Court Opinion

ID: 4931681
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:08:38.67632+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:30.250655
License: Public Domain

Taplby, J.
'This is an indictment for breaking and entering the National Village Bank of Bowdoinham and stealing therefrom a large amount of coin, bills, bonds and U. S. treasury notes. The prisoners being convicted, now raise certain questions pertaining to the sufficiency of the indictment, and to the regularity of the proceedings on trial.
1. It is alleged by the prisoners’ counsel that there is no sufficient allegation of property or ownership in articles alleged to be stolen.
The several articles of property alleged to be stolen, after being particularly and specifically described, are alleged to be "of the goods and chattels of” several persons therein named. No objection is made to the form of this allegation, but it is urged that .coin, bills, bonds and treasury notes are not goods and chattels, and therefore there is no allegation of ownership.
Every indictment for larceny must allege an ownership o f the property stolen, and would be defective without such allegation, but there are no particular words or phrases which the law requires'should be used. This allegation, it should *210be noticed, is one of ownership purely, and in no manner or part descriptive of the things stolen. The descriptive allegations are full and complete, and the only question arising under this objection is, whether this sufficiently alleges the property in the individuals named.
To constitute an allegation of ownership, such words must be used, and in such succession and connection that they convey clearly to the ordinary mind the idea, that a certain person or persons named, are the owners of the stolen property. This may be done by a variety of words and phrases, any of which will be sufficient, if they clearly convey the idea that such persons are the owners.
Viewed in this light, can there be any question as to the signification of these words as they are here used ? Is or not the idea, or the fact, that certain persons were the owners of the property stolen, clearly conveyed? Will any doubt, in any mind of ordinary capacity arise, concerning it ? If not, it is because such words are used as convey one and the same idea upon this point to all persons. If they do convey clearly to the ordinary mind the fact, that certain persons were the owners, that is all that is required. A few citations showing the sense in which these words have been used and understood may not be inappropriate.
"An allegation in an indictment, that the bank bills were the goods and chattels of A, is a sufficient averment that they were his property; the word chattels denoting property and ownership.” People v. Frost, 1 Doug., 42, (7 U. S. Dig., 340.)
" Coin is included under the general terms ' goods and chattels,’ as used in the 26th section of the crimes Act of 1831.” Hall v. the State, 3d Ohio, (N. S.,) 575, (15 U. S. Dig., 377.)
" Chattels personal are generally such as are moveable, and may be carried about the person of the owner wherever he pleases to go ; such as money, jewels, garments, animals, household furniture, and almost every description of property of a moveable nature.” Holthouse’s Law Diet., 'Chattels.’
*211" Chattels personal are property, and, strictly speaking, things moveable ; which may be annexed to or attendant on the person of the owner and carried about with him from one part of the world to another; such are animals, household stuff, money, jewels, coin, garments and everything else that can properly be put in motion and transferred from place to place.” 2 Black. Com., 387.
"The terms, 'goods and chattels,’ includes choses in action as well as those in possession.” 12 Co., 1; 1 Atk., 182.
" Chattels is a more extensive term than goods or effects.” " The terms ' goods and chattels,’ includes not only personal property in possession, but also choses in action.” " The word ' goods,' simply, and without qualification, will pass the whole personal estate, when used in a will, including even stocks in the funds.” Bouv. Law Diet., "Chattels.”
"Any moveable property or goods, as furniture, plate, money, horses,” &c. Worcester’s Diet., "Chattel.”
" Chattel is a very comprehensive term in our law and includes every species of property which is not real estate or a freehold.” Burrill.
In Commonwealth v. Richards, 1 Mass., 338, Sedgwick, J., says : —" The indictment alleges that the defendant stole a bank note of the value of ten* dollars, of the goods and chattels, &c. This is a sufficient allegation of property and value, and, in my opinion, as particular in description as the law requires.”
In the People v. Holbrook, 13 Johns., 90, four promissory notes, commonly called bank notes, were alleged to be the goods and chattels of P. C., and it was held sufficient without saying they were the property of P. C. " Chattels” denoting property and ownership.
Such use of these terms, continued for so long a time, taken in connection with the very apparent fact that they do, as used in this case, clearly convey the idea of ownership, and nothing else, leads us to the conclusion that this indictment has a sufficient allegation of ownership.
*212It has been held that, in an indictment of this kind, the words " of the goods and chattels,” may be rejected as surplusage and the remaining words will be sufficient. Com. v. Eastman, 4 Gray, 416, and cases there cited.
If they are so immaterial that they may be rejected as surplusage, and then sufficient remains, it is quite clear a sufficient allegation is found, whether rejected or not. If they qualify the remaining words, they cannot be rejected and thus enlarge or diminish the remaining words; and, if they do not, a rejection is not necessary to make the allegation sufficient.
We hare no doubt the allegation is sufficient as it stands.
2. It is contended there is no allegation of a larceny, except as to the treasury notes of Thomas Spear; and that this arises from the omission of the connecting word "and,” between the different articles of property described. We think the word " and” was not necessary to connect the property described with the allegation of feloniously stealing, taking and carrying away. This form of declaring is not unusual. It had been practiced in Massachusetts before we became a State, and has been, there, and here ever since. See Davis’ Precedents and Train & Heard’s Precedents.
3. It is also urged that there is no sufficient allegation of a larceny in the bank of the articles alleged to be the property of the bank. That while the indictment charges all the rest of the property as " being then and there deposited and found in the bank aforesaid,” there is no such allegation as to the property alleged to belong to the bank.
The property belonging to other persons was, in fact, deposited in the bank for safe keeping, hence the allegation in relation to those articles.
The allegation in relation to the bank property is substantially that the prisoners broke and entered the National Village Bank of Bowdoinham, and certain described property " feloniously did steal, take and carry away."
This, it is contended by the government officer, is a suf*213ficient allegation of stealing, taking and carrying away from the bank.
The objection here raised, if of any importance at all, is now open to the prisoners only upon their motion in arrest of judgment.
Their objections to the introduction of evidence were specific, and confined to two alleged causes; one was, " that. said bonds and securities were not alleged in the indictment to belong to any person,” but to be " of the^goods and chattels of persons named,” and the other cause assigned was, " because it was not alleged in the indictment” that " said bonds and securities were stolen.” These objections we have considered and find them unsound in theory and practice. The question now presented arises legitimately upon the motion in arrest, and we think it cannot avail the prisoners, even upon the construction of the indictment they contend for.
The offence which they are indicted for, consists of the breaking and entering the bank and committing a larceny therein. The amount stolen from the bank is immaterial. The offence is as complete by the larceny of one dollar as of eighty thousand.
If the prisoners broke and entered the bank and stole the .treasury notes of Thomas Spear therefrom, the offence charged has been committed.
It is not claimed by the prisoners’ counsel that the objection here raised applies to any of the articles other than those belonging to the bank. All the rest of the property being free from this objection, even though the point was well taken as to the property of the bank, judgment will not be arrested. While the indictment is well drawn as to the larceny of a single article, judgment will not be arrested upon a general verdict of guilty.
In Commonwealth v. Williams, 2 Cush., 588, it is said, " But, in reference to the offence upon which this indictment is found, and for which the defendant is to be punished, the amount of property stolen does not enter into the offence, *214or affect the statute punishment. It is the breaking and entering in the night time a public building, and stealing therein, that is the subject of punishment under the statute.”
" It is well settled that, upon an indictment charging a larceny of various distinct articles of property, some of which are technically described, and others not so, and a general verdict of guilty is found by the jury, the insufficiency of the description as to certain articles has no other effect than to strike them out of the indictment, and the verdict is to be applied to the whole property, which is properly and sufficiently charged to have been stolen, and, for the larceny of such property, the punishmnnt is to be awarded.” We have not found it necessary, therefore, to consider or decide upon the question of the sufficiency of the charge of larceny of bank bills. Independent of that charge, there is a larceny technically and properly set forth in this indictment.
For the same reason we do not find it necessary to consider or decide upon the sufficiency of the allegation concerning the articles described as belonging to the bank, because, independently of that charge, there is a larceny from the bank of many other articles, technically and properley set forth in this indi.ctment.
4. The counsel for the government was allowed to inquire of Maguire’s witnesses, " What was the business of Edward Maguire?” This inquiry was put upon cross-examination. It does not appear what the answer was, hence it does not appear that he was aggrieved by the allowance of the question. We can conceive of many reasons why such a course of inquiry might well be allowed, but, as the answer does not appear, or even that an answer was made at all, it becomes unnecessary to examine it.
5. "Moses Sargent, a witness for the government, was inquired of, how long he had been acquainted with Bartlett ? He answered that he was acquainted with him about fourteen years ago, for a few years, and from ten years till recently was not acquainted with him.” He was then asked *215" where was Bartlett when you saw him ?” The prisoners’ counsel objecting, the objection was sustained. Subsequently the witness was asked, "where were you and what was your business?” The prisoners’ counsel objected, but the Court allowed the witness to answer, and he answered that he was an officer in a state’s prison.
No request was made to have the answer stricken out or other objection made.
The inquiry and answer objected to proves nothing. The answer could not have been anticipated by the presiding Judge. The identity of the prisoner being an important inquiry, it was competent to show the acquaintance and familiarity of the witness with the prisoner.
If the counsel feared an incorrect and unfavorable inference would arise from it, he could have pursued the inquiry upon cross-examination and elicited any other facts within the knowledge of the witness which would remove the unfavorable impression he may have feared, or he could have introduced the prisoner, Bartlett, to make any explanation. It is urged that the inference to be drawn from this inquiry and answer is that Bartlett was a convict in some State’s prison. Why the counsel thus concludes he does not state; certain it is there is no such necessary inference arising. The answer does not state that either the prisoner or witness was in a State’s prison when he saw him. If there was danger that any improper inference would be drawn, how easy for the prisoners’ counsel to have inquired where they in fact were, or to have introduced the prisoner to state the fact concerning the matter. If he sees fit to lay by and trust to any inference which he thinks may arise from such an answer, taking no means to avoid it, he cannot now urge it as a cause for new trial. As before remarked, the inquiry and answer prove nothing for or against the prisoner, and the fears of counsel must have some other foundation than anything appearing in the question and answer.
6. The Court instructed the jury "that the laws of this State permit these defendants to testify in their own behalf *216if they desire. Whether they will or not is at their option. The government cannot make them witnesses. They cannot compel them to go upon the stand. If they choose to, the government cannot exclude them. The fact that these prisoners have not testified is apparent to you. The reason why, is not, except from the statement of their counsel. The law presumes nothing concerning it. It is a matter of fact, and no legal inferences or presumptions arise from it. The fact that they might be witnesses or not, as they chose, and did not offer themselves, is a fact in the case and proper for.your consideration. The necessary inference, if any, arising from it, is for you to determine. If the government has failed to prove their guilt there was no necessity for them thus to testify. If the evidence they have produced raises a reasonable doubt of their guilt, then there is no occasion for them thus to testify, for that entitles them to a verdict.”
To this instruction the prisoners’, counsel takes exception, because the jury were allowed to take into consideration the facts that the defendants did not offer themselves as witnesses.
The argument of the learned counsel for the prisoners, in support of his objections, proceeds principally upon the assumption that the Act, admitting defendants in criminal cases to be witnesses in their own behalf, is in contravention of that provision of the bill of rights which provides that the accused "shall not be compelled to furnish evidence against himself.” Const. Maine, art. I, sec. 6.
The Act provides that, " in all indictments, complaints and other proceedings against persons charged with the commission of crimes and offences, the person so charged shall, at his own request, but not otherwise, be deemed a competent witness,” &c. Acts of 1864, c. 280.
We do'not perceive any conflict between this Act and the provision recited from the bill of rights. The Act carefully guards the rights of the accused, and leaves it entirely at his option to testify or remain silent. He cannot now be com*217pelled to furnish evidence against himself any more than before the passage of the Act. He may now be as reticent as before, if he chooses. The only difference is that, before the Act, he must be silent, and now he may.
The difficulty which is suggested, however, in its practical operation, is that, if he does not avail himself of the opportunity offered, an unfavorable influence arises, and, if he does and tells the truth, he must convict himself, and therefore he is between two straits. If this be so, it by no means follows that the Act is in conflict with the rule referred to in the bill of rights.
We are not aware that such a construction has ever been given this provision in the bill of rights; on the contrary, the construction now contended for is in conflict .with certain well known rules of evidence of long and frequent practice in our courts.
If a person accused remains silent when he may speak, he does so from choice, and the choice he makes upon such occasions has always been regarded competent evidence. It is the act of the party. From time immemorial the reply or the silence of the accused person, when charged, has been regarded as legitimate evidence on his trial for the cousideration of the jury. Any act of his, when charged, tending to sustain the charge, may be proved. Fleeing from arrest, giving contradictory, untrue or improbable' accounts of the matters in issue, and refusals to account for the possession of stolen property, are evidences of guilt admitted upon the trial of the persons accused. These are proofs derived from the prisoner’s acts, sayings and silence. He never has been, and is not now compelled to furnish the Court the evidence of the existence of these facts. If it be said, these are the voluntary acts of the prisoner, the manifest answer is, they are not more so than the refusal or neglect to testify.
When found in the possession of stolen properly and inquired of concerning it, he must speak or be silent.
When found with the implements used in a recent burg*218lary and interrogated in reference to them, he must answer or be silent.
Wheu found with the bloody instruments of a foul murder, and he is called upon to explain his possession, he must answer or be silent. There is no escape from this. He is in the strait betwixt the two. He must choose the one or the other. He must speak or be silent. Yet, in all these cases, it has been the uniform practice of the Court to admit in evidence the conduct of prisoners upon such occasions, and it never has been held an infringement of the rule referred to.
A distinguished writer upon criminal law says, —" Where a man at full liberty to speak and not in the course of a judicial inquiry is charged with a crime, and remains silent, that is, makes no denial of the accusation by word or gesture, his silence is a circumstance which may be left to the jury.” Wharton’s Criminal Law, 320.
The Act in question imposes no obligation upon the prisoner to testify; it only affords him an opportunity so to do, if he choose. It changes his condition only in adding one more opportunity to speak or be silent, and the same rule applies to the result which has been applied to such cases for a long time.
We are not aware that any Court has ever extended the rule so far as now contended for by the counsel for the prisoners. To do so would work manifest injustice to all except the guilty, and overrule the law-making power.
The proposition is substantially this, a law which gives an innocent person, who is accused of an offence, an opportunity to relieve himself from suspicion and punishment, and opens his mouth that he may declare and prove his innocence, must be declared unconstitutional because the guilty man who is accused, may, if he takes the stand to testify, get caught in the meshes of his own falsehoods, and, if he does not testify, is liable to an inference unfavorable to his escape from the punishment he deserves.
From this it would result, that tko innocent man must be *219deprived of this great privilege and allowed to suffer, that the guilty may the more readily escape.
Such a proposition, involving such results, added to the overruling of the law-making power, can be adopted only upon some positive, unyielding principle of law requiring it. Such requirement we do not find, and we have no doubt the Act is constitutional in its spirit, letter and design ,• and our observation of its practical operation does not lead us to the same conclusion of the impolicy of its enactment, which has been expressed by the counsel for the prisoners.
It is insisted further, that, if the law is not in conflict with this provision in the bill of rights, still the jury should not be allowed to consider the fact that the prisoner prefers to be silent on his trial.
The reason suggested is, there is danger the jury will attach too much importance to the fact.
If this were so, it might by some be regarded as strong an argument against the jury system as against the admissibility of the evidence. It is a fact, and one not resting upon dubitable evidence for proof, but apparent to the jury themselves. That an inference does arise is admitted, and is undeniable. It is evidence. The force of it may depend upon circumstances. Now, that a fact which is evidence, must be excluded because the jury may misconceive its force and value, is certainly a novel proposition. As we have said before, evidence of this kind has always been entrusted with the jury, and no serious consequences resulted from it.
The danger apprehended has two antidotes; one lies in the intelligence of the jury, where the security of a proper consideration of every other fact lies, and the other remedy lies with the prisoner himself. If in silence there lies insecurity, the law in its beneficence allows him to break silence and avoid the danger arising from it. If he has so conducted himself that he-thus encounters greater difficulties, the fault is his own and not that of the law. The instructions *220upon this point were quite as favorable to the prisoners as they were entitled to.
The jury were instructed, " that the law presumed nothing concerning it; that the omission upon their part to testify must not be regarded as a confession of guilt; that it did not change or diminish the proof required to authorize a verdict ,• that, if the government had failed to prove their guilt, there was no necessity for them to testify; that, if the evidence they had adduced in defence, raised a reasonable doubt of their guilt, then there is no occasion for them to testify, for that would entitle them to a verdict.”
From this it is apparent the government were required to establish the guilt of the prisoners independent of any inferences which might arise from their silence.
This we think was erroneous, and a more favorable instruction than they were entitled to.
We regard it a fact in the case, proper for the consideration of the jury, upon the question of guilt or innocence, and if, when a cause is submitted to the jury, the facts proved in the case, combined with this fact, satisfies them beyond a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the prisoners, their verdict should bo guilty.
The particular weight to be attached to this' circumstance must depend upon the circumstances of each case, and be entrusted to the good sense and intelligence of the jury, under the advice of the Court.
If the defence is an alibi, and numerous witnesses have testified to all the facts which, from the nature of the defence the prisoner could, his testimony could add only the force of one more witness, (and that an interested one,) to the same facts, and, in such case, the inferences arising from silence would possess much less force, than if the defence involved facts peculiarly within his own knowledge, and only slight and indirect proof of it had been • exhibited by him. No fixed and definite rule can be laid down with reference to it. The same tribunal is entrusted with this fact that is entrusted with all the others in the case, and the same *221intelligence and integrity must be the security of the prisoner and the public, that it will be properly weighed and considered.
The presiding Judge in this case, to guard the prisoners against any unwarranted inferences, deprived the government of the whole force of the fact, by requiring it to prove all that was necessary for a conviction without it.
Another cause has been assigned as a reason for granting a new trial which may be entitled to a brief notice.
The state’s attorney for the county being absent, the Court appointed Francis Adams prosecuting officer for the term. Before proceeding with the case to the jury, for reasons assigned by him, he moved that George F. Shepley, Esq., a counsellor of this Court, be allowed to assist him in the trial of the case to the jury, and he was allowed so to do by the Court, the prisoners’ counsel objecting, because it appeared, as they claimed, "that he does and is to receive pecuniary reward” from some parties for such services.
Before the appointment, the presiding Judge stated the rule in such cases to be, "that when it appears to the Court that such facts and circumstances exist that the public interest requires that the state’s attorney have the aid of some counsellor of the Court in the trial of the cause, the Court will appoint such 'person as may seem to them best fitted under the circumstances to aid in the promotion of justice; and the fact that such person may expect compensation for services thus rendered will not deprive the Court of its power to appoint him, but the Court may in the exercise of its discretion, appoint or refuse to appoint under such circumstances.”
The power to appoint a counsellor of the Court to assist a prosecuting officer in the trial of a case, is an incidental power of the Court, and one not unfrequently exercised in cases of more than ordinary importance or difficulty. Without this power the public interests might suffer in many cases, and generally this evil would arise in cases where the greatest and most important interests were involved.
*222The selection and appointment of such persons lies in the discretion of the presiding Judge. It cannot, upon any occasion, be demanded or refused as a matter of right. The Judge called upon to preside must determine the propriety of the request at the time and under the circumstances of the case exhibited to him. The exercise of this power is not the subject of exception unless it infringes some rule of law. The needs and emergencies of the case are for his consideration and cannot be reviewed upon exceptions. If a person legally disqualified be appointed, it may and will be remedied upon exceptions.
There are two kinds of appointments to which the attention of the courts upon several occasions have been directed. One is the appointment of a prosecuting■ officer to fill a vacancy existing in the office, and the other, the appointment of some person at the request of the prosecuting officer to aid him in the trial of the case.
The first is the appointment of an officer; a person who has the management and control of the prosecution; the other is simply that of a person to aid and assist the officer, and has no control over the case.
The difference between these two appointments, and the difference between the powers and duties of the one and that of the other, seem to have been entirely overlooked by the counsel in his argument upon this question.
One is made by virtue of statutory provisions and the other is not. One is under certain statutory restrictions and the other is not.
Section 35 of chapter 77, R. S., in relation to Attorney General, provides, —"He shall not receive any fee or reward, from or in behalf of any prosecutor, for official services, or during the pendency of a prosecution, be engaged as counsel or attorney for either party in a civil action depending essentially on the same facts.”
The same restrictions are imposed on county attorneys. R. S., c. 79, § 19.
These statutory restrictions apply to incumbents of these *223several offices and do not extend beyond. Waiving, for the present, the effect of compensation expected, there is no statutory provision restricting the Court in the appointment of such a person. Therefore there is no cause of exception for the infringement of any statute right in the matter.
Neither is there the same, if indeed any, reason at all existing why such restrictions should, in such cases, be imposed. The officer is appointed for the term of a court, or elected for a term of years, and has the management and control of the case from its inception to its close, and may dispose of it at his will, but the person appointed to aid him has no control of the case to be influenced by pecuniary or other considerations, and is subject to removal by the presiding Judge at any moment.
The statute prohibits the attorney general and county attorney from receiving any fee or reward from, or engagement as counsel or attorney for either party in a civil action depending essentially on the same facts.
They cannot be counsel for the accused in such civil suits lest they, having the control of the case, may be influenced to dispose of it against the public interests. They cannot accept fee or reward, or be counsel against them, lest they may be influenced to prosecute when justice and the public interests would forbid it.
None of these reasons apply to the person appointed to aid the prosecuting officer. The case is at all times under the control and management of one who is under these restrictions and acting under an oath of office.
Our attention has been called to several cases in Massachusetts touching this matter, neither of which are in conflict with the rule stated in this case.
The first case is that of Commonwealth v. Knapp, 10 Pick., 478, in which Daniel Webster had been engaged to assist in the trial. It was a capital case, exciting great interest, and requiring in its investigations great legal knowledge and experience. A similar objection to that now presented was raised by the prisoner’s counsel, based upon the statutory *224provisions of that State, making it the duty of certain officers " exclusively to conduct the prosecution on the part of the Commonwealth.”
The Court say, — "We have examined that statute (st. of 1807) and we are of opinion that it was not intended to prohibit the appointment of the counsellors of this Court in aid of the law officers, whenever the circumstances of the case should require the Court in the exercise of a sound discretion to make such appointment. It is one of the incidental powers of the Court, and has heretofore been exercised in cases within our own recollection.”
In the next case, Com. v. Williams, 2 Cush., 582, the Court say, as a general rule " the conducting of the case before the Court and jury is to be confined to the public prosecutor. But exceptions may occur to this rule, arising from peculiar circumstances applicable to particular cases, which would justify the Court in associating with the public prosecutor, at his request, additional counsel to aid him in the conducting of the case. When this takes place, it must be at the request of the district attorney and under some stringent reasons arising in the particular case; and the control and direction of the ease must be with the public prosecutor. We are to presume, this being a motion addressed in some degree to the presiding Judge, that proper reasons existed for granting the request of the district attorney.”
The next case, in order of time, is Com. v. Gibbs, 4 Gray, 146. This case presents the matter of the appointment of a public prosecutor, rather than a person to aid one.
The office of district attorney was vacant, and the appointment of a person to fill the vacancy for the time being devolved upon the Court. A counsellor of the Court was appointed who "had previously been employed to commence several suits against two of the defendants and to defend an action of slander brought by one of the defendants, all of which, depending upon the same facts involved in the prisoners’ case, then stood for trial.”
This, it will be perceived, was not an appointment in aid *225of a public prosecutor, but was the appointment of the prosecuting officer who should have the control and management of the case. The Court say, — "Such substituted officer must, for the time being, have the same powers with the regularly appointed officer, and have full management and control of the prosecution. He ought, then, to have the same general qualifications, to render him a suitable person for that duty, within the meaning of the statute” defining the duties of such an officer, which statute, they say, " after enumerating in previous sections the prosecuting officers, and providing for the appointment of a substitute for the time being, it enacts that' none of the said officers shall receive any fee from or in behalf of any prosecutor, or be concerned as counsel or attorney for either party, in any civil action depending on the same state of facts’ ” Therefore the counsellor appointed in that case, being appointed the prosecuting officer, was irregularly appointed, because the statute in terms forbade it, he then being " concerned as counsel or attorney in a civil action depending on the same state of facts.”
Whether, if the regularly elected prosecuting officer had been present and desired the appointment of the same counsel to assist him, because of his acquaintance with the facts in the case, the Court would have regarded the appointment in aid of the district attorney as irregular, does not appear,, but, in a subsequent case, where there was, a pro temporeappointment of district attorney, a counsellor was appointed, who had been engaged as counsel against the prisoner in the same case, when it was " before the examining magistrate, and had also acted as clerk in certain proceedings relative to these fires, (the matters in controversy,) before a fire inquest, organized under their statute.”
His appointment, under these circumstances, was not only regarded as unobjectionable, but the appointee, by reason of them, was considered better fitted to furnish aid to the government officer. The Court in their opinion say, — " The *226reasons given in the argument for Mr. Burt’s not being a suitable person, seem to us to indicate his peculiar fitness,” from which arises a strong inference that, had the appointment in the former case been an aid to the district attorney, it would not have been objectionable, but regarded as fitting, because of his familiarity with the facts.
The purpose of the statute in such cases is to secure, in the controlling counsel, impartiality and freedom from influence by reason of pecuniary interest in the result.
It does not exclude the government from obtaining aid from any source, the control and management of the case being in hands free from influences dangerous to the cause of justice. The great end to be attained is a just conclusion and a true verdict in the case. Whether or not this can best and most surely be attained by the aid of others in conjunction with the prosecuting officer, must, when such aid is requested by such officer, be determined by the presiding Judge.- Who is best adapted to accomplish those ends, must also be decided by him, and those decisions are not subject to revision here unless the person appointed be disqualified by some rule of law. There is no rule of law disqualifying the person appointed in this case.
The case was one of great interest, involving the examination of many witnesses, and the proof of many circumstances. The acting county attorney came to the examination of the case a stranger to all its details. Gen. Shepley, as a man of ability, integrity and honorable practice, was well known to the Court. There could have been ho apprehension on the part of the prisoners’ counsel that he would seek to deprive the prisoners of any privilege accorded them by the law of the land. The only real objection which could exist in the minds of the prisoners, was his ability so to present the facts and circumstances in the case, that the truth would be made to appear, and justice overtake them; a serious objection in their estimation, to be .sure, but one not recognizable by this Court as invalidating *227a verdict. We have no doubt of the legality and fitness of the appointment. Exceptions overruled.

Judgment on the verdict.

Appleton, C. J., Cutting, Dickerson and Walton, JJ., concurred.