State v. Daniels , 38 S.D. 81 ( 1916 )

WHITING, "J.

Appellant was convicted of perjury -and has appealed from the judgment of conviction and from an -order denying a new trial.

[1] He was charged with having committed perjury in testimony given in a proceeding held under the provisions of chapter 200, Laws 1907. This chapter reads as follows:

“Section 1. Whenever any complaint verified upon information] and 'belief 'is laid 'before any justice of the peace, police justice or municipal judge, that a -criminal offense has been committed against any law-of this state and asking for an investigation of the same, -siu-cb justice of the peace, police justice or municipal judge shall issue his subpoena requiring* any and all persons to attend' before him at the -time ’and place -mentioned in s-uch subpoena and submit to an examination and give testimony concerning any violation of law -about which he may be ques^timed. Such testimony shall be reduced to writing by the justice and .shall 'be signed and swoirn to by the witness. * * *”

Appellant attacks the sufficiency of the information herein, contending th-at -chapter 200, supra, is invalid, because in conflict with various provisions of the Constitution of this state and that of the United1 State; but he has- failed to point out any particular :wherein sudi statute conflicts with such 'Constitutions. While it is true that the provisions of this law might be abused, and, under color of die same, some person might be deprived -of some constitutional right, yet .a proceeding thereunder, if properly) conducted, would not conflict with or impair the -constitutional rights of any person.

[2] The information herein -set forth the fact that the proceeding in which the alleged perju-red -testimony was given was held under said chapter 200, and also set forth a copy of the complaint that was filed before the justice of the -peace in such proceeding. Such complaint did not allege, in positive terms, the commission of a criminal offense, hut alleged that “.affiant has received information which causes him tor believe that the crime of murder has been committed1.” This- complaint was in- the f-orm of an affidavit, was- signed by the state’s attorney, and was by him subscribed and sworn to- before the justice.. Appellant contends that such- complaint was insufficient to confer .jurisdiction upon the justice, and that evidence given by -defendant in such un-author-ized proceeding could not form the ¡basis of a charge of perjury. It will ¡be seen that the above statute contemplates that the complaint shall contain a positive allegation of the commission of a criminal offense, but that it may 'be verified as upon, information and belief. There is no- merit in appellant’s contention. We do not deem it necessary to determine whether or not the complaint filed before the justice -was subject to objection if an 'objection had been interposed thereto, but it is clear to us that such complaint was sufficient to give the justice jurisdiction and to authorize the examination of witnesses. The law seems to be well settled that perjury may be committed' in a .proceeding, even, though there are defects and -irregularities therein which would render the proceedings voidable, provided such defects and irregularities are not jurisdictional, and are such as might be amended or have been waived, and that perjury may be committed-• at a trial or proceeding, although the complaint or other pleading filed therein would 'be held .bad on demurrer. 30 Cyc. 1412; Waddle v. State, 73 Tex. Cr. R. 501, 165 S. W. 591; State v. Peters, 107 N. C. 876, 12 S. E. 74; Etheridge v. State, 76 Tex. Cr. R. 198, 173 S. W. 1031; Gardner v. State, 80 Ark. 264, 97 S. W. 48; Murford v. Territory of Oklahoma, 10 Okl. 741, 63 Pac. 958, 54 R. R. A. 513, and notes.

[3] The information of the state’s attorney alleged that the defendant, after taking an oath that he “would testify and depose truly,” gave certain alleged false testimony in such information- set forth. Appellant contends that such allegation was insufficient to charge a criminal offense, that chapter 200, supra, requires the testimony given at the hearing to be reduced to- writing and then subscribed and sworn to, and that the information failed-to- 'allege that such testimony was reduced to writing and subscribed and sworn' to, but merely alleged the giving of the testimony after defendant had been sworn. Appellant contends that there was no authority which authorized the justice ter swear him- prior to- the giving of his testimony, that the only oath that could lawfully be -administered to him was his -oath in- -connection with the signing of written transcript of ‘his testimony, and that it is -only in.-case where-testimony is given under an oath properly administered that a person can be held' for perjury. Section 157, Penal Qxle, specifically provides -that the’ -false testimony must be given by a person “having taken an oath * * * in any of the cases in which an oath! * * * may foe administered1.” We are therefore confronted1 with the question oif whether it was' proper for the justice to administer an oath to> appellant previous' to’ his examination, there being no provision of said' chapter 200, supra, directing that a witness foe -so sworn. A11 examination of our statutes will disclose the fact that there are other statutory proceedings wherein evidence is required toi be taken without there being any statutory direction for the swearing of witnesses. Thus there is no statutory provision requiring that witnesses shall be sworn before testifying -upon a criminal trial before a justice of the peace. The 'same is true in relation.to- the state’s, witnesses upon a preliminary 'hearing of a person charged1 with the commission of an indictable offense. By the rules of the common law no person was completent as a witness who was insensible ho the obligation of ,an oath, or who had not taken an oath. The common-law rules regarding competency of witnesses remain in full force, except as modified by changed1 conditions or by express statutory pro•visions. T'he statutes of this state have modified t'he common-law rule to the extent only of allowing an affirmation in lieu of' an oath .in certain cases. No,- person is competent to give testimony as a witness who has not been sworn or given; affirmation prior to the giving of such testimony. The justice of 'the -peace was not only authorized, but it was bis duty, to require appellant to take the oath prior to the giving of hi® testimony. As a matter of fact, as appears from t'he printed record, the defendant not only ■took the oath before giving- the testimony complained of; but such testimony was reduced to writing and1 then subscribed and' sworn to by him. These' facts did not appear on the face of the information.

[4] It seemed to be appellant’s 'theory, as shown by his testimony, that the party, whom he alleged to have been guilty of the shooting, had placed dynamite under the body of his victim, and had discharged1 such dynamite with the intent and purpose of destroying the evidence of the injuries which he had inflicted upon him. It seemed1 to be the theory of the state- that the death was the sole result of an accidental explosion of dynamite, and, did not occur through the .acts of any other party whatsoever. Appellant called a witness who testified that he- had had experience in the handling1 of 'dynamite. He sought to draw, from- «itch) witness testimony in relation to what the effect of dynamite would be if 'discharged when the same was not in physical contact with the body of a man who was injured 'thereby, and this testimony was excluded. There was no claim on the part of the state that the dynamite was not in physical contact with the 'body of such •man at the time of the explosion. At the best, the evidence sought would only have shown that such an injiury as was inflicted might have resulted if conditions were as testified1 to by appellant, hut would in no manner have tended to disprove the state’s case. We cannot see wherein it could have 'benefited appellant, or wherein he was prejudiced by its exclusion.

[5] Appellant questions the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict. The state did not attempt to prove what motive prompted defendant to give the alleged perjured testimony. This testimony was of the most serious nature, because, if believed1 by a jury upon a trial of the person against whom directed, it would' warrant a verdict finding such person guilty of murder. To warrant a conviction of perjury in the giving of such testimony, when noi motive for such perjury was shown, certainly required most clear and convincing proof of the falsity of such testimony.

[6] Defendant swore that he saw the acts constituting the alleged murder. He located' the place where he stood when he saw these acts. The party killed was over a mile from' him1. He swore in detail as to what occurred at the scene of the alleged ■murder. The conceded1 distance ‘between where he stood' .and the place of the alleged murder was so great as to raise some doubt in regard to' one’s ability to see all that defendant claimed to see. It was undisputed that there was an explosion of dynamite that blew off one of 'the victim’s hands and otherwise mutilated his bod'}-. There was evidence which established', almost or quite beyond all possible doubt, the exact spot of the explosion. This evidence consisted chiefly of testimony in relation to a hole in the ground apparently resulting from the explosion, and in relation to the finding- of pieces of human flesh and clothing around such ■hole. There was undisputed evidence demonstrating to an absolute certainty that there were three rises of ground between the spot so testified to and Che point where defendant claimed to have been standing’ at the time of the explosion, and that every one of these rises' was such as to .render-it .physically impossible for any one located where defendant claims he was standing to- have seen what he claims to have seen, provided it occurred at the spot so established -by the state’s testimony. The defendant claimed that the scene of the explosion was at some distance from the place fixed by the state’s testimony. This claim -was clearly false. That defendant was guilty of perjury was established beyond all .reasonable, if not all possible, doubt.

. There are no other assignments, 'discussed 'by appellant, which present any question meriting our consideration.

The judgment and order .appealed.,from are affirmed. .