People v. Blue ( 1931 )

[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] Defendant was convicted of partially destroying the Family Theater building in Grand Rapids by means of explosives. The people claimed defendant was hired to bomb the building by one Roe Lawton, principal witness for the prosecution.

On ample notice, trial was set for May 1st. April 26th, the people moved to indorse the names of several additional witnesses on the information after it had been filed. Notice of the motion was received by counsel for the defense at Detroit on April 28th. On May 1st, permission was granted to indorse the names, over defendant's objection that he had not had opportunity to "examine into" the witnesses. No request for continuance was made.

Defendant contends that the code of criminal procedure of 1927, 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 17254, governing such indorsement of names, makes no change from the former rule provided in 3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 15761, and that a continuance should have been granted. The prosecuting attorney urges that the rule under the code is that permission to add names may be granted in any case except where it appears that the prosecution has been guilty of bad faith in withholding them.

Both contentions are wrong. In People v. Tamosaitis,244 Mich. 258, this court, through Mr. Justice SHARPE, said:

"The change made by the legislature clearly indicates an intention to vest an even wider discretion in the trial court than that proposed by the commission. This discretion is, of course, reviewable. The right of the defendant to know the witnesses to be called against him is a substantial one, and the statutory requirement should be faithfully observed by the prosecuting attorney."

Under the code, the indorsement of names after filing is wholly within the discretion of the court. The discretion, of course, is judicial, not personal, must be exercised with due regard to protection of the right of an accused to prepare his defense and to be accorded a fair trial, and is to be reviewed upon the showing made and in view of the circumstances. Motions to indorse should be supported under oath unless oath is waived. Where trial is imminent or in progress, the prosecution has the burden of a showing of excuse for failure to sooner indorse. If the showing is sufficient prima facie, the defendant then has the burden of a showing in opposition to the indorsement or for continuance, which may be attacked by further showing of the prosecution. The ultimate question, on review, is whether the court abused its discretion, with the burden ordinarily on the party asserting abuse. Want of excuse or bad faith in failing to promptly indorse names does not deprive the court of jurisdiction to permit indorsement but it casts upon the prosecution the burden of demonstrating that defendant will not be injured thereby and that the court is justified in granting the motion.

At bar, the motion was supported by affidavit of the prosecuting attorney that request for indorsement followed at once on discovery of the witnesses. The showing was sufficient to justify indorsement. Defendant made no claim that he was unacquainted with the witnesses nor that a continuance was necessary to enable him to meet their testimony. The court had no duty, of its own motion, to grant continuance, where it was not asked. The record shows no abuse of discretion in granting the motion.

Criticism is made of remarks of the court during the cross-examination of Lawton by way of impeachment through his testimony taken on the preliminary examination of defendant. As presented, this impeaching testimony referred to a different situation than did the testimony it was sought to impeach. The court's remarks were made to point out the incidents to which the testimony referred and to prevent confusion of the jury. The court is not obliged to sit quiescent and permit testimony to be wrested from its setting to deceive the jury. It is fair to state that present counsel for defendant was not in the case at the trial.

The other claimed errors relate to the calling of witnesses and need no discussion because the points were not raised at the trial nor covered by the assignments of error. Nor is there merit in them.

Judgment affirmed.

BUTZEL, C.J., and CLARK, McDONALD, POTTER, SHARPE, and NORTH, JJ., concurred with FEAD, J. WIEST, J., concurred in the result.