People v. Goldenson
People v. Goldenson
Opinion of the Court
The defendant is under sentence of death for having willfully, unlawfully, and of his malice aforethought killed one Mary Elizabeth Kelly, in the city and county of San Francisco, on the tenth day of November, 1886. It appears that Goldenson and the deceased—who was only fourteen years of age-—had been acquainted for two or three years, and .during that time lived with their parents, in adjoining houses. The girl was returning home from school on the day of the homicide, when the defendant met her, and said, “Come here, Mamie, I want to see you.” Leaving her school-mate,— with whom she was walking,—she joined the defendant, and had proceeded about half a block with him, when he suddenly turned towards her, and savi , Take that and go,” pointed a pistol at her, an».! aína her, killing her instantly. He then ran to ti.-o nearest t -idee station, throwing his pistol sway in his flight, and gave himself into the custody of the officers, -íy.iiig, “I have shot my nrl.” On bis vay <,o the office of the chief of police, - .iter be had delivered himself up to the officers, he that, he had shot the deceased because she became -iuce to him; that they had been “keeping corn-aid had cviues'van.a-u Tv av; - .tineI , that when ó „et her she had «, h.ífov he l.i r fuñid ■*- itich he had aeró her that morning, and hV-. u,<. . - v- ' ed him “a dimmed. Jew,” whereupon he shot her. Upon his arch-Tí T the office of the chief of police, at his own request 'was permitted to make a written gí-l ement about che homicide. The substance of this statement is, that the deceased had been constantly annoying and foIlóv.-Tiohim; had been continually seeking his company against his wishes; and that just before he shot her she had called him “a damned Jew.”
The points which seem to be urged with the most zeal and confidence are, that the court erred in denying the motions for a change of venue and for a continuance. In. support of their motion for a change of venue, counsel for defendant made what appears to be a very strong showing. It appears from the affidavits that “within a few days after the homicide,had occurred, a crowd of people assembled in front of the house of said defendant, and some of them cried out, ‘Close him up!’ ‘Make the Jew close up! ’ ‘Hang him!’ ‘ Lynch him!’ that a guard of police was necessary at that time to protect the property of defendant’s family; that for several days defendant’s relatives feared to leave their home; that the shutters and windows of affiant’s store were broken by some pf the excited people gathered there, and that on the occasion of the attempted removal of defendant’s family, some of their property had been injured, and that for several days succeeding November 10, 1886, many people remained continuously in the vicinity of defendant’s home, uttering threats of violence against defendant and his family; that the newspapers in said city and county were daily denouncing said defendant, and demanding his immediate execution; and that, for the reasons given, it was impossible for defendant to receive a fair and impartial trial in said city and county. Mrs. Goldenson, the mother of defendant, incorporated in her affidavit clippings from the newspapers describing a meeting which took place at Metropolitan Hall on November 12, 1886. It appears from said articles that
If this condition of affairs existed at the time of the trial, it must be admitted that the city of San Francisco was not a proper community from which to attempt to select a fair and impartial jury for the trial of the defendant. When the public mind is wrought into such frenzy, and the public press sustains enraged citizens, organized for avenging crime, in their unlawful attempts to overcome the duly constituted officers of the law, and only the superior force of the latter prevents mob execution, no man whose blood is thus demanded can hope to secure the rights guaranteed to him by the constitution. It is impossible, under such conditions, to secure an equal, exact, and impartial interpretation and
The motions for a continuance were made on February 14,16, and 21, and on March 7,1887. The grounds of the motions in each instance were: 1. That certain commissions for the depositions of foreign witnesses had not been returned; 2. That the senior counsel for defendant was engaged in the trial of a civil case in another department of the superior court; and 3. That the junior counsel was a member of the state legislature, then in session.
We are unable to see how the defendant could be prejudiced by the absence of the depositions referred to, conceding that the production of them was not waived by the stipulation of defendant’s counsel at the time the commissions were issued, and conceding that the great lapse of time between the issuance of the commissions and the date of the trial did not operate as a legal excuse for going .on with the trial without them; for it appears from the bill of exception that the interrogatories propounded to the witnesses named in the depositions related solely to the insanity of defendant’s grandfather, and the fact that the grandfather was insane was not denied or in any way controverted. Witnesses on behalf of the defendant gave evidence of the fact; it was established by uncontroverted evidence; and the court would have been bound, at the defendant’s request, to instruct the jury that the fact was so established, and must be taken as true.
When the defendant’s case was called for trial, his counsel were unable to say when the will contest would be concluded, but it was conceded that it would take several weeks. Was it error to refuse a postponement, under these circumstances, until counsel had concluded his other engagement? It seems to us that the facts stated are a sufficient answer to the proposition. There was no certainty that the will contest referred to would be concluded within months of time after the motion was made. To hold that a defendant charged with crime has an absolute right to counsel of his own selection, with unlimited right to insist upon continuances of his trial, and that the court, jury, and witnesses must await the convenience of his counsel in fulfilling other engagements, would be subversive of the prompt administration and execution of the laws,—upon which depends largely their effectiveness,—and subject the time and service of citizens serving the state gratuitously, as jurors and witnesses, to the wishes and interest of the attorney engaged in the defense. It is too apparent for argument that the court below must, in the nature of things, have some control over such matters; and if it has any discretion, it is equally apparent that it was not
The junior counsel was a member of the legislature and speaker of the assembly when the case was tried; but it does not appear that he was engaged in the defense herein when the session began, or before February . 14, 1887. An inquiry was made by the court as to how long he had been engaged for the defense, but the senior counsel declined to inform the court further than by the affidavits, which did not show the time. The court was justified, therefore, in believing that the employment began not earlier than February 14th, when said counsel’s name first appeared in the proceedings. Prior to that time he was not known in the case. Section 595 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that “a trial shall be postponed when it appears to the court that the attorney of record, party, or principal witness is actually engaged in attendance upon a session of the legislature of this state as a member thereof.” If this section of the Code of Civil Procedure applies to the Penal Code (which is doubtful, in view of section 1052 of the Penal Code), it refers, we think, only to those who become attorneys of record before the commencement of the session of the legislature. The object of the statute was to protect clients whose attorneys, after employment, had been called to their legislative duties, and to secure lawyers in the legislature from loss to their private business
On February 16, 1887, when counsel for defendant withdrew, stating that he could not proceed with the trial, the court informed the defendant that he might name any attorney in the city to defend him, and he would be sent for and appointed, and that he would be given a reasonable time to prepare for trial. The offer was declined, whereupon the court appointed two members of the bar to defend him, and the cause was continued five days, to enable the defendant to prepare for trial. In his affidavit for continuance the senior counsel for defendant set forth “that affiant in particular has prepared the defense of defendant with sedulous care, and has made a very thorough examination of the law governing the facts of said defense, and is thoroughly acquainted with all the facts of the defense.” We must assume that said counsel, notwithstanding the fact that the court ruled against him, and appointed other counsel to look after the interests of the defendant, gave to counsel actually engaged in the defense of the defendant all the information which he possessed, and which would in his opinion aid them in their unpaid effort to secure an acquittal of his client. No attorney, under the circumstances, would be likely to feel himself so fortified in his contention that the court had committed a fatal error as to risk a conviction upon his opinion rather than give those appointed by the court the information he possessed, when called upon by them to do so. That they made a vigilant, vigorous, and an able defense the record bears ample evidence, and there is nothing to show—except the presumption which may follow the fact of a longer employment—that the defense was less effective than it would have been if conducted by counsel of the defendant’s own selection.
It is claimed by appellant that the court had no authority to appoint attorneys to defend the defendant,
. The defendant moved to set aside the indictment under subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 995, and subdivisions 2 and 6 of section 896, of the Penal Code. The defendant moved, also, to strike the' said indictment from the files, upon the grounds that previous to its filing the defendant was not examined before any magis
The defendant was not entitled to notice that the grand jury was investigating a charge against him, nor was he entitled to be heard or have witnesses sworn and examined by that body, unless it called for the same. (State v. Wolcott, 21 Conn. 272; Pen. Code, sec. 920.) The objection that no examination was held before a committing magistrate does not apply in cases of indictment, although good in case of an information. (Pen. Code, sec. 995.) As to the other grounds of the motion to set aside and strike out, it is sufficient to say that the evidence introduced at the hearing of the motions was adverse to the defendant.
It was not error to direct the officers of the court to amend the return of service so as to conform to the facts. (Gavitt v. Doub, 23 Cal. 81; Hewell v. Lane, 53 Cal. 217; Rousset v. Boyle, 45 Cal. 64; People v. Murback, 64 Cal. 370; 1 Bishop’s Criminal Procedure, secs. 1298, 1341-1345.)
There was no error in the refusal of the court to allow further examination of the jurors who stated that they entertained conscientious scruples against conviction where the penalty is death. When the court became satisfied that such opinions existed, it was its duty to excuse the jurors. (Pen. Code, sec. 1074.) We cannot say that discretion was abused in refusing further examination.
'A challenge to the entire panel of trial jurors was made by the attorneys for defendant, but we are unable to find in the transcript any evidence offered in support thereof. If the denial was error, it should be affirmatively shown in the record. (People v. Sing Lum, 61 Cal. 539.) Unless there were exceptions reserved to the rulings of the court, the judge properly refused to incorporate in the bill of exceptions the evidence given by the jurors when examined upon their voire dire. The decision of the court upon a challenge to a juror for actual bias is final. The bill of exceptions does not contain the rulings of the court on the challenges to the jurors for actual bias. (People v. Vasquez, 49 Cal. 560; People v. Cotta, 49 Cal. 166.)
The court refused to allow the defendant to exercise peremptory challenges after he had exhausted the twenty challenges allowed by statute. It is claimed that this was error, because of the failure of the court to comply with section 1066 of the Penal Code, which provides that “ before a juror is called the defendant must be informed by the court or under its direction that, if he intends to challenge an individual juror, he must do so when the juror appears, and before he is sworn.” It does not ap
It was not error for the court to deny defendant’s motion for a retrial of certain challenges after the jury had been completed and sworn to try the case. (Pen. Code, sec. 1068.)
The defendant on the arraignment was given a copy of the indictment. When the court appointed counsel to defend him, said counsel requested a copy of the indictment, which request was refused. The court was not bound to supply the defendant with a second copy of the indictment. It is the defendant who is entitled to a copy, and not all who are his counsel. (Pen. Code, sec. 988.)
The contention is urged with much force that the court erred in ordering the defendant to stand up during the trial for identification by one of the witnesses. The witness had stated that he went into the station-house, and there found this young man (meaning the defendant). It is claimed that this act was violative of the constitutional provision that “no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” The defendant was in court, and it was proper for the jury, in identifying the person whom the witness had seen, to know whom the witness meant by the expression “this young man.” He was not compelled to exhibit any part of his person which the jurors could not see as he walked in and out every day. It was not compelling the defendant to become a witness against himself in any respect, within the meaning of the constitutional provision above quoted. (State v. Ah Chuey, 14 Nev. 79.)
In his opening statement to the jury, one of the counsel in effect accused the presiding judge of having crowded the case on to trial when the defendant
It was insisted at the trial that both of the attorneys for the defendant were entitled to make opening statements to the jury. The court refused to allow more than one statement. In this there was no error. “Where the offense charged is punishable with death, two counsel on each side may argue the case to the jury (Pen. Code, sec. 1095); but section 1093 of the Penal Code provides simply ‘‘that counsel may open the defense.” It was within the discretion of the court to limit the statement to one counsel.
Several assignments of error are made respecting the rulings of the court upon expert testimony offered, and the right to introduce medical works in rebuttal of the testimony of witnesses called on behalf of the people. It has been held here that medical treatises are not admissible in evidence, whether proved to be standard works or not, except to discredit a witness who based his testimony upon them. (Gallagher v. Railway Co., 67 Cal. 13.) Dr. Woolsey, one of the experts called by the defense, was asked to name the circumstances of the cases he had read where violence accompanied hysterical mania, and the court sustained an objection to the question. If allowed, the examination would have been in effect the introduction of medical works in evidence, and therefore it was properly rejected. (People v. Wheeler, 60 Cal. 581.)
The court refused to allow counsel for defense to read in surrebuttal certain portions of a medical treatise by Dr. Maudsley, which were offered to discredit and con
The court did not err in requiring the counsel for the defendant in his opening statement to confine himself to a statement of the facts, the effect thereof, and his conclusions therefrom, without any argument upon the evidence introdued by the prosecution. (People v. Bezy, 67 Cal. 223; People v. Williams, 43 Cal. 349; Pen. Code, sec. 1093, subds. 3, 5.)
Mrs. Kelly, mother of the deceased, testified in her cross-examination: “ I heard the Goldensons were of such a character that I did not wish my daughter to go to their house.” Defendant’s counsel then inquired: “What was the character that you speak about?” An objection thereto was sustained, on the ground that it was immaterial and irrelevant. We see no prejudicial error in this ruling. The testimony of the witness showed that she was prejudiced against the Goldensons: the particular reason therefor is immaterial.
Several errors are assigned, based upon the rulings of the court in permitting the district attorney to put leading questions to his own witness. This is a matter within the discretion of the court. (Code Civ. Proc., sec. 2046; People v. Ah Fook, 64 Cal. 381.)
There was no error in the admission of the declaration or confession of the defendant. The evidence in the transcript shows clearly that the statement was
One of the detectives examined as a witness, referring to the statement made by the defendant, said: “He made it freely; no inducements held out to him, or promise, or expectation; no threats made.” Counsel for defendant moved to strike out this testimony on the ground that it was a conclusion of law. The motion was denied, the court saying: “You have the privilege now of examining the witness upon the question whether or not it was a free and voluntary statement.” There was no error here. (People v. Rodundo, 44 Cal. 538.)
Portions of the deposition of one Louis Eosenthal, on behalf of the defendant, were excluded by the court of its own motion. The portions thus excluded appear to be clearly hearsay,—the relation of matters which occurred between third persons,—and it was not error, with or without an objection from the prosecution, to exclude the same.
The court did not err in refusing to permit all the testimony given in the case to be read as a hypothetical question to Dr. Simon. (Regina v. Frances, 4 Cox C. C. 57.) Connsel were told that they might assume certain facts, and put the usual hypothetical question, and this was finally done, and was proper. (2 Bishop’s Criminal Procedure, sec. 685.)
It was not error for the court to prevent counsel for the defendant from commenting upon the actions of the juries in the Gunn, Gardiner, and other homicide cases which had been tried in San Francisco, and in stating that the case before the court should be tried upon the evidence given in the court, and the law applicable thereto. (People v. Anderson, 44 Cal. 70.)
Many other errors are assigned which we do not deem it necessary to consider. Some of them are already covered by the propositions which we have discussed herein;
No attempt has been made to point out any errors in the instructions. They seem to be fair and correct.
It was not error in the court to refuse to settle bills of exceptions during the trial. They are all included in the bill of exceptions before us, and the errors claimed have been reviewed. It was within the discretion of the court to delay the settlement of the bill of exceptions beyond the statutory time, and it was its duty to see that the record was correct, whether any objections were made by the district attorney to the proposed bill of exceptions, or not. (People v. Sprague, 53 Cal. 424; People v. Lee, 14 Cal. 510; Pen. Code, sec. 1175.)
An intimation is made that the court, in settling the bill, eliminated certain material matters, to prevent the defendant from having the benefit of a full defense herein. But we must take the statement in the bill as one of absolute verity. The judge certifies that “in the examination of proposed jurors, no question as to their competency was disallowed, no evidence was rejected, no objection to the admission or rejection of any testimony sustained, and no objection or exception to the allowing or disallowing of any question, evidence, or testimony on said examination was made or saved, except as herein and now particularly set forth.” Then follow three exceptions: Counsel for the people were permitted to put this question to a proposed juror: “I suppose what you mean to say is this, that you object to the abuse of the plea of insanity, and not to the plea of in
One of the grounds upon which defendant asked for a new trial was, that the jury had been guilty of misconduct, by which a fair consideration of the case had been prevented. The substance of the misconduct charged consisted in the jurors having disobeyed the admonition of the court about reading newspaper articles during the trial which reflected on the defendant. All of the jurors filed affidavits denying fully the charges of misconduct preferred, and insisting that no admonition of the court had been disobeyed, and that no newspaper articles or anything else, save the evidence and the charge, influenced them in finding their verdict. These affidavits were allowable, and are conclusive upon the point made. (People v. Hunt, 59 Cal. 430; People v. Dye, 62 Cal. 523.) Another ground of the motion for a new trial was, that new evidence had been discovered material to the defendant; but it appears from the affidavits filed in respect thereto that the newly discovered evidence was simply impeaching or cumulative in character. It was therefore insufficient to support the ground for a new-trial. (Stoakes v. Monroe, 36 Cal. 585; People v. Anthony, 56 Cal. 397.)
Counsel for defendant in their briefs complain bitterly of the manner and conduct of the presiding judge
During the trial it appears that several inflammatory articles were published in some of the newspapers tending to prejudice the defendant’s cause, and which may have been read by the jurors. While the affidavits of the jurors are, of course, taken as true, and .it appears therefrom that no prejudice was created in any way in this case, yet the court below cannot be too careful in guarding itself and the jury from all suspicion of prejudice, by refraining from making remarks which may appear adverse to either party; and should see to it, by In contempt, if necessary, that no such tides reach the jury. Judgment and or-
1 J., Sharpstein, J., McFarland, J., Mcpmd Thornton, J., concurred.
Reference
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- THE PEOPLE v. ALEXANDER GOLDENSON
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- Criminal Law — Homicide — Change of Vende—Discretion — Appeal. — It is ground, for a change of the place of trial of a prisoner accused of homicide when, at the time of trial, the public mind is wrought into frenzy against the accused, and the public press sustains enraged citizens in unlawful attempts to overcome the officers of the law, whose superior force alone prevents mob execution. But where such facts existed only during a few days after the homicide, and the public excitement does not prevail at the time of the application for change of venue, the application is addressed to the sound discretion of the court; and the appellate court will not interfere unless the record shows a clear case of abuse of discretion. Id. — Conditional Order Refusing Change of Venue. — If a motion for change of venue on the ground that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had is denied conditionally or temporarily, with leave to renew the application, and a jury is not impaneled until after the lapse of a time, during which great changes might occur in public opinion touching the guilt of the defendant, it is the duty of the defense to renew the application at the time suggested by the court, and if it is not renewed, the order denying the application will not be disturbed. Id.—Continuance—Proof of Insanity—Appeal—Error without Prejudice. — The absence of depositions to prove insanity of the defendant’s grandfather upon a trial for homicide is not a ground on which an order denying a continuance will he reversed, when the record on the appeal shows that the fact of such insanity was not denied, but was established by uncontroverted evidence, so that the defendant could not have been prejudiced by the absence of the depositions. Id. — Absence of Attorney. — The absence of one of the defendant’s counsel, who is engaged in trying a civil case in which he- became employed after the criminal case had been set for trial, is no ground of continuance. Absence of an attorney of record who is in attendance upon a session of the legislature is no ground for a continuance, under section 595 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless it appears that his engagement as attorney was made before the commencement of the session of the legislature. Id.—Appointment of Attorney by Court.—The court may appoint attorneys for a defendant accused of homicide, who makes a defense upon the ground of insanity, when the counsel engaged by him are absent from the trial, and he declines to choose any others. Id.—Motion to Set Aside Indictment — Grand Jury.—Irregularities in the formation of a grand jury cannot he considered on motion to set aside the indictment. Such motion can he addressed only to irregularities in the proceedings of the grand jury. Nor is it ground for a motion to set aside the indictment that the grand jury investigated the charge without notice to the defendant, or giving him an opportunity to be heard, or to have witnesses examined before them. Id. — Examination before Committing Magistrate. — An examination before a committing magistrate is only required to precede an information, and does not apply in cases of indictment, and its absense is not ground for motion to set aside an indictment. Amendment — Return of Service. —The court may properly direct its officers to amend a return of service so as to conform to the facts. Criminal Law—Jury—Challenge to Panel.—The court may properly disallow a challenge to a panel of jurors specially summoned, for bias of the sheriff and his deputies, when their examination shows that there is no foundation in fact for the charge. A challenge to the entire panel of trial jurors will not be reviewed when the transcript does not disclose any evidence offered in support thereof. Id.—Challenges to Jurors—Conscientious Scruples—Further Examination. — The court may refuse to allow further examination of jurors who express conscientious scruples against conviction, when the penalty is death, after becoming satisfied that such opinions existed. Id. — Actual Bias of Jurors.—Bill of Exceptions.—The decision of the court, upon a challenge to a juror for actual bias, is final upon the question of fact. Evidence given by the jurors when examined upon their voire dire may be excluded from the bill of exceptions, unless exceptions are reserved to the ruling of the court, on the admission or rejection of evidence on the trial of the challenge. Id. — Peremptory Challenges—Appeal —Error without Prejudice. — When the defendant exercises all the peremptory challenges to which the statute entitles him, he is not prejudiced by the failure of the court to notify him that if he intends to challenge an individual juror, he must do it before he is sworn, as provided by section 1066 of the Penal Code. Id. —Retrial of Challenges. —The court may properly deny the defendant’s motion for a retrial of certain challenges after the jury is completed and sworn to try the case. Id. —Arraignment — Copy of Indictment. —If the defendant receives a copy of the indictment upon his arraignment, the court is not bound to supply his counsel with a second copy. Id.—Evidence — Identification of Prisoner.—An order of court compelling the prisoner to stand up for identification before the jury, by a witness who has already referred to him in his testimony as “ this young man,” is proper, and does not compel the defendant to become a witness against himself. Id. —Trial — Opening Statement. —The court may properly direct counsel for the defendant in his opening statement to cease reflecting on the action of the court in refusing a continuance; and may properly refuse to allow him therein to refer to other cases or to read law in illustration of his argument; and may require him to confine himself to a statement of the facts, the effect thereof, and his conclusions therefrom, without any argument upon the evidence introduced by the prosecution. Id. — Evidence — Medical Books. — Medical treatises are not admissible in evidence, whether proved to be standard works or not, except to discredit a witness who based his testimony upon them. They cannot be introduced in evidence, in effect, by asking a medical witness to name the circumstances of cases he had read bearing on the subject of his testimony. If portions of medical books which are excluded have a tendency to discredit a medical witness, they, must be incorporated in the bill of exceptions. Id.—Cross-examination — Character.—Where the testimony of a witness for the prosecution on cross-examination discloses prejudice against the family of the defendant on account of what was heard about their character, the particular reason for the prejudice is immaterial, and a question as to what the character was which the witness speaks about may be ruled out without prejudicial error. Id. —Leading Questions—Discretion. —It is within the discretion of the court to permit the district attorney to put leading questions to his own witness. Id.—Confession of Defendant — Examination in Chief—Conclusion of Law. — When the evidence shows that a confession of the defendant was freely and voluntarily given, without inducements or threats, it is admissible against him. When the witness to the confession testifies in chief that it was so given, and there is opportunity for cross-examination as to whether or not it was a free and voluntary statement, the testimony in chief of the witness cannot be stricken out before cross-examination, as being a conclusion of law. Id. —Expert — Hypothetical Question. —All the testimony given in the case cannot properly be read as part of a hypothetical question to a medical witness. Counsel should assume certain facts, and put the usual hypothetical question. Id. —Homicide-—Trial.—The court may properly prevent counsel for a defendant who is on trial for homicide from commenting on the actions of the juries in other homicide cases which were tried in the same place. Id.—Bill of Exceptions — Discretion.—It is in the discretion of the court to refuse to settle bills of exceptions during the trial of a criminal case, and to delay the settlement beyond the statutory time, and it is its duty to see that the record is correct, whether any objections are made by the district attorney to the proposed bill of exceptions, or not. The bill of exceptions imports absolute verity, and no suggestion can be received as to the elimination of material matters therefrom. Id.—New Trial—Misconduct of Jury.—Affidavits of the jurors are admissible to deny alleged misconduct on their part, when urged as a ground for a new trial, and are conclusive as to whether newspaper articles were read by them which influenced them in finding their verdict. The court should see to it, by proceedings in contempt if necessary, that no newspaper articles tending to prejudice the defendant’s cause should reach the jury. Id.—Newly Discovered Evidence.—Newly discovered evidence which is merely impeaching or cumulative in character is not ground for a new trial. Id.—Trial — Conduct of Presiding Judge.—Whether the conduct of the presiding judge shows hostility to the defendant so as to prejudice the minds of the jurors, and contribute to his conviction, cannot be considered any further than is disclosed by the record, in the language-used in his rulings, questions, and remarks. The trial judge holds a great trust and responsibility in this regard, which can be controlled only by his own conscience, and a desire for equal and exact justice, except in cases of palpable abuse of power. The court cannot be too careful in guarding both itself and the jury from all suspicions of prejudice.