Opinion ID: 1845363
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant assigns error in the overruling of each of these motions, because, as he argues, the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction.

Text: The state's evidence established that defendant was operating motor vehicle on a public highway in Harrison County, Iowa. The defendant told Sober that this was true. The only element of the crime in controversy is the fact of his intoxication. One of the state's witnesses saw the defendant when he went into the ditch while driving the car, and helped him up the bank and then was with him in the cab of the witness' truck for ten or fifteen minutes, and testified to indications of his intoxication. Three peace officers arrived at this time and observed his condition and then took him to the city hall where these officers and an additional officer and Mr. Miller, who brought defendant's car to Missouri Valley, observed his conduct, condition and appearance for some time, and all of them testified to these matters and gave their opinion that he was intoxicated. Spickler also testified to his condition. The sheriff saw defendant about 11 o'clock that night at Logan. He testified that in his opinion the defendant was then intoxicated. Certainly this evidence tends to establish the issue of intoxication. The fact that two witnesses for the defendant who saw him about midnight, and defendant's wife who saw defendant in Missouri Valley and later at Logan testified that they thought he was sober then, and certain others said they could smell no liquor on him at Logan, did not make the issue of intoxication one of law for the court requiring it to direct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. The evidence was in conflict and the issue of intoxication was for the jury, and since there was substantial evidence to sustain its findings of intoxication the verdict of the jury and the judgment entered thereon is final and is binding on this court. State v. Ferguson, 233 Iowa 354, 359, 6 N.W.2d 856; State v. Crandall, 227 Iowa 311, 318, 288 N.W. 85; State v. Harrington, 220 Iowa 1116, 1123-1124, 264 N.W. 24; State v. Manly, 211 Iowa 1043, 1046, 233 N.W. 110; State v. De Kraai, 224 Iowa 464, 466, 276 N.W. 11; State v. Lowe, 235 Iowa 274, 276, 16 N.W.2d 226; State v. Werling, 234 Iowa 1109, 1112, 13 N.W.2d 318; State v. Lowenberg, 216 Iowa 222, 227, 243 N.W. 538; State v. McDowell, 228 Iowa 180-185, 290 N.W. 65; State v. Kendall, 200 Iowa 483, 488-489, 203 N.W. 806; State v. Pearce, 231 Iowa 443-445, 1 N.W.2d 621; State v. Boyle, 230 Iowa 305, 306, 297 N.W. 312; State v. Gillman, 202 Iowa 428, 429, 210 N.W. 435; State v. Jenkins, 203 Iowa 251-254, 212 N.W. 475; State v. Lorey, 197 Iowa 552-554, 197 N.W. 446; State v. Morkrid, Iowa, 286 N.W. 412, 413. As said in State v. Lowenberg, supra, 216 Iowa 222, 227, 243 N.W. 538, 541: It is peculiarly the province of the jury to pass upon questions of fact. Reversal upon the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence to justify a conviction will follow only where the evidence to support the verdict is so utterly wanting that it cannot be sustained. While there was testimony that defendant was not intoxicated when he collided with the Graham car, the evidence of the state to the contrary clearly preponderates that of defendant. The trial court rightly ruled upon each motion. There is no merit to defendant's contention that the witnesses for the state had no opportunity to know whether defendant was intoxicated prior to the collision. It was, of course, not necessary that they should actually see him drink. But Lewis saw him come across the bridge in his car and go into the ditch. He helped him up the bank and stayed with him for ten or fifteen minutes thereafter. Lewis tried to get him to go and see the occupants of the Graham car, but he said there was no hurry. Within fifteen minutes after defendant came out of the ditch, Conaway and Fry and Sober took charge of defendant and he was taken to the city hall where Drustrup, Miller and Spickler observed him. There was no evidence of any liquor in his car and he had no opportunity to drink while he was with the officers. His intoxication, if any, was the result of drinking before he came under the observation of Lewis. There was no break in this observation from the time of the collision with the Graham car until he was lodged in the Logan jail. The observation of defendant was more prompt, close and continuous than in any of the driving-while-intoxicated cases cited above, and in each of them the issue of intoxication was given to the jury. Defendant has cited State v. Hamer, 223 Iowa 1129, 274 N.W. 885; State v. Wise, 83 Iowa 596, 50 N.W. 59; State v. Reinheimer, 109 Iowa 624, 80 N.W. 669; State v. Saling, 177 Iowa 552, 159 N.W. 255, and State v. McKenzie, 204 Iowa 833, 216 N.W. 29. The facts in each of those cases were so much more favorable to the respective defendants, than are the facts in this case with respect to the defendant that they are of no ruling force. Opposed to the testimony of the State were the conclusion of his attorneys at the bee, the testimony of defendant's wife and two friends, who came to the jail about midnight, over two hours after the collision, to see if they could help him out of his difficulties. The defendant was willing to submit to the bee test under those circumstances, but he refused the scientific tests when apprehended. It was the province of the jury to pass upon all factors bearing upon the probative worth of the evidence, and under the record we are not justified in disturbing its verdict. II. Defendant assigned error because of the court's refusal to give his requested instruction on circumstantial evidence. The instruction began thus, You are instructed that the State has offered no direct evidence of the alleged intoxication of the defendant,   . This was a misstatement of the facts. The only evidence the state offered on that issue was direct evidence, and that was also true of the defendant. There was no reason for giving the requested instruction, or any instruction on circumstantial evidence. The assigned error is without merit. III. Defendant complains of an unfair trial because of misconduct by the sheriff and the county attorney. Error is assigned because the sheriff, as a witness, a few times volunteered remarks after answering the questions. Objection was made but once, and this is the instance: the sheriff had just answered that defendant had suffered because of the flooding of his home and place of business. He was then asked by defendant's attorney this question: And he was depressed about that? A. He should have been. I know his wife did not think much of his going out. Mr. W. P. Welch: I move to strike that as a voluntary answer and has no place in this law suit. The Court: It may go out. Mr. W. P. Welch: If Mr. Bullis is trying to influence this jury with these off-the-record matters The Court: You are instructed to exclude any matters that I have excluded from the evidence. In view of the court's admonition to the jury it cannot be held that there was any prejudicial error. IV. In his motion for a new trial, defendant alleged this ground: 9. Because of the fact that the principal witness for the State   , namely Cass Bullis, Sheriff of Harrison County, acting as bailiff in attendance upon said jury and his misconduct in rapping on the door and asking them if they had arrived upon a verdict when no occasion arose for such misconduct on the part of said Sheriff. That in no event should the principal witness, Cass Bullis, be permitted to act as said bailiff in attendance upon said jury during their deliberations. The only matter in the record which tends to establish the facts alleged in the statement is the statement itself. No affidavit is attached to the motion. The defendant did not bring in the jury for examination. There is no proof of any of the matters stated in the record before us. If the sheriff did rap on the door to ask if the jury had agreed on a verdict it was within the authority given him under sections 337.7 and 780.37, Codes 1946, 1950, I.C.A. If the matters stated in the motion were true we cannot presume that prejudice resulted to defendant. Prejudice must be shown. The ruling on the motion was within the court's discretion. State v. Davis, 230 Iowa 309, 312-313, 297 N.W. 274; State v. Allen, 89 Iowa 49-53, 56 N. W. 261; State v. Siegel, 221 Iowa 429, 432, 264 N.W. 613. V. Defendant assigned error because of claimed misconduct of County Attorney Murray in the cross-examination of the defendant's wife. The county attorney was having some difficulty in properly stating a question to her as a foundation for her impeachment. The Court sustained all objections to the questions. This is the record: The Court: Reframe your question Mr. Murray. The question is improper in that form. Q. Well, I will start all over again. Isn't it a fact, Mrs. Franklin, that in the second week of August of this year, during the last week immediately following the service of your original notice on Franklin in a divorce case against him Mr. W. P. Welch: That is all objected to as highly improper, not cross-examination, and for the purpose of other than cross-examination it is improper in form, and I will ask the court to instruct the jury The Court: You will disregard those remarks of Mr. Murray. It's not in evidence. It's the time and place and what she said is what I want. Mr. Murray: Well, I am going to have to go back to the Clerk's office before I can get that date. The County Attorney then proceeded to frame his question to the satisfaction of the court and opposing counsel, and it was answered without objection. The subsequent examination of the sheriff showed that the county attorney had a proper purpose in his interrogation of Mrs. Franklin. The question was then asked: State whether or not, Mrs. Franklin, you have ever been of the opinion that your husband is a habitual alcoholic? The question was improper and the court sustained objection to it. The county attorney did not persist in the examination. The trial court was in the best position to know whether the conduct of the county attorney was prejudicial to defendant. It concluded that it was not. Objections were promptly sustained and the jury was admonished by the court to disregard the statements of the County Attorney. We must assume that the jury noted the sustaining of defendant's objections, and heeded the admonition of the court. State v. Caringello, 227 Iowa 305, 308-311, 288 N. W. 80; State v. Waterbury, 133 Iowa 135, 141, 110 N.W. 328; State v. Williams, 238 Iowa 838, 847-851, 28 N.W.2d 514. We have carefully studied the record and fully considered all errors presented by defendant. It is our conclusion that the defendant was fairly tried and that the judgment should be, and is, Affirmed. All Justices concur except MANTZ, J., not sitting.