Court Opinion

ID: 7030148
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:39:56.425542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:10:55.405450
License: Public Domain

Sullivan, J.
This was an indictment for simple mayhem, under the 31st section of the act of 1831 relative to crime and punishment. The indictment charges the defendant with unlawfully, &c., slitting and biting the ear of A. Patterson, (the prosecuting witness,) to his damage, &c.
After the testimony was closed, the defendant moved the Court to instruct the jury,—1. That to sustain the prosecution, the state must prove that the defendant assaulted Patterson, otherwise they must find him not guilty. 2. That if they should find from the evidence that Patterson assaulted and attacked the defendant, in consequence of which a fight ensued in which the defendant bit off a part of the ear of Patterson, *547the defendant is not guilty as charged. 3. That if Patterson assaulted and attacked the defendant, in consequence of they engaged in a fight, each trying to conquer the other, and the defendant during the fight bit. off a piece of Patterson’s ear, the defendant is not guilty of a mayhem. 4. That if the defendant and Patterson agreed to fight together, and did actually fight in pursuance of that agreement, and during the fight the defendant bit off a piece of Patterson’s éar, he is not guilty of a mayhem. 5. That if the jury believe that the father of the defendant was attacked, on his own premises, by J. Patterson and the said A. Patterson, and the defendant struck the said A. Patterson in defence of his father, and if in consequence of such striking a fight ensued, during which the defendant bit off a piece of the ear of said A. Patterson, he is not guilty of a mayhem.
C. H. Test, for the plaintiff.
W. Quarles, for the state.
The first instruction asked was given by the Court with this addition, that every mayhem includes an assault. The remaining instructions asked for, the Court refuged, but instructed the jury that it made no difference who commenced the attack, or who made the first assault; that the defendant was guilty of a mayhem, as charged if he wilfully bit off a piece of the ear of said A. Patterson, unless he did it in necessary self-defence, or to protect himself from grievous bodily injury, &c.
The instructions we think were right. A previous assault upon a defendant, in a prosecution of this kind, is evidence in justification under the plea of not guilty. But in order to make it a good justification, it ought to appear that the striking by the defendant was in his own defence, and in proportion to the attack made on him. The law is well settled, that a person thus assaulted may use as much force as is necessary for his. defence, but he may not kill, wound, or maim his antagonist,, unless it be necessary to save "his life, or protect himself from, great bodily harm. Every assault will not justify every battery. Son assault is a good plea in mayhem, but it must appear that the degree of resistance was in proportion to the nature of the injury offered. 1 Bay’s R. 351.—Cockcroft v. Smith. 2 Salk. 642.—1 Ld. Ravm. 177.—Buller’s N. P. 18.—2 Stark. Ev. 70.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed with costs. To be certified, &c.