State v. Lilly
State v. Lilly
Opinion of the Court
Convicted upon a charge of aiding and abetting in the commission of a rape upon one Myrtle Richmond and sentenced to serve ten years in the penitentiary, the defendant, Sarah Lilly, obtained this writ of error.
It appears from the record that for two or more years the defendant, a widow, and her four children had been living with one Henry Holdren, during which time the relations between her and Holdren had been very intimate. Qn July 25, 1926, Holdren and the defendant went to the home of the prosecutrix, Myrtle Richmond, a girl fifteen years of age, and secured her services as a domestic in the Holdren home on Madams Creek. The defendant and Holdren had represented to the prosecutrix that they were husband and wife.
The home in which the prosecutrix was employed consisted of three rooms, a kitchen and bedroom downstairs and a bedroom upstairs. Holdren and the defendant occupied a bed in one corner of the downstairs bedroom, and the prosecutrix and a six-year old daughter of the defendant slept in another
The first assignment of error is that the trial court erred in refusing to permit the defendant to file her special plea, pursuant to section 11, chapter 148 of the Code, that on the trial of Holdren, jointly indicted with her, she had fully and truly answered all questions touching her connection with or knowledge of the commission of the crime charged in the indictment. Section 11, chapter 148, Code, reads as follows: “No person called as a witness for the state on the trial of
The next assignment of error is that if it was not proper to file the special plea of the defendant, then it would not have been proper to allow the state to introduce evidence as to the acts, conduct and declarations made by Henry Holdren out of the presence of and hearing of the defendant, as detailed by the prosecuting witness. With but two exceptions as to non-prejudicial matters, no objection appears of record as to the alleged incompetent testimony. Therefore, this assignment of error cannot be considered. Hinton Milling Co. v. Milling Co., 78 W. Va. 314, 317.
The third assignment of error is that the state was permitted to show, over the objection of the defendant, that when the defendant, in company with Holdren, had visited the houses of witnesses or when seen by them at church or other places in the neighborhood, she had exhibited no fear or
Tbe defendant further asserts that sbe was greatly prejudiced by a separation of tbe jury during tbe course of tbe trial. One of tbe defendant’s attorneys made affidavit that on' two occasions there bad been a separation of tbe jury. During one of these, part of tbe jury was permitted to go into tbe jury room while tbe others stayed in tbe court room. Tbe other separation occurred just before tbe resumption of court after tbe noon recess, on which occasion part of tbe jury was permitted to go in tbe jury room and a part was permitted to remain in tbe court room. It is averred that those wbo remained in the court room were within bearing distance of spectators wbo were discussing tbe trial of tbe case. Affidavits were made by tbe deputy sheriff wbo bad charge of tbe jury and ten of tbe jurors themselves. It appears from these affidavits that while tbe separations may have occurred as detailed by tbe affidavit of defendant’s attorney, they were not prejudicial to the defendant. It is shown by these affidavits that on one occasion during tbe trial, several of tbe jurors, in the custody of a deputy sheriff, bad gone to tbe lavatory in tbe jury room while others bad stayed in tbe court room, tbe court then being on.the bench; that on tbe other occasion referred to in tbe affidavit of defendant’s attorney, tbe deputy sheriff, before permitting any of tbe jurymen to go into tbe lavatory, made an examination to see that a door leading into tbe jury room from another point bad been
.Error is assigned in tbe failure of tbe court to give tbe defendant’s instruction No. 1, relative to tbe existence of criminal intent in tbe mind of tbe defendant at tbe time of tbe commission of tbe alleged offense. This instruction was covered by defendant’s instructions Nos. 13 and 14, which included within their scope tbe question of defendant’s intent to commit tbe crime charged. ■
Defendant’s instruction No. 2, refused, on good character, was substantially covered by defendant’s instruction No. 15. Defendant’s instruction No. 5 was based on tbe presumption of coercion which exists when a wife acts in conjunction with her husband and in bis presence in the commission of a crime. There was no evidence in this case of a marriage or even of a common law marriage, although several of tbe neighbors testified that tbe defendant and Holdren bad been living as bus-band and wife. Tbe defendant does not claim that she bad lived with Holdren under a promise of marriage. She simply says that “we went to housekeeping”. This presumption of duress arising out of tbe marriage relation is not 'applicable in tbe case of a mistress. 30 C. J. 792. “And where there is no proof of marriage, the presumption will not arise, and mere reputation or co-babitation is insufficient to raise tbe presumption unless tbe jury find from such reputation that a marriage existed.” 30 C. J., section 420%> page 792.
The court refused to give defendant’s instruction No. 7, which would have told tbe jury they should not arbitrarily
The purpose of the instruction was to tell the jury that although a witness is on trial for the crime about which he is testifying, the, fact of alleged criminality on his part, will not warrant them in disregarding his testimony. We can see no objection to this instruction, for it reminds- the jury of what is plainly apparent from the fact that her testimony was admitted. If her testimony could not be considered, but arbitrarily ignored, simply because she was the defendant, there would be no reason for admitting it. There would be no occasion for a defendant in a criminal case to testify. Why do a vain thing? The fact that her evidence was admitted would impel the jury to consider it and not arbitrarily refuse it, and to give it such weight as under all the facts and circumstances the jury might think proper. By defendant’s instruction No. 8, they were told that they might disregard all or any part .of the testimony of any witness they believed had testified falsely to any material fact, or give it such weight as they believed it entitled to; and they were told that they were the sole judges of the weight of testimony and credibility of witnesses; and in weighing the testimony and credibility of any witness, his bias, prejudice, or interest, if any, in the case, demeanor on the witness stand, and all other facts and circumstances should be considered. Why should the jury be told that they could not arbitrarily disregard or disbelieve her evidence, when they were told that they were the judges of the weight and credibility to be given cmy witness, and that in arriving at such weight and credibility, they should take into consideration the interest of the witness, if any, in the case? In view of all the.instructions, we can perceive no prejudicial error in the refusal of defendant’s instruction No. 7. State v. Shimoka, 251 Pac. (Wash.), 290, 292; People v. Dyer, 147 Pac. (Cal.), 217, 218; People v. Trudell, 189 N. W. (Mich.), 910, 911. The'defense was first, immunity from' prosecution, (a technical and unsubstantial
Defendant’s instruction No. 11, as offered, would have told the.jury that “if any juror after considering all of the evidence and circumstances in this case entertains a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused of the offense with which she is charged, it is his duty not to surrender his convictions and find the defendant guilty merely because the other jurors may be of a different opinion. The instruction as amended and given by the court left out the words “and find the defendant guilty.” We are unable to see that the defendant has been prejudiced by the amendment of this charge.
The last contention of the defendant that the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence, is untenable. The evidence amply justified the verdict.
The judgment will be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State v. Sarah Lilly
- Status
- Published