Whipp v. People

THE plaintiff in error, hereinafter designated the defendant, was convicted of assaulting one Lennis Trine, a female child under the age of 16 years, and taking indecent and improper liberties with her person. It is alleged in the information that the offense occurred on November 17, 1923. Defendant was sentenced to the penitentiary for a period of not less than three nor more than four years. He brings the case here for review.

Among the alleged errors, argued and presented in defendant's brief are: (1) That the count erred in admitting evidence of a transaction occurring on a date subsequent to the one relied upon for a conviction; (2) that the court erred in refusing to grant a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence.

1. We do not think defendant is in a position to complain of the court's action in admitting the evidence objected to. Defendant first moved to strike out the evidence which was denied. He then moved that the prosecution be required to elect upon which occurrence it would rely for a conviction; the district attorney elected to stand upon a transaction which, according to the testimony occurred sometime prior to the date alleged in the information. We think the question is settled, and the proper procedure suggested, by the decision of this court in Warfordv. People, 43 Colo. 107, 115, 96 P. 556.

2. As to the alleged newly discovered evidence, the court denied the motion for new trial for the reason that defendant had not used due diligence to ascertain in advance of the trial what the testimony of the witnesses for the people would be; also that while the testimony of Mrs. Diebold was material, and not wholly collateral as claimed by the district attorney, the people did not elect to stand upon the act testified to by her; and for the further reason that, if her testimony be disregarded, the evidence relative to the doctor book, and defendant's conversation with the children concerning it, were sufficient to show the inclination and disposition of the defendant.

We think the defendant may ascertain, in any proper and legitimate manner, where possible, the nature and character of the testimony to be given by the witnesses whose names are endorsed upon the information. The names of the witnesses for the people are required to be endorsed upon the information for the benefit of the defendant, and we think that counsel should make proper and legitimate efforts to ascertain what testimony the people's witnesses will give upon the trial. However, we think that counsel should not be held guilty of negligence in all cases for his failure to make such investigation. In the circumstances of this case, we think the court erred in holding that defendant was guilty of a lack of due diligence in the respect mentioned.

In the instant case the prosecution relied, for a conviction, mainly upon the testimony of children, aged about nine to thirteen years. The defendant, no doubt, thought that it would have been hazardous for him to have interviewed these witnesses. He might honestly have believed the jury would conclude that an attempt had been made by him to tamper with witnesses of tender years, and thus the chances of a verdict against him greatly increased.

Mrs. Diebold's name was not endorsed upon the information until the date of the trial and after the trial was commenced; her evidence was important and material; little opportunity was given defendant to ascertain in advance what her testimony would be. A showing was made in support of the motion for new trial, that her testimony, given upon the trial, was false, and this showing was not contradicted. It is true that the prosecution did not elect to stand upon the transaction testified to by Mrs. Diebold, and that there was other testimony, as suggested by the trial court, showing the inclination and disposition of the defendant; yet it must be remembered that the evidence, relating to the medical book and the conversations with defendant concerning it, was given by the little girls, the same witnesses who testified to defendant's alleged misconduct of which he was convicted. The testimony of Mrs. Diebold not only tended to show inclination and disposition of the defendant, but it also tended to corroborate the testimony of the little girls in all respects; it particularly tended to corroborate their evidence that on the occasion testified to by them, the defendant was guilty of taking indecent liberties with the person of Lennis Trine. Mrs. Diebold testified in substance that in June, 1923, she saw Mr. Whipp lying on his back upon the couch in the front room, and one little girl, whom she afterwards learned was Lennis Trine, was playing on top of him, while two other little girls were in the middle room; the little girl on top of defendant was jumping and squirming around and he was tickling her; that on a later date while she and Mrs. Keenan were in their apartment she noticed that defendant and a little girl, which proved to be Lennis Trine, came up the stairs and that she went in to the middle room and shut the door; that defendant walked back to the kitchen door, went in and turned the key; that she asked Mrs. Keenan if she had seen what happened and Mrs. Keenan replied that she had; that she and Mrs. Keenan then walked out into the hall; that in a moment afterward the little girl came to the door and peeked out, then came out and ran down the stairs; that she and Mrs. Keenan also went downstairs; that Mr. Whipp then came down and while the two women were standing in the store talking, the little girl, Lennis Trine, came across and jumped in defendant's arms and kissed him.

If this evidence was not important and material why was it offered and received? Coming from the lips of a woman supposed to be telling the truth, this evidence would naturally have weight with the jury and must be presumed to have had its influence with the jury in arriving at a verdict.

In view of the statements made in the affidavits filed in support of the motion for new trial, relative to the evidence given upon the trial by the three little girls, it is probable that had the testimony of Mrs. Diebold been discredited, a different verdict would have been returned. In any event, we are not prepared to say that if her testimony had been impeached a different verdict would not have been found, and the defendant is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

A defendant in a criminal case is entitled to a fair trial, and if the newly discovered evidence is of such a character as to make it appear that the verdict was probably influenced by false testimony and that upon another trial the result would probably or might be different, or even doubtful, then a new trial should be ordered. No verdict should be permitted to stand if tainted by perjured testimony. As we believe defendant did not have a fair opportunity to refute this evidence at the trial, the conviction should be set aside and a new trial ordered.

As the other matters complained of are not likely to occur again, we need not discuss them.

The judgment is reversed with instructions to grant a new trial.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE ALLEN and MR. JUSTICE CAMPBELL concur.

On Rehearing.