People v. Meacham

Defendants Hughes, Brighton and Meacham were charged jointly with robbery while armed with a revolver. Each one asserted an alibi as a defense. In a trial by jury they were found guilty as charged. Defendant Hughes appeals from the judgment and the order denying his motion for a new trial.

He contends that there is no substantial evidence of his guilt; that the court erred in its instructions; that the trial was unfair as to him; and that the court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a new trial.

On October 28, 1946, about 12:10 a. m., Jesse R. Heagy was on duty as the operator of a Mobil gasoline service station on Sherman Way near Van Nuys. At said time three men walked from the street into the station premises, and one of them went to the operator and asked him where a certain beach was located. The operator then went to his coupe automobile to get a map, and as he reached therein the man (defendant Meacham), who had asked the question, hit him on the head, pointed a loaded revolver at him, and compelled him to sit in the automobile. Meacham then stood about 5 feet from the operator and continued to point the gun toward him. Defendant Brighton went inside the service station building, and the third man walked up and down in front of the station, and on several occasions went into the station and then returned to the front again. The three men were there 10 or 15 minutes, and they took about $5 from a money box in the station, about $50 from the pocket of the operator,

The operator testified that the defendants Meacham and Brighton were two of the men who committed the robbery ; and that he did not recognize defendant Hughes as the third man, or as anyone, who was at the robbery. One Barnes, called as a witness by plaintiff, testified that he was living with Meacham at the date of the robbery; that he had known the three defendants about four months; that he saw the three defendants on October 23, 1946, between 1 and 1:30 a. m., in front of Meacham’s house, in a 1940 or 1941 Buick sedan automobile; that Hughes was in the driver’s seat; that one of them had a .32 automatic pistol at that time and he thought it was Brighton who had it; that they said they “had just pulled a job”; that Hughes asked him (witness) if he wanted to ride, and then Meacham and Brighton got out of the automobile, and the witness and one Bob Copeland and two girls (who were with the witness) got into the automobile; and that they drove around Hollywood until about 4 a. m.

Officer Wendt testified that he saw Hughes on October 23, 1946, about 12:15 p. m. when Hughes drove a 1941 Buick sedan automobile to the front of Meacham’s house and parked it there.

Officer Gidney testified that he asked Hughes some questions on October 24th, about 9 a. m., at the police station, and that Hughes answered voluntarily, that his answers were not given under any threat or undue influence, and that no promise of reward or immunity was extended to him. When the officer was asked to state that conversation, Hughes stated that he challenged said statement of the officer regarding the circumstances under which the answers were given. Thereupon, the court permitted Hughes to testify at that time concerning those circumstances. He testified that, under threats by the officer, he confessed to many crimes during that questioning; that the officer cursed him, said he would kick him in the testicles until he told him what he wanted to hear; that the officer charged him with auto stealing, hotel robbery and filling

Officer Gidney then continued his testimony and testified that he did not say he would kick any of the defendants, that he did not wave a gun in front of any of them or at all (he did testify later that “In the course of investigation we know how to get truthful answers”); that at the time he began talking with Hughes he (the officer) did not know about this robbery on Sherman Way; that they had arrested the defendants on a previous investigation, and he told Hughes that he had a report of a robbery in the Valley, and he asked Hughes if he had been involved in a robbery there; that Hughes replied that he had been, and that he, Meacham and Brighton had been at a Mobil station in San Fernando Valley in the early morning of October 23d in Hughes’ 1940 Buick sedan, that he thought it was on Sherman Way, that Meacham was armed with a revolver and Hughes had an automatic, that Hughes parked the car and went to the rear of the station, that he saw Meacham strike the attendant, that $4 was taken from the station and $20 from the attendant, that they ran back to the Buick and returned to 3721 Glen Feliz Street (where Meacham lived), and that they divided the money equally. The officer testified further that he had the three defendants together about 11 a. m. on said October 24th in the presence of three other officers and Mr. Heagy, the station operator

Hughes testified that he lived in Glendale; that at 7 p. m. on October 22, 1946, he was at a restaurant in Glendale where his roommate, one Emmert, was employed; that after eating at that place he went to his home, lay down in bed and went to sleep; that he awoke about 11:30 p. m. and left his house about 11:45 p. m. in his automobile to go to the restaurant to get his roommate; that it was very foggy at that time; that after he had gone a few blocks a tire blew out, and while he was trying to change the tire the car fell from the jack; that he knew it was 12:12 when the car fell because the falling car broke his watch; that he finally put the spare tire on, and then drove to a near-by service station and put air in the tire; that when he arrived at the restaurant it was closed, and then he went to his home and his roommate was there; that it had been his custom to “pick up” Emmert when Emmert finished work, and that he (Hughes) had never missed picking him up before; that he told Emmert about the tire trouble, and then went out again to get something to eat; that just after he had finished eating in his car at a drive-in restaurant in Glendale, Meacham and Brighton came to his car; that he waited there while they ate, and then he took them to their home on Glen Feliz Street, Glendale; that when he arrived there Barnes (the witness hereinbefore mentioned) came to the car and asked where they were going; that Meacham and Brighton got out of the car and went into the house; that soon thereafter Copeland and two girls came to the car, and he took them and Barnes in his car and drove around all night before he could get rid of them; that he returned to his home about 4 a. m., and slept until 11 o’clock that morning; that he then

The landlady at the place where Hughes lived testified that on October 22,1946, about 6 p. m., she saw Hughes’ automobile parked across the street from her house; that about 10:30 p. m. of said day she saw his automobile at the same place; that it was terribly foggy that night; and that she went to bed about 11 p. m.

The daughter of the landlady testified that “about eleven or a few minutes after that” in the evening of October 22, 1946, she saw Hughes lying on his bed at her mother’s house; and that she did not see him again until several days later.

Bmmert testified that he roomed with Hughes; that on October 22, 1946, he (Bmmert) worked at a restaurant until midnight and left there about 12:15 a. m. on October 23rd ; that Hughes usually “picks me up” after work, but he did not show up that night and Bmmert rode home with another boy; that he (Bmmert) arrived home about 12:20 a. m.; that Hughes came in about 2 o ’clock; that Hughes told him about the tire trouble, smoked a cigarette, and then went away again; that it was about “a quarter to one” when he (Hughes) left, and he did not see him until the next day; that after Hughes was on bail he went with Hughes to a newspaper office in Van Nuys and obtained the address of the station where the robbery occurred; that they went to the station and talked to Mr. Heagy and he said that he did not recognize Hughes as one of the boys who robbed him.

Meacham testified that he stayed at his home in the evening of October 22nd until approximately 12 o ’clock; that he then left the house to meet Brighton at Colorado and Brand Boulevards ; that he met him there about “10 or 15 minutes to twelve”; that they then went to a drive-in restaurant in Glendale, and when they arrived there it was ‘ either a quarter to one or one o’clock” and they met Hughes who was sitting in the car; that after they ate at that place, Hughes took them to their home and they arrived there about 1:30 a.m.; that he thought he saw Barnes there at that time; that at 5:15 of October 22nd he was with Brighton in a jewelry store in Glendale, and that he committed the crime of assault with intent to commit robbery therein at that time, and that he was convicted of the crime. On cross-examination he said that he owned the revolver which was an exhibit in the case.

Appellant Hughes’ first contention, above mentioned, that there is no substantial evidence of his guilt is not sustained. A detailed discussion of the evidence is not required to show that such contention is without merit. There was evidence as follows: that the other two defendants were identified positively as participants in the robbery; that this defendant was in a 1940 Buick automobile with those defendants in front of their house about 1:30 a. m., which was about an hour after the robbery, and at that time he was in the driver’s seat, and one of them had a revolver, and one of them said that

Appellant contends that the court erred in refusing to give the following instruction: “When the case which has been made out by the People against a defendant rests entirely or chiefly on circumstantial evidence, and in any case before the jury may find a defendant guilty basing its finding solely on such evidence, each fact which is essential to complete a chain of circumstances that will establish the defendant’s guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” That instruction should have been given, but the refusal to give it was not prejudicial, in view of the instructions given and under the evidence here. The requested instruction was to the effect that each fact which is essential to complete a chain of circumstances establishing defendant’s guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. That instruction related to the matter of reasonable doubt in connection with various evidentiary facts in a chain of circumstances. The court gave the usual instruction concerning reasonable doubt as to the ultimate fact involved, that is, as to defendant’s guilt of the crime charged. That instruction (Pen. Code, § 1096) was to the effect that in case of a reasonable doubt whether his guilt, of the crime charged, is satisfactorily shown, he is entitled to an acquittal. In other words, the law as to reasonable doubt was fully before the jury as to the ultimate fact charged, but it was not referred to specifically regarding essential evidentiary facts. The court, however, did give the following instruction: “If the evidence in this case is susceptible of two constructions or interpretations, each of which appears to you to be reasonable, and one of which points to the guilt of the defendant, and the other to his innocence, it is your duty, under the law, to adopt that interpretation which will admit of the defendant’s innocence, and reject that which points to his guilt.” The court also instructed the jury fully in regard to the credibility of witnesses in general. Since the jury was instructed fully that in case of reasonable doubt as to defendant’s guilt it should find him not guilty, and was also in

Appellant also contends that the court erroneously refused to give a requested instruction which stated in effect that a defendant in a criminal trial may not be compelled to testify, and that the failure of a defendant to deny or explain evidence against him does not create a presumption of guilt or by itself warrant an inference of guilt. In presenting that point he states that the defendant did testify,, and denied and explained testimony against him, and that apparently the jury did not believe him. He argues that it cannot be known to what extent “they gave weight” to his testimony “merely because they disbelieved it and as a result of such disbelief.” He argues further that since the jury “may have given improper and unlawful weight to the disbelief of his denials and explanations” he was entitled to the requested instruction. The argument that the jury gave weight, or might have given weight, to testimony it did not believe is not clear. The defendant was not compelled to testify, but he did testify. There was no necessity for an instruction that a defendant in such a trial may not be compelled to testify. When he did testify his testimony was to be considered by the same standard and rules as testimony of other witnesses. The members of the jury were properly instructed that they were the exclusive judges of the weight of the evidence, and they were properly instructed as to the subject of credibility of witnesses. The court did not err in refusing to give that requested instruction.

Appellant contends that the court erred in refusing to give his requested instruction to the effect that it is the duty of the judge to instruct the jury; that it is the function of the jury to try the issues of fact; that the jury should perform its duty uninfluenced by pity or passion or prejudice; that it must not be biased against defendant because he had been arrested, or accused or brought to trial, and that none of “these facts” is evidence of his guilt, and the jury should not infer or speculate from any of them that he is more likely to be guilty than innocent. He asserts that the refusal to give his requested instruction, except the part as to the duty of the

Appellant contends further that the instruction relative to the issue of alibi was insufficient and incomplete. The court gave the following instruction: “An alibi simply means that a defendant was at another place at the time the crime charged is alleged to have been committed. All the evidence should be carefully considered by you, and, if the evidence on the subject, considered with all the other evidence, is sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of a defendant, you should acquit him. It is sufficient to justify an acquittal if the evidence upon that point raises a reasonable doubt of his presence at the time and place of the commission of the crime charged, if you find that a crime was committed.” Appellant submitted an instruction concerning the matter of alibi, and it was refused. Appellant concedes, however, that the instruction given and the one requested by him “are substantially in accord, and are correct and in the ordinary case are sufficient.” He argues that since the People’s proof herein narrows the issue as to the time of the robbery to a matter of minutes (approximately 25 minutes according to appellant’s computation), the court, of its own motion, should have narrowed such issues to a matter of minutes. It will be noted that the instruction given states that an alibi means that a defendant was at another place at the time the crime charged is alleged to have been committed,” and that the defendant should be acquitted if the evidence raises a reasonable doubt of “his presence at the time and place of the commission of the crime charged.” The information charged that the crime was committed “on or about the 23rd day of October, 1946.” Appellant asserts that, in order to meet the requirement of that instruction, the evidence as to alibi would have to cover all of the day of October 23rd. In support of his contention

Appellant also asserts that the trial was unfair as to him, in that, the attorney employed by him was appointed by another judge, at the time of the arraignment, to also represent the other two defendants, and the trial judge should have ascertained that no conflict of interests “might” arise between Hughes and the other defendants.

At the preliminary hearing an attorney, Mr. J. U. Edwards, who was then appearing as counsel for Hughes, was appointed at the request of Mr. Edwards to also represent Meacham and Brighton. When the three defendants appeared for arraignment in the superior court before Judge McKay on November 18, 1946, Hughes appeared with his counsel Mr. Edwards and the other defendants appeared without counsel. The appellant asserts that Judge McKay then appointed Mr. Edwards to also represent the other defendants. The minutes of the court do not show that such an appointment was made, and the reporter’s transcript does not show such an appointment. Judge McKay set the trial for December 13, 1946, in another department of the court before Judge Nye. The trial was postponed to January 17, 1947. Appellant asserts that on that date, before the trial commenced, Mr. Edwards and the deputy district attorney went into the trial judge’s chambers, and Mr. Edwards stated that Meacham and Brighton would plead guilty to robbery in the second degree and that Hughes would plead not guilty, and that the deputy district attorney then said that unless all three defendants would plead guilty the People would not enter into such a proposal and would require all three defendants to proceed to trial. Neither the reporter’s transcript, nor the clerk’s transcript, shows anything with respect to such a meeting or any meeting in the chambers. Since the record does not show that Judge McKay or any judge appointed Mr. Edwards as counsel for Meacham and Brighton, and the record does not show that any proceeding occurred in chambers, there is no basis (except as hereinafter indicated) for the contention that the trial judge should have ascertained that no conflict of interests “might” arise. Hughes made a motion to augment the record to include a transcription of the reporter’s notes of the proceedings had before Judge McKay at the arraignment, which notes, he asserted, show that Mr. Edwards was appointed to also rep

In regard to this last-mentioned contention of appellant, he argues that by reason of the proceedings in chambers the trial judge was then apprised that it was probable that conflicting interests might appear between Hughes and the other defendants, and that it was the responsibility of the court to make inquiry “to the point of ascertainment that no conflict of interests between Hughes on the one hand and Meacham and Brighton on the other ‘might’ arise.” In support of his contention he cites Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60 [ 62 S.Ct. 457 , 86 L.Ed. 680 ], and People v. Lanigan, 22 Cal.2d 569 [ 140 P.2d 24 , 148 A.L.R. 176 ]. Those cases are distinguishable from the present ease. In those cases specific objections were made to the appointments of counsel, and the circumstances were such that it was apparent there were conflicting interests. In the Lanigan case the defendants objected and the attorney who was appointed also objected. In the present case, assuming that Judge McKay appointed counsel for Meacham and Brighton, no objection was made by anyone at that time or at all to Judge McKay to the appointment, and there was nothing to indicate to him that there might be conflicting interests. From the time of the alleged appointment to the date of trial about 60 days elapsed and during that time no objection was made, and it does not appear at all that appellant or anyone, prior to the returning of the verdict, was not satisfied with the alleged appointment. There was nothing before Judge Nye to indicate even that the court had appointed Mr. Edwards as counsel for the other defendants. As above stated, there was no minute entry of

Appellant also contends that the court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a new trial. The motion was made upon all the statutory grounds, and particularly upon the ground of newly discovered evidence. In support of the motion he filed his affidavit which stated that after the verdict Brighton had informed him that Brighton, Meacham and one Berle Franklyn had committed the robbery. That affidavit stated further that Mr. Heagy would testify that the third man at the robbery appeared to have blond hair. He also filed an affidavit made by Brighton which stated that he, Meacham and a man named Berle Franklyn had committed the robbery, and that Hughes was not present; and that he did not disclose this information to Hughes or defense counsel or anyone until after the verdict because he thought it would jeopardize his chance of acquittal. He also filed an affidavit of Mr. Heagy to the effect that the third man at the robbery was about the same size as Hughes but his features appeared to be different and it was his impression that he had blond hair. The affidavit of Brighton established that he swore falsely, either at the trial or in the affidavit. The evidence in the trial showed that Brighton had been convicted about a week previously of assault with intent to commit robbery. The affidavit of Mr. Heagy was cumulative, except as to the statement about the hair. He was cross-examined extensively at the trial, and appellant of course had an opportunity at that time to ascertain his testimony about the color of the hair. It was for the trial judge, in his discretion, to determine what weight, if any, to give to

The judgment, and the order denying the motion for a new trial, are affirmed.

Shinn, Acting P. J., and Vallée, J. pro tem., concurred.

A petition for a rehearing was denied March 16, 1948, and appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied April 1, 1948.