No. 73-102
Parties: Lawrence Rodney McDONNELL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: OWEN, C. J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 292
Pages: 420–425

Head Matter:
Lawrence Rodney McDONNELL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 73-102.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
March 15, 1974.
Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Richard S. Power, Asst. Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Frank B. Kessler, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
DOWNEY, Judge.
Defendant was charged with forgery in September 1972. On January 16, 1973, one week prior to trial, defendant filed a motion to suppress any oral or written confessions or statements, and immediately attempted to obtain a hearing thereon. There was no time available on the judge's calendar, so the motion was not heard prior to trial.
The case was called for trial on January 23, 1973, and after the jury was sworn, defendant requested the court to hear the motion to suppress, but the court refused on the ground that counsel should have filed the motion at an earlier date so as to have it heard prior to trial. Thus, the cause proceeded to trial, and defendant's confession was admitted into evidence over defendant's objection.
The uncontradicted evidence showed that defendant presented a signed savings account withdrawal slip to the First National Bank of Pompano on an account belonging to Edmond E. Stafford. The signature on the slip did not coincide with the bank's signature card so the teller sought the advice of a bank vice-president. The latter officer discussed the matter with defendant, who attributed the difference in the signatures to a recent serious illness and hospitalization. When asked for some identification, defendant advised the officer he had none as his wallet was stolen or lost while he was in the hospital. The officer then had defendant sign another signature card and instructed the teller to honor the withdrawal. Defendant was identified unequivocally by both the teller and officer as the person who had made the withdrawal in question. The owner of the account testified he had never given defendant permission to make the withdrawal. Other Williams rule evidence (Williams v. State, Fla. 1959, 110 So.2d 654) showed defendant had made numerous subsequent similar raids on the same account.
It is our view that under the circumstances the trial judge committed error in refusing to hear the motion to suppress upon defendant's request before proceeding with the trial. Defendant complied with Rule 3.190(i) RCrP, 33 F.S.A., by filing his motion prior to trial. That it was not heard prior thereto could not be helped; defendant tried to obtain a hearing before trial, but the trial judge was engaged with other matters on his docket.
However, the error in denying defendant's motion and admitting the confession without an evidentiary hearing is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, Harrington v. California, infra, because there is other overwhelming evidence establishing defendant's guilt. We have not overlooked the question of the propriety of applying the harmless error rule to constitutional errors; in fact we find adequate precedent therefor. The appellate courts of Florida have acknowledged the applicability of the harmless error rule to the erroneous admission of confessions. Daugherty v. State, 154 Fla. 308, 17 So.2d 290 (1944); Melton v. State, 159 Fla. 106, 30 So.2d 916 (1947); Simpson v. State, Fla. App.1968, 211 So.2d 862; Blatch v. State, Fla.App.1968, 216 So.2d 261. So also has the Supreme Court of the United States recognized the application of the harmless error rule to constitutional errors, including confessions. Harrington v. California, 395 U.S. 250, 89 S.Ct. 1726, 23 L.Ed.2d 284 (1969); Milton v. Wainwright, 407 U.S. 371, 92 S.Ct. 2174, 33 L.Ed.2d 1 (1972); Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S. Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967); Brown v. United States, 411 U.S. 223, 93 S.Ct. 1565, 36 L.Ed.2d 208 (1973). Considering the evidence in its totality, it appears to us this is an appropriate case for application of the harmless error statute. § 924.33 F.S. 1971, F.S.A.
Accordingly, the judgment and sentence of the lower court is affirmed.
OWEN, C. J., concurs.
WALDEN, J., dissents, with opinion.