Opinion ID: 2057621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bench Conference)

Text: The Court: Mr. Foreman and members of the jury, the Court would like to ask one question. Did anyone during the lunch hour attempt to talk with any member of the jury panel about this case? Will you answer audibly? (The members of the jury answered `No'.) There was no error in the ruling of the Court. The Court was charged with the responsibility of exercising proper discretion in furtherance of justice. Lebel v. Cyr., 1943, 140 Me. 98, 102, 34 A. 2d 201. He acted judiciously. There was no manifest wrong or injury. State v. Cox, 1941, 138 Me. 151, 176, 23 A.2d 634. Prior to the respondent's trial the jury which was mature in service had been admonished several times. There is no reason to doubt the sufficiency of the judicial attention. 34 A.L.R. 1115, 1152. There was no evidence of spurious conversation or of any having been attempted. Balavich v. Yarnish, 1952, 149 Me. 1, 5, 97 A.2d 540. There was testimony negating such irregularity. Respondent has the burden of proving any abuse. State v. Hume, 1951, 146 Me. 129, 134, 78 A.2d 496. There had been no error in permitting the jury to separate during the progress of the trial in this case. State v. Howard, 1918, 117 Me. 69, 72, 102 A. 743. The exception wants merit and must be overruled. Respondent's further exception concerns itself with the effect of an unanswered question addressed to the respondent by the State's attorney in cross-examination. The crime alleged had been described as having occurred on December 31, A.D. 1957. Respondent's birthday was February 14, A.D. 1938. We quote from the record. Q. Have you ever been convicted of the crime of    a crime involving a felony, larceny or moral turpitude? Defense Counsel: I object. This man is not competent to tell what is moral turpitude. State Counsel: I will ask it a different way. Q. Are you the same Daniel Atwood Trask who was convicted in May, 1951, (1954) in Sagadahoc County Superior Court for the crime of larceny? Defense Counsel: I object, Your Honor, and would like to state the reason for the objection in the absence of the jury, if I may, or at the end of the bench.