Majority
In an indictment returned by the grand jury of the county of Riverside the defendant was charged in three counts with the crime of murder. A fourth count, charging an entirely different offense, was dismissed upon motion of the district attorney. Upon his arraignment the defendant entered a plea of not guilty to each of the murder counts. After a prolonged trial he was found guilty as charged, and, the jury having failed to make any recommendation as to punishment, he was sentenced to suffer the extreme penalty. From the judgment and from the order denying his motion for a new trial he has prosecuted this appeal.
The record presents a most unpleasant and gruesome picture and, because of this, we deem it undesirable to set forth at length the disgusting and abhorrent details leading up to and surrounding the commission of the offenses of which the appellant stands convicted. It will be sufficient to summarize only enough of the evidence to show that the contention of the appellant that his conviction was unwarranted is without merit. In the first count of the indictment the appellant was charged with the unlawful killing of “a human being whose name is unknown.” The evidence introduced by the prosecution in support of this charge tends to show that on February 2, 1928, the nude and headless body of a young boy of about eighteen years of age, apparently of Mexican extraction, was found in a
This evidence, in our opinion, amply supports the verdict on the first count. Appellant’s contention that it is insufficient in that “no motive was shown to substantiate a charge of murder in the first degree” is without merit. There is the evidence to the effect that the homicide was perpetrated because the victim thereof “knew too much.” Aside from this, however, the decision in People v. Tom Woo, 181 Cal. 315 , 328 [ 184 Pac. 389 ], disposes of the contention now under consideration. It is therein declared:
Counts two and three of the indictment may well be considered together, for they are inseparably related. In these counts the appellant was charged with having unlawfully and feloniously murdered two minor boys named Nelson and Lewis Winslow. It was the theory of the prosecution that the appellant had kidnaped or abducted these boys, who were brothers, and brought them to his chicken ranch in order that he might practice a most unnatural and disgusting act upon them. The evidence very definitely establishes that the appellant is a moral pervert and degenerate of the very lowest type. When upon the stand in his own defense he readily admitted that for a number of years he had been addicted to the practice of the unnatural crime against nature. The Winslow boys disappeared at about 8 o ’clock on the night of May 16,1928, while returning to their home from a meeting of the boys’ Model Yacht Club. At the time of their disappearance they were ten and twelve years of age, respectively, and had with them a library book on aeroplanes for boys and a toy banjo or ukulele fashioned out of a cigar-box, the finger-board of which contained two keys taken from an old violin which had been a
In corroboration of Sanford Clark’s testimony the prosecution introduced evidence tending to show that during their incarceration the Winslow boys, apparently at appellant’s suggestion and command, had written two letters to
At the commencement of the trial and before the selection of the jury, the appellant, through his counsel, made three motions, viz., a motion that he be permitted to add the plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity’’ to the plea of “not guilty’’ theretofore entered; a motion that his sanity be determined as of the time of trial; and a motion for a continuance in order that he might procure more and better evidence in support of the foregoing motions and to aid his counsel to more adequately prepare for the trial. Each of the motions was denied, and the appellant now at
Appellant next urges that the court below erred in denying his challenge to the special venire. The challenge was placed upon the ground that the summoning officer was disqualified under section 1064 of the Penal Code, it being contended that- the sheriff had been engaged in gathering evidence for the prosecution, and that any disqualification thus attaching to the sheriff inured to his deputy who had summoned the jury. It is also urged that this particular deputy had formed an opinion adverse to appellant by reason of an altercation arising out of a previous contact with appellant. On their voir dire examination both the sheriff and his deputy denied having formed an opinion as to the appellant’s guilt, and nothing has been shown here calling for a conclusion that they were so biased or prejudiced as to disqualify them. In People v. Hartman, 130 Cal. 487 , 488, 489 [ 62 Pac. 823 ], it is said that the condition of mind of the officer is “essentially a question of fact for the trial court to pass upon, and, as in the case of a juror challenged upon the ground of actual bias, it is only when the issue comes before this court as matter of law that it has jurisdiction to deal with it. Hero the evidence is of a character that concludes us in holding that the denial of the challenge presents only an issue of fact. Under these conditions the action of the trial court will be upheld.” This language is particularly pertinent to the present inquiry. In People v. Le Doux, 155 Cal. 535 , 542,
Contending that there was nothing in common between the charge contained in count one of the indictment and the charges contained in counts two and three thereof the appellant requested that he be accorded a separate trial on the so-called “headless Mexican” charge in order to preclude confusion. This request was denied, and the ruling is assigned as error. Among other things, section 954 of the Penal Code provides that an indictment, information or complaint may charge “two or more different offenses of the same class of crimes or offenses, under separate counts . . . provided, that the court in the interest of justice and for good cause shown, may, in its discretion, order that the different offenses or counts set forth in the indictment or information be tried separately ...” Appellant has failed to point out wherein the joint trial of the several charges worked to his prejudice. His bald and unsupported statement is not sufficient. The evidence adduced upon the trial attests the propriety of the lower court’s ruling in this regard.
During the progress of the trial the appellant addressed a letter to the judge presiding requesting permission to personally cross-examine certain of the prosecution’s witnesses, asserting that he alone had the knowledge necessary “to bring out the truth.” In making this request the appellant stated: “I do not want to have to discharge my attorneys, but, if there is no other way then I will have to.” His letter also indicated that he was familiar with court procedure and had some knowledge of the law by reason of a correspondence course of study. At the next succeeding court session it was stated from the bench that the trial must proceed in an orderly and regular manner, and that it would therefore be necessary for the appellant to “elect one way or the other, to either take charge of his defense through counsel or through his own efforts.” Appellant was then told that if he elected to take personal charge of the case and conduct his owm defense he would be expected to abide by his election throughout the trial. The court
After he had thus assumed personal charge of his defense, and on January 21, 1929, the appellant moved the court for a continuance on the ground that his physical condition at the time was such as to preclude him from effectively proceeding. A recess was thereupon ordered by the trial court to permit of a medical examination of the appellant being made. When court reconvened, the examining physicians testified, in substance, that appellant was merely suffering from a slight cold which was accompanied by an elevation of temperature of only two-tenths of one degree. Bach physician gave as his opinion that appellant was physically capable of proceeding with the trial. Upon this showing the motion for a continuance was denied. On the following morning the motion was renewed, appellant urging that his eyes were swollen to such an. extent as not to permit of their use. At this time, and upon reeommen
At a later date the appellant asked leave of court to again associate counsel with him, intimating that if the request was granted he would sporadically and when necessary call upon counsel to conduct the examination of witnesses and otherwise assume control of the defense. Consistent with its earlier ruling, the court again informed the appellant that he “must either have counsel or appear in person. You cannot appear by both.” It was then suggested to him that he move to have counsel “reinstated as your attorney of record [to] conduct your ease or to proceed on your own line. As to what [counsel] might do about assisting you or anything, that is no concern of the court’s.” 'The court very properly stated to the appellant that it did not intend to conduct the ease by piecemeal, adding: “I cannot recognize you for one purpose . . . and recognize your counsel for another purpose. It interferes with the orderly progress of the trial.” Appellant apparently agreed with the court and accepted its ruling, for he stated: “That is perfectly desirable [agreeable?], your Honor.” What we have already said along this line sufficiently disposes of the present assignment of error, which is without merit.
Appellant next complains of the introduction of certain testimony which it is asserted tended to prove the commission or attempted commission of separate and distinct crimes having no connection with or bearing on the charges then pending againt him. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Dahl, the parents of four minor boys, were called by the prosecution and testified that appellant had negotiated with them to move on to his chicken ranch where they were to work for him; that their boys, in whom appellant showed some interest, were to accompany them; and that appellant subsequently told them that for various reasons it would be impossible for him to give them the promised employment. Stephen Black, a minor boy called by the People, testified that appellant had taken him to the ranch on divers occasions and on one of these visits had attempted to abuse bim,
Appellant offered no instructions. He now urges, however, that the court, of its own motion, should have instructed the jury to view with great caution and distrust the “evidence and testimony of an admitted accomplice, namely, Sanford Clark.” Under the more recent authorities it would have been error to have so charged the jury. Such an instruction constitutes a charge upon a matter of fact in violation of section 19 of article VI of the Constitution. (People v. Wardrip, 141 Cal. 229 , 233 [ 74 Pac. 744 ]; see, also, Hirshfeld v. Dana, 193 Cal. 142 [ 223 Pac. 451 ].) Appellant concedes that the decisions are against his contention, but seeks to have an exception declared in his case. But appellant did not offer any proposed instructions on the subject, and is, therefore, not in a position to now urge this particular contention. (People v. King, 65 Cal. App. 306 , 310 [ 223 Pac. 1001 ].)
It was not error for the court to refuse to instruct upon the “lesser and included offenses of second degree murder and manslaughter.” Appellant directs this par
Appellant’s motion to be permitted to change his plea from “not guilty” to the plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity” was based upon several purported affidavits, the substance of which was that two doctors had examined appellant, and reached the conclusion that he was insane when examined by them, and that certain attorneys were present when the doctors made such examination, and heard them say the appellant was insane. Section 1016 of the Penal Code provides that a defendant who does not plead not guilty by reason of insanity shall be conclusively presumed to have been sane at the time of the commission of the offense charged, “provided that the court may for good cause shown allow a change of plea any time before the commencement of the trial.” We concur in the view of the prosecution that “good cause” was not shown in the affidavits presented, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant appellant’s motion.
When the appellant was arraigned he was represented and apparently well advised by counsel. He was fully informed as to, and aware of, his rights. From the affidavit of his own counsel it appears that he stubbornly resisted any ádvice and effort to have him enter the additional plea, “not guilty by reason of insanity.” His sole plea, “not guilty,” was not ignorantly induced, nor was it made through motives of hope or fear unduly operating upon his volition. In such a situation it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to refuse to permit the interposition of the additional plea. (People v. Bostic, 167 Cal. 754 [ 141
In addition to the motion for change of plea, appellant’s counsel made a motion, based upon his own affidavit, to have the question of appellant’s sanity at the time of the trial submitted to a jury as provided by the sections of the Penal Code. The record is not entirely clear upon the point, but we infer that the court considered all the affidavits offered at the time bearing on the question of appellant’s sanity. It found the affidavits insufficient to create a doubt of appellant’s sanity, and denied the motion. Subsequently, and on motion of the appellant, the court appointed certain alienists as a commission of experts to examine the appellant as to his sanity and to report to the court, in the event any doubt should arise as to his sanity during the course of the trial. These alienists subsequently filed with the court an affidavit in which they averred that, based upon their observation of the appellant, they were convinced he was sane. Appellant complains of the filing of this affidavit, contending that he should have been confronted with the affiants and afforded an opportunity to cross-examine them. The affidavit, while filed with the court, was never read to the jury nor made known to it in any way. It is therefore difficult to understand what prejudice, if any, could have resulted to the appellant’s cause.
Appellant contends that the trial court erred in refusing to pass upon the competency of alleged confessions made by him before admitting the evidence. Some evidence of statements, not amounting to a confession, were admitted in evidence without any preliminary examination, but, before the purported confession in writing of the appellant was admitted in evidence it was shown to have been freely and voluntarily made and not induced by fear, threats or offers of leniency, reward or immunity.
We have examined the other points stated but not argued by the appellant in his brief, and have found nothing therein warranting a reversal.
The judgment and order arc, and each is, affirmed.
Richards, J., Shenk, J., Seawell, J., Preston, J., and Curtis J., concurred.
Cases cited
- People v. Tom Woo 181 Cal. 315 at 328 p. 643
- People v. Kelley 208 Cal. 387 p. 644
- People v. Hartman 130 Cal. 487 at 488, 489 p. 647
- People v. Le Doux 155 Cal. 535 at 542 p. 647
- People v. Mayfield 85 Cal. App. 77 p. 650
- People v. Miller 135 Cal. 69 p. 652
- People v. Arnold 199 Cal. 471 at 486 p. 653
- People v. Nakis 184 Cal. 105 at 114 p. 653
- People v. Martin 50 Cal. App. 71 at 73 p. 653
- People v. Wardrip 141 Cal. 229 at 233 p. 653
- Hirshfeld v. Dana 193 Cal. 142 p. 653
- People v. King 65 Cal. App. 306 at 310 p. 653
- People v. Watts 198 Cal. 776 at 794, 795 p. 654
- People v. Bostic 167 Cal. 754 p. 654
- People v. Murphy 62 Cal. App. 709 at 711 p. 655