Curry v. State

LATTIMORE, J.

Appellant was convicted in the district court of Smith county of murder, and his punishment fixed at death.

Appellant was convicted for killing his mother. There is no denial of the fact that he shot her, and that from such shooting she died. Deceased was the mother of 10, children, among whom was appellant, and it is made to appear from the record that she had never been married. A daughter of deceased testified that she was 20 years old and lived with her mother; that on the night her mother was killed witness was in bed in a room adjoining that occupied by deceased. Witness heard some one knock on her mother’s door about 1:30 o’clock in the morning, according to the judgment of the witness. She testified: That it was appellant who knocked on the door, and that he told her mother to open the door. He said, “Mama, Mama, get up and open the door.” That deceased got up, and while unlocking the door said, “Son, what you doing up this time of night?' Looks like you ought to be at home with your wife and in bed with your wife.” Witness heard the door open, and heard something said about lighting a lamp—that appellant told deceased to light a damp. The next thing witness heard was a gun fire. Deceased had said nothing more. The appellant then ran out of the house, and when he got on the ground hollered that “he was a <3-d d-n bad son of a b-h.” This witness testified that on Wednesday morning before the killing appellant came to her mother’s house and asked the latter for $20. One of the sons of deceased had been killed during the World War, and deceased was receiving regular payments from the government on account of the loss of said son. This witness said that when appellant came to his mother and wanted money she told him that she had none because she had not cashed her check. Witness said that on Saturday morning following the Wednesday on which appellant came and wanted money from his mother, he came back down to her house, but she heard him say nothing about money then. A confession made by appellant, in accordance with the terms of article 810 of our Code of Criminal Procedure, was also introduced on behalf of the state, and in same appellant admitted that he had made up his mind to kill his mother, and that about 12 o’clock on the night of the homicide he took a shotgun from where he was living and went down to his mother’s house, called her, and she answered and came to the door and was lighting a lamp at the time he shot her.

Appellant testified in his own behalf, admitting that he killed his mother, but claiming that he became excited and angry over the proposition that she was keeping a white man and giving him the money resulting from the insurance policy held by his dead brother. If we understand appellant’s contention, it is based on the proposition that he was in such a mental condition at the time he shot his mother as that he would be guilty of nothing more than manslaughter.

Appellant presents several bills of exception, the first of which complains that, while giving testimony in his own behalf, the state was allowed to ask him if he was not then under indictment for murder in the state of Arkansas. His contention in this regard is that he had entered his plea of guilty to the indictment herein, and, this being true, it was improper to allow the state to ask him the question above referred to, even though only admitted for the purpose of affecting the credibility of the accused as a witness.

The question seems to be one of first impression in this state. An ingenious argument is presented by able counsel for the appellant. We find ourselves, however, unable to assent to the soundness of said argument. Our statute requires the introduction of testimony in a felony ease upon a plea of guilty; the purpose of which is tc enable the jury to properly decide the question of punishment. One charged with murder, who pleads guilty to said charge, could hardly be held by such plea of guilty to have agreed to accept the highest penalty which could be affixed by the jury for such offense. Thdugh admitting that he had violated the law forbidding homicide he might introduce testimony seeking a mitigation of the punishment or its reduction to a term of years less than the maximum. We would not think the state could be held bound not to attack the credibility of witnesses introduced on behalf of the appellant—the effect of whose testimony would be to reduce the punishment or to mitigate the crime. As we understand this record, the testimony of the appellant was along this line. While admitting that he killed his mother, he was testifying to facts which, if true and believed by the jury, would probably have the effect of reducing the penalty. He relying upon his testimony for that purpose, it would seem well within the province of the state to show by any legal means within its power that he was not worthy of credit as a witness. We do not think the contention of appellant in this regard sound.

Regarding the claim in support of the second bill of exceptions, that the state did not show that the charge of murder in Arkansas against appellant was not too remote to affect his credibility, we observe that one who seeks to interpose an objection to the introduction of testimony must assume the burden of presenting such an objection as will enable the court to say that the matter is not admissible. If appellant desired to interpose an objection that the evidence sought related to a transaction too remote to affect his credibility, he should have interposed that objection and supported same.

The bill of exceptions complaining of the fact that the state introduced proof of the pending of an indictment for another offense, not genuinely for the purpose of affecting the credibility of the party thus attached, must be supported by some facts beyond the mere making of such objection, in order to bring before this court any question for review.

By appellant’s bill of exceptions No. 4 it is urged that soon after the retirement of the jury and while deliberating upon the case, a juror said that he thought the son of a bitch ought to be hung, and further that the jury returned into the courtroom within 15 or 20 minutes with a verdict of guilty, assessing the death penalty, and that these facts, taken together, showed such haste and lack of cool reflection and deliberation on the part of the jury as should have called for the granting of a new trial. The learned trial judge seems to have heard testimony upon the proposition thus presented, when the motion for new trial was before him, and qualifies bill of exceptions No. 3 with tbe statement that 11 of tbe 12 jurors wbo tried tbe case testified and were questioned fully as to wbat occurred in tbeir deliberations ; that practically all testified that they considered all tbe testimony, and that they did not consider the testimony showing tbe defendant was indicted for murder in Arkansas in arriving at tbe penalty, because tbe court has instructed them that they could only consider this in passing on tbe credibility of appellant as a witness; that tbeir verdict would have been the same if that testimony bad not been introduced. We think such inquiry and tbe testimony beard of no moment, and that jurors should not be beard to say that they did or did not consider, for certain purposes, evidence legitimately before them. Tbe authorities cited by appellant support tbe proposition that in all cases involving tbe life or liberty of a citizen, care and caution should be taken to avoid hasty judgments, and that the deliberations of tbe jury should be free from passion, prejudice, or excitement.

Tbe facts in the instant ease were very few and tbe testimony short. It is to be presumed that tbe jury were considering tbe facts during tbe arguments and after they bad received tbe charge of tbe court, and we are unable to say that tbe time taken by them for tbeir consideration of tbe guilt of tbe accused and the fixing of bis penalty was so short as that tbeir verdict should be set aside. The enormity of tbe crime of matricide; tbe apparent lack of any sufficient justification for this killing; tbe method and manner of it as detailed; tbe shooting down of tbe defenseless mother by her son in tbe nighttime — were matters which might be passed upon in a comparatively short time and a conclusion arrived at. Tbe remark accredited to theguror was one which reflects no credit upon him, but many men use language in expressing tbeir feelings which does not sound well to tbe ears of ordinary men, and especially when coming from a juror, but such use would hardly suffice to show serious passion or prejudice.

Appellant also has a bill of exceptions to the argument of tbe district attorney in closing the case for tbe state. It appears that be said there were too many murders in Smith county, and that the death penalty in proper cases was tbe only way to stop them. We do not think such argument a transgression of tbe rules relating thereto.

The jury in this ease have seen fit to inflict upon appellant the extreme penalty of the law, and in such cases as is our custom we carefully scrutinize each step in tbe trial to determine if there has been that fair and impartial trial guaranteed by our Constitution. We have considered each of the matters presented but are unable to agree that tbe trial was not fair and the verdict just.

An affirmance will be ordered.