State v. Woodward , 84 Iowa 172 ( 1891 )

Beck, C. J.

I. The defendant presented Ms petition in due form to the district court, ashing for a 1. CEANG~ of yen-lie: application: conflict of evidence. change of venue of the cause to another county, which was supported by the affidavits of a large number of residents of the county, tending to show prejudice against the defendant by the people thereof to such an extent that the defendant could not have a fair trial therein. A counter showing, contradicting the affidavit of the defendant by nearly an equal number of residents of the county, tends to establish that there is no prejudice in the county against the defendant to their knowledge, and that in their belief he could obtain a fair trial therein. The application for the change of venue was addressed to the sound discretion of the court, and the decision thereon will not be disturbed unless it be clearly shown that this discretion has. been abused. Code, sec. 4374, and cases cited in notes by Miller and McClain. There is no showing justifying the conclusion that the discretion of the court was improperly exercised in refusing this application.

II. A witness, a surgeon, who examined the wound inflicted by the defendant upon another, which consti- ~. ASSAULT with intent to corn-mit murder: evidence: nature oi injury. tutes the crime for which he was indicted, was asked and permitted to answer, over the defendant'~ objection, this question: "What is the probability of the wound producing death!” He replied that the wound had cut the femoral artery and femoral vein, and was very dangerous, and would have produced death in a very few minutes, if the flow of blood had not been stopped very shortly. The character and locality of the wound would to some extent seem to indicate the intent of the defendant in inflicting it, as the weapon used will in some degree disclose that intent. If the wound is in a vital part, and for that reason was dangerous, and would speedily produce death, it was proper to show these facts in order to enable the jury to determine •the question oí intent. The evidence was, therefore, .rightly admitted.

III. A witness who described the fight between the •defendant and the person who was stabbed was asked 3. -: -. and permitted to answer this question: “jNow, in this last racket, did you see defendant strike Gardner” [the person who was -stabbed]? The ground of objection to this question is that there was no proof that there was a second “ racket,” using the word in the sense of a fight, quarrel or contest. The evidence shows that Gardner, at the beginning of the difficulty, slapped the defendant with his hand, who thereupon retired to another part •of the room, pursued, as some witnesses testify, ■ by Gardner. The conflict was there renewed, which is Deferred to in the question as the “last racket.” It is difficult to say from .the evidence that there were two •conflicts, but it is very plain that the defendant had retired after he was slapped, and the violence was renewed in another part of the house. The question ■and answer refer to this renewal, designating it as the ■“last racket.” We think the words are not to be understood as expressing the thought that there were in fact two distinct fights or contests. The evidence •elicited by it was proper.

IY. An instruction to the jury is to the effect that the intent of a criminal act need not be shown by direct 4. -: intent: evidence. proof, but may be inferred from what the party does and says, and from all the circumstances and acts accompanying the crime. Counsel insist the instruction is erroneous from the use of the word “inferred” in place of which the word “shown” should have been used. Intent is usually, if not always, established by inquiries from the envir-oning acts and circumstances, and rarely, if ever, by direct proof. The instruction is correct.

Y. The court, in brief language, defined the crimes of murder and manslaughter. Counsel insist that the 5. -: instructions to jury. instructions should not have been given,. a~d are therefore erroneous, for the rea-. son that the defendant was not charged. with these crimes. But he was charged with the intent to commit murder, and could have been convicted of an assault with intent to commit man~laughter. It is plain that, to enable the jury to find for what offense the defendant should have been convicted under the evidence, they were properly informed as to what constituted the crimes of murder and manslaughter.

VI. Counsel criticise the language and manner of other instructions, rather than point out errors therein, and others are complained of without specific objections thereto. These criticisms and complaints demand. no further attention.

VII. Counsel think the jury should have been instructed upon the doctrine of self-defense. We think. 6. -: self- defense. the evidence demands no such instruction, as it was plainly the case of a mutual con-ifict, the injured party probably being the first aggressor. But, if counsel thought such instruction ought to have been given, be should have asked for it, and cannot now complain on the ground that none were given.

VIII. Counsel complain of misbehavior of the prosecuting attorney in presenting matters in his argu-7. PRACTICE: misconduct o~ counsel: appeal: record. ment which ought not to have been referred to by him. This objection was made a ground for a new trial, and the charges upon which it is based are stated. in an affidavit of one witness. The court does not cer--tify to the fact that the matter complained of did. occur. There is no showing whatever in the record as to this matter, except what is found in the affidavit supporting this ground for a new trial, and a counter affidavit of the county attorney. We cannot presume that the allegations of fact in the affidavit were not overcome by other showing made to the court, but will presume that. it was, in the absence of a bill of exceptions or certificate of the judge showing the contrary.

In onr opinion, the evidence sufficiently supports the verdict of the jury. The judgment of the district court Trill therefore be aeeirmed.