Gilbert v. State , 8 Okla. Crim. 329 ( 1912 )

First. Appellant complains of the action of the court in sustaining a challenge for cause to the juror Steve Hardesty. It appears that one of the witnesses for the prosecution was an alleged accomplice of appellant in the commission of the crime charged. The state's attorney was endeavoring to find out as to whether this fact would influence the jury in finding a verdict of guilty, even although the testimony of the accomplice might be corroborated by other evidence. The record on this subject in part is as follows:

"Q. Are you opposed to the state using a witness who has himself been convicted of the same crime? A. I cannot say. Q. Have you any feeling against a party turning state's evidence? A. No, sir. Q. And although a man has been convicted he has a right to come into court and tell the truth and implicate the parties guilty in the transaction? A. I don't know as to that. Q. And then you are prejudiced against a man who has gone and done something of telling on those who were implicated with him in the crime? A. Yes, sir. Q. Rather than do that you believe the guilty parties should go unpunished? A. Yes, sir. Mr. Morris: We challenge the juror for cause. Examination of the juror Hardesty by the Court: Q. Mr. Hardesty, if it should develop that witness in the case has been tried for the same offense and had been convicted, and that later he implicated others in the commission of the crime with him, do you state that your feelings are such that you could not fairly weigh such witness' testimony, giving it such weight and credit as you deem it entitled to receive? A. No, sir. Q. You think your mind is in such condition that you would disregard the testimony of such a witness regardless of the other circumstances in the case or the evidence of the other witnesses? A. Yes, sir. By the Court: The challenge will be sustained; you may stand aside Mr. Hardesty. Mr. Vaughn: To which the defendant excepts."

There was no error in the ruling of the court. Under the law an accomplice is a competent witness for the prosecution, and if his evidence is corroborated by other testimony tending to connect the defendant with the crime committed, it will sustain a verdict. If a juror is in such a frame of mind that on general principles he will not consider the testimony of an accomplice, it matters not how corroborated, such person could hardly be said to be a fair juror for the state, and the state has as much right to have a fair jury as a defendant has.

Second. Upon the trial of this case there was a square and material conflict between the testimony of Gene Darnol, a witness for the state, and Ben Hickman, a witness for the defendant, of such a character as to raise a question of veracity between them. In rebuttal the state was permitted to prove by a number of witnesses that the general reputation of Ben Hickman in the community in which he resided for truth and veracity was bad, and the state went further and introduced evidence that the general reputation of Gene Darnol in the community in which he resided for truth and veracity was good. To this appellant objected and excepted, and has assigned the introduction of this evidence as error. Even if the ruling of the court was erroneous, it would not be ground for reversal, because we cannot see how any injustice was done appellant or how he suffered any injury thereby. We know that there is a conflict in the authorities upon this subject, but we think that reason and justice sustain the ruling of the trial court. In ancient days jurors were taken from the immediate vicinity in which the crime was committed and they were generally the witnesses in the case, but under our modern system all persons who have any knowledge of the facts of the case are excluded from the jury. The less they know about the facts in a case and the defendant, the better they are supposed to be qualified to decide his fate. The theory of the law is to remove the jury as far as possible from personal feelings or views with reference to the matter in controversy, and to require that they be impartial and receive their first impressions of the case from legal evidence alone given in open court where both parties will be present and have equal opportunity to be heard. This theory is all right, but to carry it into effect there should be some means of informing the jury as to what the witnesses really are who appear before them in a case when a question of veracity is raised between them, so that the jury may know what credit should be attached to the testimony of each witness. Where such a conflict arises in the testimony of witnesses, the jury cannot intelligently decide the issue presented without some information as to the credibility of each respective witness. In this case the credibility of the witnesses Gene Darnol and Ben Hickman was put in issue before the jury by the conflict between them. To permit the credit of witnesses to be put in issue, and then to deny to either side the right of sustaining its witnesses by proof of general character of veracity, would be to deprive the jury of evidence necessary to the determination of the issue thus submitted to them. For these reasons, even though no court had ever so determined, we would hold that the ruling of the trial court in this case was correct. But we are not without authority sustaining the view which we have taken.

In the case of Davis v. State, 38 Md. 18, the Supreme Court of that state held as follows:

"That as the purpose of the state was to discredit the witness H. by disproving material facts testified to by him, it was competent for the prisoner to sustain the witness by proof of his general character for veracity; and, as the credit of the witnesses H. and S. was fairly put in issue, it was equally competent for the state under such circumstances to support the general character of its witness S. for veracity."

The Supreme Court of Virginia in the case of George v.Pilcher, 69 Va. 299, 26 Am. Rep. 350, said:

"Whenever the truthfulness of a witness is assailed either directly or by cross-examination, or by evidence of inconsistent acts or statements, or by contrary evidence as to the matters testified to by him, his reputation for truth may be sustained by direct evidence adduced for that purpose. * * * In answer to the evidence of contradictory statements, and for the purpose of corroborating the testimony of the witness whose veracity has been thus impeached, it seems reasonable to be allowed to show that he is a man of the strictest integrity and of scrupulous regard to truth. 1 Phillips on Ev. 306, 307. See 1 Greenl. on Ev. sec. 168, and notes (Redfield's edition)."

In a case in Aalabama, where evidence was adduced to contradict a witness on an immaterial point, the party who called him was allowed to introduce witnesses to sustain his general character, although the opposite party disclaimed any intention of discrediting him. Newton v. Jackson, 23 Ala. 335.

And in North Carolina, in a case decided in 1869 by the Supreme Court of that state, it was held competent to sustain a witness by evidence of character, where it was sought to impeach him by the very question put to him. State v. Cherry,63 N.C. 493.

Where the veracity of a witness is in any manner called in question it may be sustained by proof of his general reputation. As we are entirely satisfied that reason and justice sustain the view which we take of this question, we will not waste time by citing further authorities in support of our position.

Third. Upon the trial of this cause, after all of the evidence had been introduced by the state and by appellant, and both sides had announced that the testimony was ended, the court took a recess in the afternoon until 7:30 o'clock that evening. When the court reconvened in the evening, the record shows that the following proceedings were had:

"The parties all being present as heretofore, the defendant being present in person and by his attorneys, and the jurors all answering ``present' when called by the clerk, whereupon the following proceedings were had in said court, to wit: Mr. Vaughn: We wish to recall Ben Gilbert to prove one thing by him. In the hurry to close the case before supper I overlooked one question that I wanted to ask the defendant, Ben Gilbert. By the Court: What is that? Dictate it to the stenographer in the absence of the jury (which is done as follows): Mr. Vaughn: We wish to place the defendant, Ben Gilbert, on the stand and prove by him that, immediately upon getting out of bed on Monday morning following the night the hogs are alleged to have been stolen, he and Sam Cantrell immediately got up and went to the barn and remained there four or five minutes and then returned to the house. Which evidence the defendant alleges is true and that the same should be placed before the jury to show that there was ample opportunity for Brooks and his wife to have placed everything in the room in which they slept that they might so have desired. By the Court: Which request will be denied. Mr. Vaughn: To which the defendant, Ben Gilbert, excepts."

After a case has been closed by both parties, the right to introduce additional testimony is subject to the discretion of the court, and the ruling of the court thereon will not constitute ground for reversal unless it appears from the record that appellant was injured thereby. In his brief counsel for appellant does not show wherein the court abused its discretion in this respect, neither does he show how appellant was injured by the action of the court.

Fourth. Upon the trial of this case, among other things, the court instructed the jury as follows:

"In this connection, gentlemen of the jury, you are instructed that, if you believe from the evidence that any witness has knowingly and willfully testified falsely as to any material fact in the case, you have a right to disregard any and all testimony of such witness except in so far as the same may be corroborated by other credible evidence or by the facts and circumstances proven in the case."

To this instruction an exception was reserved. We think that the latter portion of this instruction should not be given, because it is calculated to create the impression upon the minds of the jury that they are bound to believe the testimony of a witness if they find it is corroborated by other credible evidence, or by the facts and circumstances proven in the case. As we understand the law, a jury is not bound to believe the testimony or any part of the testimony of any witness which they think is untrue, and we think that the latter portion of the instruction given trenches upon the province of the jury. SeeHenry v. State, 6 Okla. Cr. 430, 119 P. 278. Several cases have been reversed where this instruction has been given, but we have never held that this instruction necessarily constitutes reversible error. In each case reversed on account of this instruction, the evidence was such that the jury would have been justified in reaching a different verdict had it not been for this instruction. This is the condition of the record before us. There is no evidence directly tending to prove that appellant is guilty save that of Lewis Brooks. It is true appellant did leave the state after the commission of the offense, but he voluntarily returned after Lewis Brooks was tried and convicted. His explanation for leaving the state was that he went away because he had refused to testify in behalf of Brooks; and, as Brooks had stated that he was guilty, appellant was afraid he might be used as a witness against Brooks. This explanation appears to be reasonable upon its face. If appellant had assisted Brooks to steal the hogs, it would have been reasonable for him to remain and testify in behalf of Brooks upon his trial and, by assisting in securing the acquittal of Brooks, thereby protect himself. The fact that appellant went away indicates knowledge on his part of the guilt of Brooks. In fact, he admits that Brooks had confessed his guilt to him and had endeavored to get appellant to testify that he knew that Brooks had not left the house on the night of the theft. Men who steal do not hesitate to swear falsely to protect themselves, but a truthful man may sometimes step aside to keep from testifying against a friend. It may be said that appellant was in the home of Brooks on the night of the theft. This is true, and it should be a lasting lesson to appellant as to whom he associates with.

But it appears there was a girl in the case and that this was the attraction which called appellant to Gracemont on the night of the theft, and that breaking the buggy tongue, whether intentional or unintentional, made it necessary for him to remain there that night. If the facts testified to by appellant with reference to breaking the buggy tongue were not true, the state could and should have disproven them, but they stand uncontradicted in the record. One of the witnesses who searched the home of Brooks on the morning after the theft saw fresh blood on Brooks, but no one saw blood on appellant, and the sheriff testified that appellant had on his Sunday clothes. This is a significant fact and corroborates appellant as to his business at Gracemont on that interesting occasion. We are told by the poet: "In the spring the young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." If appellant had restrained himself and waited until the regular spring season opened, the chances are that he would not have been caught in the meshes of the law. This looks very much like the case of old dog Tray who was caught and severely beaten for being in bad company.

Appellant assisted Hickman in attempting to compromise the case, but this did not prove him guilty of stealing the hogs any more than it made Hickman guilty of the same crime. This evidence was all reasonably explained and left nothing against appellant except the testimony of Lewis Brooks. Lewis Brooks, according to this record, is a self-confessed thief and self-confessed perjurer. A person who has been convicted of perjury is incompetent to testify as a witness. While Brooks has not been convicted of perjury by a jury, yet he unblushingly and brazenly admits his guilt of this offense. Not having been convicted by a jury, his evidence is not rendered inadmissible, but in a court of reason and justice it should receive but little credence and weight. The testimony could not come from a more thoroughly corrupt and infamous source, and we believe that, without the instruction complained of, the jury would not have considered it for one moment. But as Brooks was corroborated in some of his statements, this instruction was calculated to make the jury believe that they were bound to accept this evidence. This is not the law. A jury may reject any or all testimony which they do not believe to be true. There is no law which compels them to accept any testimony which they believe to be false. This is the vice in the instruction complained of.

We are therefore of the opinion that in this case the giving of this instruction was reversible error.

The judgment of the lower court is therefore reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.

DOYLE, J., concurs; ARMSTRONG, J., absent, and not participating.