Court Opinion

ID: 3287058
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 17:02:04.14417+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:56:12.968961
License: Public Domain

Upon trial in the superior court of Los Angeles county the defendant was convicted of the crime of forgery. She prosecutes this appeal from the judgment rendered upon such conviction, and also from an order of court denying her motion for a new trial.
The forged document was a check purporting to be drawn upon, and by the defendant presented for payment to, the First National Bank of Los Angeles. The trial commenced on April 16, 1908, before the late Hon. B. N. Smith presiding as judge. On April 18, 1908, Hon. Walter Bordwell, presiding as judge, the trial of the case was by consent of all parties continued to April 22, 1908, on which last-mentioned date the trial proceeded before Judge Smith as judge presiding until April 25, 1908, when Judge Bordwell sat as presiding judge, on which occasion the closing arguments were made and the case submitted to the jury, which brought in a verdict of guilty as charged. On April 29, 1908, before Hon. W. P. James presiding as judge, H. H. Appel was associated with counsel for defendant, and the passing of sentence was continued to May 9, 1908, and on said last-mentioned date again continued, at defendant's request, to May 23, 1908, at which time Hon. Curtis D. Wilbur, judge presiding, another firm of attorneys were, on defendant's motion, associated with her counsel, and a stipulation made that the reporter's transcript of the testimony should be used on motion for a new trial as a correct statement thereof, as well as of the rulings of the court and exceptions taken thereto. On May 29, 1908, Judge Wilbur presiding, defendant's motion for a new trial came on for hearing, at which time some of defendant's counsel proceeded to present said motion, when other of defendant's counsel stated to the court that they did not desire to participate in said motion for a new trial; whereupon the judge presiding asked defendant whom she desired to represent her in the proceeding. Defendant in open court stated that she did not wish the attorney who was presenting the motion to represent her, and had requested that he not appear *Page 237 
again in her behalf, but that she did desire Messrs. Variel 
Barber, who had theretofore been associated as her counsel and who were then in court, to represent her interest. The court then stated to her former counsel that he was discharged; whereupon her attorney, Mr. Variel, stated that defendant did not desire to present her motion for a new trial, and thereupon the court denied said motion. On June 19, 1908, the defendant's application for probation theretofore made was denied, the judgment of the court being that defendant be punished by imprisonment for a term of seven years. On June 29, 1908, the Hon. W. H. Jamison presiding as judge, a substitution of attorneys was had, whereby Mr. Earl Rogers was substituted as attorney for defendant, at which time notice of appeal was filed and thirty days' time granted to defendant within which to present her proposed bill of exceptions. Thereafter a bill of exceptions was, by the Hon. W. H. Jamison, as judge, duly settled and allowed.
While appellant does not attempt to point out or designate any particular step in the proceedings, the history of which we have set forth, as constituting error, her counsel, nevertheless, claim the result of these several judges presiding at different stages of the trial was in itself prejudicial to defendant. Such change in the bench did not change the court which undoubtedly had jurisdiction of the case. In the absence of any showing to the contrary, we must presume that this change in its personnel was for good and sufficient reasons. Upon like grounds we must presume that defendant assented to such change. Hence, not having objected, even if there was error, and upon the record we are unable to perceive any, she is presumed to have waived the same. The cases of People v. Hobson, 17 Cal. 429, and People v.Henderson, 28 Cal. 465, furnish authority for holding that the proceedings, though unusual, were free from prejudicial error.
Referring now to the specific assignment of errors upon which appellant contends for reversal: After a witness for defendant had been cross-examined counsel for defendant proceeded in redirect examination as follows: "Q. I will ask you, Mrs. Davis — The Court: No, Mr. Brown, please don't. That is all, Mrs. Davis." Whereupon the witness left the stand. Inasmuch, however, as no offer was made to prove any fact in issue, we cannot say that defendant's rights were prejudiced by the action of the court. The manner in which *Page 238 
the ruling is made is indicative of impatience on the part of the court, but such fact does not excuse counsel, if he regarded the matter of sufficient importance, from submitting a formal statement or offer of what he desired to prove. Such procedure, if taken and disclosed by the record, would comply with the rule that errors must be made to affirmatively appear and also enable this court to determine whether or not the substantial rights of defendant were prejudiced thereby. (People v. Brotherton, 47 Cal. 388, 404; In re Eschrich,85 Cal. 98, [24 P. 634].)
There is nothing in the point that the rights of appellant were prejudiced by a remark of the court, made in the presence of the jury, and calculated to subject defendant's counsel to ridicule. The remark of the court was in response to proffered testimony by defendant which the court with perhaps unnecessary emphasis held to be wholly irrelevant. The degree of courtesy to be exercised between court and counsel is not a subject for judicial review, unless it clearly appears that defendant's case is prejudiced thereby. In People v. Oliveria, 127 Cal. 382, [59 P. 772], the record discloses a much greater violation of the rule of conduct which ordinarily prevails between the court and an attorney engaged in the trial of a cause, yet the court there held it was not reversible error. To the same point see People v. Modina, 146 Cal. 142, [79 P. 842].
On cross-examination the foster father of defendant was asked the question as to how defendant made her money, and in ruling upon defendant's objection to the question the court said: "I think this being the foster father, he would be apt to know as much about it as anybody." The effect of such statement might well be calculated to influence the jury as to the weight otherwise accorded to the answer of the witness; and, if adverse to defendant, might be regarded as prejudicial. In view of the fact, however, that the answer, in so far as it concerned defendant, was favorable rather than otherwise, her rights could not have been prejudiced by the question.
It appears that defendant had on a former occasion pleaded guilty to the crime of forgery, the only evidence tending to prove such fact being that contained in a letter written by the district attorney to an expert in handwriting. Defendant introduced this letter in evidence. The district attorney made no reference to this former conviction and disclaimed *Page 239 
any intention of doing so. Under these circumstances, and in the absence of any evidence that defendant was then on probation, or any evidence of her former conviction other than that contained in the district attorney's letter introduced by herself, she was asked how she came to be on probation, to which she answered: "Because I pleaded guilty to a charge." Whereupon the court interrupted, saying: "That is foreign to this proposition entirely." We think this ruling, in view of the position taken by the district attorney as to her former conviction, clearly correct. A different case might have been presented if the district attorney had sought to impeach her testimony, or make any point against her by reason of such former conviction.
It is urged that the court erred in refusing to permit the witness Davis to testify in rebuttal with reference to a certain letter, which the witness McNamara on the part of the state had testified he found in defendant's purse. Davis had already testified in minute detail as to the articles which were in the purse when she saw it. While her attention was not directed to this particular letter, the list of articles named as having been found by her did not include this letter. The question in issue was whether the letter was in the purse, as to which fact the testimony of Davis and McNamara was conflicting. To permit Davis to repeat her testimony that it was not in the purse, or say, as suggested by defendant's counsel, where she had last seen it, could not strengthen her testimony touching this fact.
Appellant contends that instruction No. 16 is erroneous. This instruction is the last of a number of instructions which appear from the indorsements and filing marks to have been embodied in one document. There is no indorsement indicating at whose request this instruction was given. It does appear, however, from the bill of exceptions that certain instructions proposed by defendant were stricken out in pencil from the face of the document containing all of defendant's proposed instructions. The instructions thus shown by the bill of exceptions to have been stricken out are identical with those numbered 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the document above referred to, of which instruction No. 16 constitutes the last. While we think it devolves upon defendant to affirmatively show that this instruction was not given at her request, it thus clearly appears that it was one among *Page 240 
others requested by her, and therefore, if error, she is in no position to complain. (People v. Rangod, 112 Cal. 669, [44 P. 1071].)
The court failed to give certain instructions contained in the charge requested by defendant, and she contends that the court failed to indorse and sign the instructions so refused, as required by section 1127 of the Penal Code. As hereinbefore stated, the instructions requested by defendant were embodied in one instrument and numbered from 1 to 16, both inclusive. This instrument constituted the charge requested by defendant. Underneath each of said instructions, other than those numbered 6, 8, 9 and 10, was written "Given, B. N. Smith, Judge"; and immediately following the instructions refused, that is, upon numbers 6, 8, 9 and 10, is written the words, with appropriate number in each case, "Stricken out by the court." Where changes are made they are indicated by writing underneath such numbered paragraph, "words in italics supplied by the court." It thus clearly appears that the charge, which consists of the several instructions embodied therein, was in part given and in part refused, and that the court did by indorsement clearly distinguish what part was given and what part was refused, as required by section 1127.
Where the charge requested consists of a number of instructions embodied in one instrument and the judge indorses a part as "given," together with his signature thereto, and indorses another part as "stricken out by the court," without his signature, it is a sufficient compliance with the law in this regard.
It appears from the bill of exceptions that certain instructions identical with those numbered 6, 8, 9 and 10 "were stricken out in pencil from the face of the document containing all of the proposed instructions handed in by defendant, and those which were actually given by the court were indorsed, 'Given, B. N. Smith, Judge.' " As the contrary is not shown, we must assume the words, "stricken out by the court," indorsed under instructions numbered 6, 8, 9 and 10, to have been written by the court, though, in our judgment, had the court's action been indicated by erasure only as shown by the bill of exceptions, it would have sufficiently distinguished the part of the charge refused and fully enabled defendant to reap any benefit inuring to her by reason *Page 241 
of such act. In either view of the case, the action of the court in refusing these instructions is sufficiently indicated.
Upon the question of the character of a witness called up on behalf of the prosecution, and after defendant had examined three witnesses touching the subject, the court stated that, upon such point, each side would be limited to the testimony of seven witnesses. The rule is well settled that the number of witnesses who may be called upon a single question rests in the discretion of the court. (Butler v. State, 97 Ind. 378; 8 Am. 
Eng. Ency. of Law, 469.) Fixing the number in this case at seven on each side was not an unreasonable limitation. If the substantial rights of defendant were prejudiced by reason of the court announcing the number permitted to testify after she had placed three witnesses upon the stand, such fact showing how she was prejudiced by the ruling should at the time have been presented to the court; otherwise, even if error, it is deemed to be waived.
A careful consideration of the case satisfies us there is no prejudicial error which upon the record justifies a reversal.
The judgment and order are affirmed.
Allen, P. J., and Taggart, J., concurred.
A petition to have the cause heard in the supreme court, after judgment in the district court of appeal, was denied by the supreme court on May 13, 1909.