Rows v. State

Griffin Smith, Chief Justice.

Andrew Jackson Rowe has appealed from two judgments. The first carries a sentence of 21 years for robbery; the second, seven years for burglary. The sentences are to run consecutively.

The formal information charged the defendant with having entered the Bank of Swifton December 1, 1953, and taking approximately $8,000. Rowe and John Stanley wore arrested at a tourist court in Hoxie where they had registered under fictitious names. All but about $100 of the money claimed by the bank was recovered. Rowe signed a confession, but did not testify. Stanley was a witness against his criminal associate and detailed essential facts relating to activities of the two.

The motion for a new trial contains 22 assignments. Most of the matters to which attention is directed are of a class heretofore held untenable or non-prejudicial. The first eight assignments relate to the court’s action in permitting jurors to serve when, from the defendant’s point of view, answers given on their voir dire disclosed prejudice, fixed opinion as to the defendant’s guilt, or they were in some position or relationship to the bank or others in interest — a relationship calculated to influence jury action irrespective of the evidence.

"While it is true that some of the veniremen said that they had formed tentative opinions based upon newspaper reports or what , some one had told them, all who were accepted stated that they could and would be guided solely by the testimony, giving to the defendant the benefit of all doubts that the law defines. There was no error in accepting these men. It is no longer practicable in an intelligent society to select jurors from a psychological vacuum or from a stratum where information common to the community as a whole is lacking.

The ninth and tenth assignments question actions of the court in permitting witnesses Rayburn and Wilcox to testify that bloodhounds were used in an attempt to trail the robbers, no showing having been made that the dogs were properly trained, and absent evidence that Rowe was apprehended by reason of these activities. We agree with appellant that the testimony was immaterial. It is urged that the purpose of this saga was to bring to the immediate attention of jurors thrilling phases of a manhunt, thus effectuating an interest in the day of action, with the excitement and energy attending diligence of officers who were trying to apprehend the culprits.

We have frequently held that exhibits not essential to a clear understanding of a defendant’s connection with or relation to the crime alleged should be excluded when reasonable minds would agree that the purpose to be served or the probable result would be to unduly arouse passion and prejudice. But we have not held that a jury should be denied information intended to place the fact-finders in a position to understand what actually occurred within a reasonable period preceding the crime, or following its commission. The use of bloodhounds is in no sense unusual. Here trailing activities did not identify the defendant or form a link pointing to his guilt. We know of no rule announcing prejudice in such circumstances through failure of the state to first show that the dogs were qualified, or that they were experts.

It is next objected (assignment 11) that State Policeman Lutes ought not to have testified that Rowe told him, while in custody, that if he had been overtaken by the bloodhounds “I would have killed you like a G- — d— dog.” The action of one accused in fleeing from the scene of crime is a circumstance to be considered with other evidence in determining probable guilt. Smith v. State, 218 Ark. 725, 238 S. W. 2d 649. A corollary would seem to be that where flight is established the declaration of one who says he would have defended himself while evading arrest is likewise admissible. See Reed v. State, 102 Ark. 525, 145 S. W. 206; Wooten v. State, 220 Ark. 750, 249 S. W. 2d 964.

Assignments 12 and 13 require consideration of the court’s action in permitting the jury to receive the defendant’s written confession, which was sworn to. This will be discussed presently.

Assignment 14 asks a review of the court’s action in allowing a witness to testify that the defendant, while in jail, wrote notes that Avere intercepted. The court instructed that these should not be considered. The admonition was sufficient.

Assignments 15, 16, 17, and 19 were objections to introduction of proof that the defendant had committed other crimes. The information charged that Rowe was an habitual criminal. Act 228 of 1953, Ark. Stat’s (Supplement) § 43-2330. Although the defendant was not convicted under the habitual criminal count, the accusation permitted introduction of evidence responsive to the charge, hence error cannot be predicated upon its consideration.

The final argument is that the confession was inadmissible as a matter of law because the prosecuting attorney administered an oath to the defendant.

The Defendant’s Confession. — Act 160 of 1937, Ark. Stat’s, § 43-801, invests the prosecuting attorney with power to issue subpoenaes when criminal matters are being investigated, “. . . and [he] shall have authority to administer oaths for the purpose of taking the testimony of witnesses subpoenaed before [him]. Such oath when administered by the prosecuting attorney or his deputy shall have the same effect as if administered by the foreman of the grand jury. • . .”

An enactment taken from chapter 45 of the Revised Statutes has been brought forward as § 43-915, Ark. Stat’s, 1947 revision: — “In all cases where two or more persons are jointly or otherwise concerned in the commission of any crime or misdemeanor, either of such persons may be sworn as a witness in relation to such crime or misdemeanor; but the testimony given by such witness shall in no instance be used against him in any criminal prosecution for the same offense.”

Appellant contends that the general assembly, in authorizing prosecuting attorneys to administer oaths and providing that the effect would be gauged by some of the language used in the Revised Statutes, intended to render inadmissible any testimony given by a witness subpoenaed or otherwise procured when the prosecutor saw fit to enjoin upon such witness the solemn obligations of an oath.

It will be observed that § 43-915 mentions persons who are “jointly or otherwise concerned” in the commission of a crime, while § 43-801 does not refer to persons “jointly or otherwise concerned”; nor does this section by any express language prohibit the use of such testimony. If rendered inadmissible it must come about because of the reference to effect of the oath — the same as if administered by the foreman of the grand jury. [Eowe was charged in an information that did not name Stanley or any other person.]

An opinion written by Mr. Justice Wood in 1907 reversed a conviction because the appellant’s testimony, taken before an examining magistrate where he was jointly charged with two others, was used against him. Marshall v. State, 84 Ark. 88, at pages 91-92; 104 S. W. 934. The court gave the instruction copied in the margin,¹ which was held to be a correct declaration of the law, but reversible error was predicated upon use of the defendant’s confession made at a time when he and two others were “jointly or otherwise concerned,” an oath having been administered.

. In Dunham v. State, 207 Ark. 472, 181 S. W. 2d 242, the defendant in her appeal relied upon two grounds. At the coroner’s inquest she was sworn as a witness, then confessed that she killed her sister by shooting her with a shotgun. In Judge McHaney’s opinion for the court it is stated that but for the confession there could have been no conviction. The two-fold objections were: First, it contravened that part of Art. 2, § 8, of the state constitution where it is provided, “. . . nor shall any person be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself. . . .” Secondly, § 3956 of Pope’s Digest (now § 43-915, Ark. Stat’s) was violated.

After holding inapplicable the constitutional objection the opinion says that the Pope’s Digest section “. . . relates to cases where two or more persons are jointly concerned in the commission of any crime. . . . This statute has no application, as appellant is not jointly charged with any other person and she was not called as a witness against any other person. . . . She was convicted on the voluntary statement made by her at the coroner’s inquest, which, as we have already stated, is admissible.”

In the case at bar a clearer picture of appellant’s position is retrospectively shown by the following statement, copied from his brief: “According to the testimony . . . Bill Arnold, the prosecuting attorney, advised the prisoners that they did not have to make a statement. He promised them nothing but the limit of the law. Stanley refused to make a statement.”

The effect of cases like State v. Roberts, 148 Ark. 328, 230 S. W. 15, is that a witness called before the grand jury (and now by analogy one who is called by the prosecuting attorney) may not refuse to testify on the ground that information given might tend to incriminate him in respect of the subject-matter under investigation. This is true because the statute expressly prohibits use of information so obtained if the witness is made a defendant in the same transaction.

Section 43-915 is cited as § 3956 of Pope’s Digest in Bratton v. State, 213 Ark. 537, 211 S. W. 2d 428. There, as defendant below, Bratton was subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury where he gave testimony regarding activities resulting in his indictment and conviction on a charge of embezzlement. On appeal it was urged that because a subpoenae had issued — at the defendant’s request, as it was shown — statements in the nature of a confession could not be read to the jury by the reporter who acted for the grand jury. In rejecting this contention Dunham v. State is cited, with this comment: “So here the defendant was not jointly charged, or concerned, with another; nor was he called as a witness against any other person.” Cf. Pugh v. State, 213 Ark. 374, 210 S. W. 2d 789; Ezell v. State, 217 Ark. 94, 229 S. W. 2d 32; Baker v. State, 177 Ark. 13, 5 S. W. 2d 337.

In State v. Bach Liquor Company, 67 Ark. 163, 55 S. W. 854, we held that the word “concerned,” used in connection with two or more persons dealt with in ch. 45 of the Revised Statutes, meant participants: thus, “Where two or more persons jointly or otherwise participate in the commission of any crime or misdemeanor.”

The appellant, in Harshaw v. State, 94 Ark. 343, 127 S. W. 745, was sworn by a justice of the peace and made a confession. He was indicted for forgery and at trial objected to introduction of the confession. While the reported opinion does not set out all of the facts, an examination of the bill of exceptions shows that the protest was brought forward in appellant’s motion for a new trial, hence the matter was before this court. There is nothing to indicate that the justice of the peace was acting as an examining magistrate, but the idea inferable from the proceedings is that the defendant objected to the confession on the ground of self-incrimination. The conviction was affirmed.

Our latest case containing a reference to § 43-801 (Act 160 of 1937) is Taylor v. State, 220 Ark. 953, 251. S. W. 2d 588. A conviction was reversed because a specimen of the handwriting of appellant’s wife was allowed to go to the jury in circumstances making the paper serve as evidence against the woman’s husband. There is this statement: “We are loath to approve a method of legal procedure that might conceivably be used to trap or coerce a person into discarding a right or privilege guaranteed by law.”

Applying this rule, let us consider whether the principle applies to the case at bar. That there was no element of coercion or entrapment is sufficiently certified by counsel for appellant in their express disclaimer of force, violence, threats or promises “in order to induce or coerce” the confession.

Appellant’s partner in crime was called at the same time Rowe responded and was informed that he was not required to make a statement. He understood the admonition and declined to answer questions. Rowe took a different view and voluntarily disclosed what had occurred. To hold that this is not a voluntary confession merely because the prosecuting attorney administered an oath that .the accused subscribed to after being informed that he was not under compulsion and that he could expect nothing more favorable than the law’s full penalty — to say it was the intention of the general assembly, in promulgating Act 160, to read into the statute a design that was not expressed, not necessarily implied, and to interpolate a purpose strangely at variance from the decisions we have cited,- — to reach this conclusion would be a departure from statutory construction that we are not at liberty to embrace.

The thing courts are concerned with in matters related to the issue here presented is a scrupulous protection against compulsory self-incrimination. Protection is broadly conferred by § 8 of art. 2 of the constitution, and in election eases by § 9 of art. 3. If a purpose not heretofore defined is to be assigned to the pertinent portion of chapter 45 of the Revised Statutes, that objective is clearly one to facilitate criminal investigations through use of testimony by a participant. Information thus obtained may be used against persons other than the witness, but where compulsion is employed in a process that inevitably or incidently incriminates an affiant, the law’s protection is not a vain thing. In an appropriate case either the constitution or statutes may be invoked; but here there was no compulsion or duress —a fact recognized by the defendant himself.

Affirmed.

Mr. Justice Robinson dissents. Mr. Justice Ward concurs.

Ward, J.

I agree with the result reached by the majority and also agree with much of the reasoning set forth in the opinion but I feel compelled to write this concurrence in order to emphasize the real basis upon which I think the opinion should have rested.

In my opinion the confession of appellant was admissible in evidence for the sole reason that it was shown to be voluntarily given. The fact that the statute gives the prosecuting attorney a right to subpoena and swear witnesses is no reason tending to make the confession in question admissible. Neither does the fact that appellant was not jointly indicted form any basis or reason for admitting the confession. I make this latter statement because the opinion appears to assign this as a reason on the authority of Dunham v. State, 207 Ark. 472, 181 S. W. 2d 242, and Bratton v. State, 213 Ark. 537, 211 S. W. 2d 428. In those cases the court did refer rather loosely, I think, to the fact that there was no joint indictment but the real decision in both instances rested squarely on the basis that the confession was free and voluntary. Ark. Stats. § 43-915 cited in the majority opinion is to the effect that where two or more people are jointly concerned in the commission of a crime the testimony may be taken and used against the other but cannot be used against himself. The protection which the law throws around one making a confession [that it must be voluntary] is always available to a defendant whether he is jointly charged or not.

The underlying reason for expressing the above views is my fear that prosecuting attorneys, however conscientious, might, by a wrong conception of the meaning of § 43-801, use this statute to induce an accused to make a confession when he didn’t desire to do so. It is easy to imagine that an illiterate accused, subpoenaed, brought before a prosecuting attorney and sworn to tell the whole truth, might be so over-awed by official atmosphere and surroundings that he would make a confession against his real desire to do so. If such a situation could amount to undue influence [and I think it might], it would be of such a nature that rebuttal by oral testimony would be most difficult if not impossible. It must be borne in mind that the intent and letter of § 43-801 is to give prosecuting attorneys the right to subpoena a person [and accused] as a witness to obtain evidence [against some other person] —not to obtain a confession.

Consequently, I think it is highly important to make clear that a confession obtained under the above circumstances is not admissible in evidence against the confessor unless the record affirmatively shows, as it does here, that the confessor was first informed that (a) he was under no obligation to make any statement unless he wanted to do so and (b) any statement he did make would be used against him, and (c) that the statement or confession was voluntary as that word is defined by our decisions.

1 “The evidence in this case is founded upon confessions made by the defendant. Where a party commits a crime and then confesses freely and voluntarily, and without any promise of hope or reward or without any fear of punishment, then confessions are admissible and sufficient under the law to have a conviction. Confessions, it is true, are always to be received with caution, but they are taken with all of the facts and circumstances in the case and coupled with the additional proof that a crime has been committed.”