Dansby v. State
Dansby v. State
Opinion of the Court
The indictment in this case is sufficient to sustain the. verdict and judgment, and" the charge of 'the court is a fair exposition of the law in relation to the case, as made out by the indictment and the evidence adduced on the trial; and we see no
But we think there was a sufficient cause shown for setting aside the verdict, in the affidavit of the jurors, that the deputy sheriff and bailiff who had charge of the jury had interfered to direct, and did direct and dictate the verdict of the jury. This was in direct conflict with and violation of articles 3074, 3137 and 3998, Paschal’s Digest, and an outrage upon the right of trial by jury. It is the duty of the courts to see that the law in this respect is most rigidly executed; and for any and every violation of the sacred right of trial by a jury, to punish the offender to the extent,of the law. For thus having been deprived of the right of a trial by an impartial and uninfluenced jury, the defendant was entitled to a new trial; and for the error of the court in refusing a new trial, the judgment is reversed and the ease remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Harry Dansby v. State
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. An'affidavit for a new trial on account of newly discovered evidence must show that the applicant has used due diligence to have the testimony before the court. 3. A new trial will not he granted on account of newly discovered testimony to contradict or impeach that of the other witnesses in the case. 3. After a conviction for an aggravated assault, and in support of a motion for a new trial, affidavits of some of the jurors proved that the-deputy sheriff and bailiff who had the jury in charge came into the jury room, while the jury were deliberating on their verdict, and said the jury should send the defendant to the penitentiary, and used argument to show that he should bo punished severely. He’d, that such conduct was an outrage on the right of trial by jury, and m direct violation of the provisions of the code; and the verdict should have been set aside and a new trial granted. (Articles 3074, 3137 and 3998, Paschal’s Digest, cited by the court.) 4. It is the duty of the courts to enforce most rigidly the statutory provisions designed to preserve inviolate the right of trial by jury ; and offenders in this respect should be punished to the full extent of the law.