Opinion ID: 1445602
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: David Goldsmith

Text: It is clear and undisputed in the evidence that Goldsmith was out of the state and not present when plans were made at Linn's home at the time specified in the bill of particulars. According to Lindblad, it was Linn who suggested he had an idea where they might get some money and approached this idea: If Lindblad could knock a couple of Linn's friends out, he could receive a portion of approximately $20,000. Lindblad testified the $20,000 was to be split three ways  between Lindblad, Linn and Lucas. There is no evidence that Goldsmith, who was out of the state, took part in the making of a deal at Linn's home at the time in question. In its brief the state says Linn was the master-mind of the operation. The testimony was that Linn supposedly called Goldsmith by long distance telephone and a recording was made of the conversation. Lindblad testified he afterwards listened to the recording but the name Goldsmith was not mentioned during the conversation. The trial judge ruled the identification of Goldsmith was insufficient and the jury was instructed to consider the evidence of what happened at Linn's home only as evidence against Linn and Lucas and not as evidence against Goldsmith. The state admits in its brief that the case against Goldsmith was fairly tenuous, except for the testimony of a witness, Keith Hanson. It is claimed there were casual and occasional references which tended to connect Goldsmith, but these were hardly enough to justify a prosecutor in proceeding against him as an accessory before the fact. It is then claimed Hanson supplied the vital information. Hanson was incarcerated in the county jail at Jackson at the same time Linn, Lucas and Goldsmith were. He testified to certain conversations with them. Concerning Goldsmith, he testified Goldsmith had stated he knew he could not collect life insurance (which was the prosecution's motive theory). According to Hanson, Goldsmith said his partners (Stucker and Olinger) had something on him, so he had to take care of them. With respect to the charge, as specified in the state's bill of particulars, Goldsmith is tied into it primarily by this question and answer in Hanson's testimony: Q. Did he tell you any steps he had taken toward getting rid of them? A. Well, he contacted Ted Linn, and Ted Linn carried out the plan. Hanson had been talking to Linn and Lucas. In the testimony set out above he failed to specify where his information about Linn being contacted came from. More importantly, the witness failed to connect the contact referred to by him to the Linn-home arrangement which the prosecution was standing on, according to its bill of particulars. On the whole, the testimony against Goldsmith was somewhat tenuous and weak, as the attorney general seems to recognize. However, the weight to be given to Hanson's testimony and the inferences to be drawn therefrom were for the jury, providing nothing in the trial happened which might unduly influence the jury in its determination. Before trial began, counsel for the defendants requested a separate trial for each defendant and insisted rather strenuously that defendants could not receive a fair trial if they were tried together. On appeal it is argued that, on at least 15 separate occasions, the jury had to be instructed to disregard, as to one or two defendants, statements made by another defendant. This became so frequent and common in the trial that the judge would caution the jury merely by saying: The same admonition. Or, Please remember the admonition at all times. During the course of trial, when a witness was relating a conversation with Lucas following the homicides, defense counsel renewed his motion for a severance. It was denied. The court at that time instructed the jury that the testimony being offered would be admissible only as against Lucas. In Sims v. United States, 132 U.S.App. D.C. 111, 405 F.2d 1381, 1382, it was held, under the rule relating to prejudicial joinder, the trial judge has a continuing duty at all stages of the trial to grant a severance if prejudice appears. Rule 14, Fed. Rules Crim.Proc., was cited. See Rule 13, W.R.Cr.P. We think sufficient reason for granting a severance as to Goldsmith did appear in the trial of this case. As previously indicated, he was not present when plans were made at the home of Linn in Jackson for the murder of Stucker and Olinger. Also, Goldsmith had no part in execution of the plan made in Linn's home during the first week in August, 1967. At least 11 times conversations with either Linn or Lucas were testified to, with the court instructing the jury to disregard as to Goldsmith. The long and detailed testimony given by Lindblad with respect to the actual killings and carrying out of the plan made in Jackson was bound to have an effect on the jury; and with Goldsmith's name being frequently mentioned, it would be difficult for the jury to disregard testimony as to him in cases where it was supposed to do so.