People v. McElvaine

Upon a former appeal by the defendant in this case, from a conviction of murder in the first degree, this court ordered a new trial, upon the ground that an error had been committed in allowing an expert witness for the people to answer an improperly framed hypothetical question relating to the sanity of the defendant. (People v. McElvaine, 121 N. Y. 250 .)

The defendant has again been tried upon the indictment, and the jury have again found him guilty of the crime charged, and from the judgment rendered upon that conviction this appeal is taken. Mo question is made but that the defendant killed one Luca by repeatedly stabbing him with a knife in his back, breast and arms while Luca was in the act of resisting the attempts of the defendant to escape from the house wliich he had burglariously entered. The undisputed evidence showed that Luca was a grocer, living at the corner of Jay and High streets in the city of Brooklyn, and occupied the first floor of the building as a grocery store, and the upper rooms for a dwelling-house for himself and family, consisting of a wife, three children, a servant girl and two clerks. There is no direct evidence that anyone was associated with defendant in the commission of the crime, and the proof shows him, when first discovered, engaged in a struggle with Luca about three o’clock in the morning of August 22, 1889, in the back room of the second story of Luca’s house. This discovery was made by Mrs. Luca and the servant, and upon their seizing him he said: “ I have stabbed him, and if you don’t let go of me I will stab you.” Thereupon they let him go. Luca was then sinking to the floor from his wounds, four of which were mortal, and soon after expired. When released the defendant passed through the window to a ladder extending to the

No defense to this array of proof afforded any reasonable prospect of success, except that growing out of the alleged irresponsibility of the defendant by reason of insanity, and this was the sole defense set up on the trial. It is now a fundamental principle in all civilized countries that this defense, when established, shall furnish to the accused not .only a protection against conviction for crime, but a sufficient reason why he should not be tried or sentenced, or if tried and convicted, why the judgment of the court should not be executed; and this rule has, for a long time, been a part of the statutory law of this state. (§ 20; Penal Code; 2 R.S. 697, § 2.) These statutes express a humane principle, and the law makers of the state have, by numerous provisions, so guarded the rights of such persons, that they cannot be lawfully punished for an act which was committed by them while in a state of insanity, or when they have become insane during or after a trial or conviction. (§§ 336, 658, 481, Code of Criminal Procedure.) It is the duty, as it should always be the inclination, of courts to give effect to. these ¡mo visions of law,

The points most strenuously urged upon us for a reversal of the judgment are the refusal of the trial court to institute a preliminary inquiry relative to the defendant’s present sanity, and the claim that the undisputed evidence established the fact •of insanity at the time of the commission of the offense so con-' clusively, that the court should reverse the judgment, as matter of law. The case does not in its material features differ from that presented on the former appeal, except in respect to the omission of the errors then apjiearing in the record and the absence of expert evidence, on the part of the people, on the subject of the defendant’s sanity when the crime was committed. Upon the last trial no medical experts were called on the question of sanity on behalf of the people, but, by the consent of the people’s counsel, the evidence of two experts called •on behalf of the defendant was, on account of their non-attendance, permitted to be read from the minutes of the former trial. A careful consideration of the evidence of these experts must lead any impartial mind, we think, to the conclusion that they were both of the opinion that the defendant did, when he stabbed Luca, know the nature and quality of the act he was •committing, and did know that it was wrong. The general effect of their evidence was to impress the mind with the con

But .it seems to us quite unnecessary, under the circumstances of this case, to go into a critical examination or discussion of' the various phases of insanity as exhibited or illustrated in the-discussions of legal and scientific writers; as on the whole case-it seems quite clear to us that the defendant had sufficient intelligence and self control to understand the nature and character of the act committed by him, and to refrain from its-commission if found to be inconsistent with a due regard for Ms own safety or interest. The evidence showed that previous to his fourteenth year, he had attended school and, although a dull and slow scholar, had acquired the ability to read and write, and do sums in arithmetic. -After that time, his family being in humble circumstances, he was accustomed to labor for a livelihood in such employment in his neighborhood as, he could obtain and was capable of pursuing. He was nineteen years of age when the crime was committed, and for several years previous to that time, had been engaged in the delivery of ice to customers for some dealer in that article in. Brooklyn, and other similar employment. He was not a person of much intelligence or a high grade of morals, and was-unsteady and irregular in his habits. He had never, apparently, been treated by Ms family as of unsound mind or confined as a lunatic, but had been brought up and' dealt with like other boys of his age and condition in life. A few months before this homicide he had been prosecuted-by Ms sister for stealing money from her, and was condemned to imprisonment: as a punishment for that crime. This prosecution had been, undertaken with the apparent acquiescence--and consent of hiss relatives. His mental condition did not then seem, in their-judgment, to be a sufficient reason for relieving him from: responsibility for his acts. He was married about eleven days,

When seized by Luca there was no hesitation in the employment of the means he had prepared to overcome resistance, and when interfered with by Luca’s wife and servant, he promptly adopted the most efficient measures to rid himself pf their opposition’ and avail himself of the opportunity thus afforded, to escape. When we regard the cunning and sagacity displayed by him in laying plans and making preparation for the commission of the crime; the promptitude and courage manifested in using the weapon with which he was armed, and the skill exhibited in effecting his escape, we are not disposed to find fault with the jury or to say that they had not' ample evidence to sustain the verdict rendered by them.

The evidence given on behalf of the defendant to sustain the claim of insanity was furnished, almost wholly, by relatives-who were naturally interested in giving the most favorable version for the defendant of the history of his life, and it seems-to us to exhibit a disposition to magnify incidents occurring to the defendant in his childhood which were supposed to bear on. the question of his sanity, but which seem to us to be similar-

The defendant also claims that we should reverse the judgment because the trial court did not order a preliminary -examination by commission, or otherwise, to inquire into the present sanity of the defendant. This claim is founded on the provisions of section 658 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provide that “ when a defendant pleads insanity, as prescribed in section 336, the court in which the indictment is pending, instead of proceeding with the trial of the indictment, may appoint a commission of not more than three disinterested persons to examine him and report to the court as to Ms sanity ■at the time of the commission of the crime. If a defendant in confinement under indictment, appears to be at any time, before or after conviction, insane, the court in which the indictment is pending, unless the defendant is under sentence •of death, may appoint a like commission to examine him and report to the court as to his sanity at the time of the examination. * * The commission must summarily proceed to make the examination. * * * They must be attended by "the district attorney of the county, and may call and examine witnesses and compel their attendance.. The counsel of the defendant may take part in the proceedings. When the commission have concluded their examination they must forthwith report the facts to the court, with their opinion thereon.” Section 336, provides: “ Whenever a person in confinement, under indictment, desires to offer a plea of insanity, Ije may present such plea at the time of his arraignment as a specification under the plea of not guilty.”

At the commencement of the last trial, the defendant’s counsel requested that the defendant should be arraigned for the purpose of affording him an opportunity to plead to the indictment. The court decided that this was unnecessary, as he had

The defendant’s counsel then tendered an oral plea of not guilty on behalf of the accused and, as a specification under that plea, stated that “the prison er, Charles McElvaine, is now-in a state of idiocy, imbecility, lunacy or insanity, and is. incapable of understanding this proceeding or of making his defense, or of instructing his counsel as to his defense, if he has one.” The counsel also requested the court to appoint a. commission under section 658 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to examine and report on the question of the present-sanity of the defendant. The court denied the motion, upon the ground that there was nothing in the case from which it appeared to him that the defendant was then insane or imbecile-The defendant excepted.

We do not think this exception well taken. The statute is-very clear and unambiguous, and seems to invest the trial judge with a discretion to appoint a commission or not, as in-the exercise of his judgment he may deem it proper or necessary to do. The statute seems to contemplate two cases in which a commission may be appointed: first, after a' plea on the merits, and before trial, to determine his mental condition at the time of the commission of the crime; and, second, when a person in confinement under indictment, whether before or after conviction, appears to be insane, to determine liis mental condition at the time of the examination. That the exercise of the powers thus conferred is discretionary seems to be confirmed by a consideration of the history of legislation on the subject. By section 2, title Y, chapter 1, part 4, E. S., it was provided that “ no act done by a person.

In 1847, chapter 328 was enacted, by which it was provided: '“If after any convict shall have been sentenced to the punishment of death, he shall become insane, the sheriff of the -county, with the concurrence of the justice of the Supreme Court, or, if he be absent from the county, with the concurrence of the county judge of the county in- which the con"viction was had, may summon a jury of twelve electors to inquire into such insanity, and shall give immediate notice tthereof to the district attorney of the county.”

Upon a revision and codification of the.statutes relating to ■the insane, effected by chapter 446 of the Laws of 1874, it was provided by section 20 of that act, that “ If any person in confinement under indictment for the crime of arson, murder, or attempt at murder, or highway robbery, shall appear to be insane, the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in which such indictment is pending, shall have power, with the concurrence tof the presiding judge of such court, summarily, to inquire into the sanity of such person * * * and for that purpose may appoint a commission to examine such person and Inquire into the facts of his case and report to the court, etc.” Section 22 provides that “ If any person .in confinement under

Section 26 is a substantial re-enactment of section 32 of "the act of 1842. Section 30 reads as follows: “Whenever •any person in confinement under indictment for the crime of ■arson, murder, or attempt at murder, or highway robbery, •desires to offer the plea of insanity as a general traverse and his whole defense to such indictment, he shall present such plea at the time of his arraignment, and at no other stage of the trial but this, shall such plea be received or entertained by the court, and the court, before "whom such trial is pending, ■shall have power, with the concurrence of the presiding judge thereof, to appoint a commission to examine such person , ■* * * and to inquire and to report to the court aforesaid "upon the fact of his mental sanity at the date of the offense ■with which he stands charged, etc.”

Section 2, subd. 11. “All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with or repugnant to the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.'” This act continued in force until the enactment of "the Code of Criminal Procedure.

It is quite obvious from the reading of these acts, that it was contemplated that proceedings under them should be originated only by the sheriff, the county judge, or the Court of Oyer and Terminer, and, under the provisions of the law prohibiting the trial, conviction or punishment of insane persons, it was the duty of such officers to see to it that the law was not violated.

It would, undoubtedly, be competent for a prisoner, or his ■counsel, to call the attention of the judge, or other officer •charged with the duty of seeing that a prisoner was not ille

We do not think the Code of Criminal Procedure has made-any radical change in the mode of procedure or the character of the proceedings. The duty of making the examination, referred to is now imposed upon the court before whom the-indictment is pending, and it would be responsible for any violation of the law in respect to trying or punishing insane: criminals permitted by it. It is only when the necessity of such an examination is sufficiently made to appear to the court: in which the indictment is pending, that it is bound to order an examination; but it would be the plain duty of a court,, when the subject is brought to its attention by responsible, parties, to itself make a sufficient inspection and examination, to determine whether the application is made in good faith and upon plausible grounds, and the apparent facts thus discovered are made the condition of the right of the court to institute: the statutory inquisition. 'Such an examination, we infer, the-, court made in this case. It had previously tried the defendant for the same crime and had heard the evidence adduced by the defendant to support the plea of insanity. It was-familiar with the appearance and conduct of the prisoner during the period of that trial, and had sufficient grounds before-it to judge as to the probability of his present sanity. It then had the prisoner before it and witnessed his actions and manner, and had access to the information acquired by the officers, of the court through their daily contact and communication with the defendant during the time of his imprisonment, and it is hardly possible that the defendant could have manifested symptoms of insanity during his confinement which would not: have been discovered by or be communicated to the court. There-was no pretense that there had been any change in his mental condition since the previous trial, and ño proof of any insanity whatever was given to support the demand for an inquisition..

The question raised under similar statutes has been considered in a number of our sister states, and, so far as we are aware, has been uniformly construed to invest the trial court with a discretion to order such examination or not, as it might, from inspection, observation and information, judge to be necessary or expedient. (Webber v. Commonwealth, 119 Pa. 223 ; Jones v. State, 13 Alabama, 153; Bonds v. State, 1 Martin & Yerger [Tenn.]; State of Iowa v. Arnold, 12 Iowa, 480 ; People v. AhYing, 42 California, 18.) Mo other points requiring serious attention are presented.

Upon the whole case we are of the opinion that no error was committed by the trial court, or sufficient reason exists to authorize us to reverse the judgment of the court below.

The judgment should be affirmed.

All concur.

Judgment affirmed.