Court Opinion

ID: 7998416
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 01:46:47.147497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:35:37.837762
License: Public Domain

Fisher, J.:
The prisoner was put upon his trial at the October term, 1856, of the circuit court of Holmes county, for the murder of one "William P. West, and was by the jury found guilty of manslaughter in the first degree. To have the sentence pronounced upon this verdict, and the proceedings leading thereto, revised by this court, this writ of error has been prosecuted.
It appears that before going into the trial the prisoner moved ' the court for a continuance on account of the absence of certain witnesses whose testimony he deemed material in his defence. He sets forth in his affidavit that subpoenas for each of said wit: nesses had been issued, and returned by the sheriff not executed. That he expected to prove by one witness that the prisoner and the deceased were on friendly terms up to the time of the killing, and by another that the deceased was very quarrelsome in his disposition when drinking. Applications of this kind are always addressed to the sound discretion of the court; and it is only where this discretion has been manifestly abused that the action of the court below can be assigned as error.1 *1072But even under a more liberal application of the rule in tbe case at bar, we feel no hesitation in saying that the court below committed no error in refusing the continuance. Conceding •that proper diligence had been used to compel the attendance of the witnesses, their testimony could not have varied the result. Admitting the truth of the statements of the affidavit, and giving to the facts the greatest weight to which they were entitled in favor of the accused, a mere doubt as to the question of malice could at most have been created on the minds of the jury-
The testimony of itself is too weak to weigh against the positive and direct testimony introduced on the part of the prosecution ; and indeed it must depend for its weight more upon the weakness of the testimony of the state than upon any merit of its own. There doubtless may be cases where such testimony might form important links in the chain of evidence, and where it might turn the scale in favor of the accused; but, as already remarked in the present case, it could do no more than to create a doubt as to the question of malice. And thus viewing it, in connection with the evidence of the state, we are compelled to sustain the action of the court below in this respect.1
*1073Again, a juror, being pronounced competent to tbe court, was tendered to tbe prisoner, and be was either compelled to accept bim or to exercise bis right of challenge. The juror, in answer to tbe question, whether be bad formed or expressed an opinion as to tbe guilt or innocence of tbe accused, stated that be bad neither formed nor expressed such opinion, but that be bad an impression as to tbe killing from rumor, which it might require evidence to remove. The chief justice and my associate, Judge Handy, are of tbe opinion that this case is clearly distinguishable from tbe case of Nelms v. The State, and others in this court, and that tbe juror was competent. Not, however, being able to yield a full concurrence in them opinion on this ground, I am, nevertheless, of opinion that tbe record allows no error on this point for which this court can reverse tbe judgment. Tbe juror not having been accepted, but set aside under tbe peremptory challenge of tbe prisoner, be must show that *1074the decision of the court was not only wrong, but that, having to exercise his right of challenge to get rid of the juror, he, the prisoner, exhausted his challenges, and, having done so, he was liable to have other jurors equally or more objectionable forced upon him. The question is not whether the court erred as to some minor point on the trial, but whether the objection which, existed as to this person who was tendered as a 'juror, and rejected by the prisoner, existed as to any of the jurors who sat upon the trial; for if not, how can it be said that the prisoner has not been tried by an impartial jury, free from bias or preconceived opinions. The question, to my mind, is whether there is any valid objection which can be urged against any or all of the jurors who sat upon the trial, and not whether objectionable persons were summoned and pronounced competent jurors by the court, but not taken by the prisoner. One of the very objects of the law in giving the prisoner the right to challenge a- certain number, according to his own discretion, was to protect him against the action of the court in selecting the"jury. But if. an impartial jury has been selected, as we must presume it to have been, unless tho contrary be shown, how can it be said that the action of the court, though wrong on this point, has been prejudicial to the prisoner ?
The last error assigned relates to the action of the court in giving, modifying, and refusing certain instructions on behalf of both the prosecution and the defense. This error may be briefly disposed of. The object of the instructions on behalf of the prisoner was to reduce the crime from murder to manslaughter; and admitting that the court erred, both as to the modification made to the instructions given and as to those refused on behalf of the prisoner, there is still no error of which he can complain, for the reason that the very object sought to be accomplished by the instructions has been attained by the verdict of the jury acquitting him of murder, and finding him guilty only of manslaughter. The action of the court could have only boon the subject of revision in the event of a verdict for murder having been returned by the jury, not intimating that even then it would have been objectionable. We have deemed it unnecessary to notice the testimony in the record. *1075It will be sufficient to remark in regard to it, that in our opinion the jury has given the prisoner the benefit of every reasonable doubt which could exist in finding him guilty’ of the highest degree of manslaughter.
Judgment affirmed.

 Archbold Cr. Pr. & Pl., 566-7-8; State v. Hildreth, 9 Iredell, 429; State v. Patterson, 1 McCord, 177; Green v. State, 13 Mo., 382; Baxter v. People, 3 Gilman, 368; McKinney v. People, 2 ib., 540; State v. Thomas, 8 Rich., 295; Fiott v. Com., 564. But the discretion in such oases cannot override a clear legal right, or dispense with ty plain rule of law. The court, therefore, cannot refuse a continuance on the ground that “ it does not place much confidence in the truth of the defendant’s statements.” Fox v. State, 9 Geo., 373. In Alabama and North Carolina it has been held that this discretion of the 'court cannot be reviewed on error. Lindsay v. State, 15 Ala., 43; State v. Duncan, 6 Iredell, 98. And in Woods v. Young, 4 Cranch, 237, the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Columbia laid down the same rule generally, and without qualification. It was doubted by the general court of Virginia in *1072Smith v. Com., 2 Virg. Cas., 6, though they agreed it was a matter of discretion, and that error would not lie unless the case was a very plain one. The same doubt was expressed in Holt v. Com., ib. 156, and the writ of error denied. Also in Bledsoe v. Com., 6 Rand., 673, 674. In Indiana, in Detro v. Smith, 4 Ind., 200, a large discretion was allowed the circuit court on a question of continuance; but in most of the later cases in that state little has been said about discretion, and the right to a continuance has been generally regarded a3 a question of law arising upon the statements of the affidavits. Hubbard v. State, 7 Porter, Ind., 160; Fuller v. State, Blackf., 63. In Georgia the supreme court has said that it must be a most arbitrary and oppressive exercise of power on the part of the presiding judge to authorize a court of error to interfere. Sealy v. State, 1 Kelly, 213; Copenhaven v. State, 4 Geo., 23. In this state it may be said to be settled that where a clear error has been committed in refusing a continuance, without the correction of which a manifest injury will be done, a court of error will interfere; and the party excepting must embody all the testimony in his bill of exceptions, that the court above may see the bearing of the whole case, and thus judge of the ground of the application. McDaniel v. State, 8 S. & M., 401; and see Howell v. State, 5 Geo., 48; Holmes v. People, 5 Gilman, 478; Spence v. State, 8 Blackf., 282; Roberts v. State, 4 Geo., 6, 8.

 To obtain an order of continuance the affidavit must be full, satisfactory, and direct as to material allegations for a continuance. Knight v. State, 5 Humph., 599. The affidavit must state facts in order that the court may determine their importance; deponent’s opinion of undisclosed facts can constitute no safe or proper grounds for the action of the court. Rhea v. State, 10 Yerg., 258; McDaniel v. State, 8 S. & M., 401. It must state the names and places of abode of the absent witnesses, and that they are material to the prosecution or defense. 8 East, 85; Foster, 2; Mull’s case, 8 Gratt., 695; Hurd’s case, 5 Leigh, 715; Gordon v. Spencer, 2 Blackf., 286. The affidavit *1073should bo positive that the absent witness is material, ancl not-merely that the deponent believes him to be so. Bacon’s Abr., Trial,26. Where the affidavit of the accused states that he expects to prove by the absent witness that he heard the witness upon whom the state mainly rely for a conviction, say that “ if hard swearing would send the defendant to the penitentiary, he would go,” the showing is sufficient.
The party moving for a continuance must show that ho has used a reasonable degree of diligence (Fiott v. Com., 12 Gratt., 564; Weeks v. State, 31 Miss., 490; Hurd’s case, 5 Leigh, 715; People v. Baker, 1 Cal., 403); as that the absent witness lias been subpoenaed (Wright v. State, 18 Geo., 383), or an effort in that direction made. As to what will constitute due diligence, see Dutton v. State, 5 Port. Ind., 533; Hall v. State, 8 ib., 439.
If the witness was not absent at the time notice of trial was given, it seems the court will not grant the application on account of any subsequent absence. Barnes, 442. And where the witnesses are in a foreign country, and not likely soon to appear, the court will refuse to allow it; though, as the witness may be examined on interrogatories sent out abroad, it should seem that when the evidence is very material the trial may be delayed till such examination can bo had. 1 Chitty Cr. Law, 492. But when the defendant has been guilty of laches or delay, the court will refuse to put off tlio trial, or at least will impose terms upon him, as that he shall consent to examine upon interrogatories a material witness for the people. Ib., 1 Black., 514; 2 M. & S., 602; Com. v. Gross, 1 Ashm., 281; see also Com. v. Millard, 1 Mass., 6; State v. Fyles, 1 Comst., 234; Allen v. State, 10 Geo., 85.
The improper refusal of a continuance may be cured by the witness appearing and testifying. Weeks v. State, 81 Miss., 490.
As to continuances, see generally the cases above cited, also Archbold Cr. Pr. & Pl., 166, et seq.; Wharton Am. Cr. Law, 2929, et seq.; Colton v. State, 4 Tex., 260; 8 East, 37; 3 Burrow, 1514; 1 Wm. Blackstone R., 514; Com. v. Hilliard, 1 Mass., 6; State v. Zellers, 2 Halst., 220; State v. Fyles, 3 Bev., 304; U. S. v. Gibert, 2 Sumner, 19; 8 East, 37; Earp v. Com., 9 Dana, 302; Bledsoe v. Com., 6 Randolph, 673; Com. v. Gross, 1 Ashmead, 281; Melstead v. Redman, 3 Munford, 219; 1 Dallas, 9; King of Spain v. Oliver, Peters C. C., 217; Fiott v. Com., 12 Gratt., 264; Foster, 40; 1 Wheeler C. C., 30; Rex v. Jones, 8 East, 34; State v. Duncan, 6 Iredell, 98; People v. Thompson, 4 Cal., 238.