People v. Friedland

While there was' direct evidence against the [defendant of many of the facts necessary to convict of the crime uf which he stood accused, yet there was no direct evidence of the guilty knowledge with which he received the goods, and which was an essential element of the crime. The fact was sought to be proved by several circumstances from which it was claimed that the jury must infer that he received the goods knowing that they had been stolen. To these circumstances the defendant interposed his own denial of the guilty knowledge, some slight explanation of the circumstances, and testimony from the mouths of several witnesses of Ms good character. The court, in submitting the case to the jury, charged that they might consider the testimony of the defendant, and the evidence that he had introduced as to his good character. The court then proceeded as follows:

“While evidence of good character is always admissible, it is not a defense to crime. It is not an excuse or a justification before a jury for the commission of any criminal act. If you should be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant purchased these brushes with a guilty knowledge of their

To this portion of the charge the defendant excepted, and this exception is mainly relied upon as the error for which a reversal is asked in this case.

In all indictments the defendant is at liberty to produce positive testimony gs to his good character to strengthen the presumption which always exists, and when such evidence has been produced it is something more than mere corroborative evidence of the testimony which he gives. It is of itself positive evidence bearing upon the question of his guilt or innocence, and it is to be considered by the jury, not merely as explanatory of the criminating circumstances, to be considered after a conclusion has been reached upon the main question of the defendant’s guilt or innocence, but as testimony bearing upon that precise point. In every case where such testimony has been given, the defendant is entitled to an instruction that it is to be considered as primary testimony upon the question of his guilt. In this case we think the learned judge did not give to the jury as complete instruction as to the weight to be given to evidence of good character as the defendant was entitled to. The case was one where such evidence was primarily to be considered. The inference of guilty knowledge was to be established from any circumstance the weight of which depended very largely on the view to be taken of them by the defendant himself. In considering that view his character was necessarily an important factor, and of itself it would' be sufficient, if it was good, to explain away circumstances which otherwise would be of great weight in establishing his guilt. In such a case the fact of good character must be considered by the jury as an absolute probative fact. We do not mean to be understood as limiting the effect of this evidence to cases wThere

“Where the evidence is positive, leading to a conviction, logically and fairly derived, of guilty, from all the testimony, the simple fact that a person possesses previous good character will be of no avail. It is only in cases where you have a well-reasoned doubt, logically arrived at, arising out of all the testimony, that evidence of good character steps in; and then it becomes your duty, under your oath, to give a verdict in favor of the prisoner.”

Upon that charge the prisoner was convicted, and the court at general term upon a writ of error held that the charge fairly expressed the law with regard to the weight to be given to the testimony of good character, and affirmed the conviction. It was, however, reversed by the court of appeals, for the reason that the charge as above quoted was erroneous. The court in that case say:

“There is no case in which the jury may not, in the exercise of a sound judgment, give the prisoner the benefit of a previous good character. No matter how conclusive the other testimony may. appear to be, the character of the accused may be such as to create a doubt in the minds of the jury, and to lead them to believe, in view of the improbabilities that a person of such character would be guilty of the offense charged, that the other evidence in the case is false, or the witness mistaken. An individual accused of crime is entitled to have it left to the jury to form their conclusion upon all the evidence whether he, if his character was previously unblemished, has or has not committed the particular crime alleged against him.”

The court further say:

The charge of the court upon this subject in this case must, of course, be taken all together, and the only question is-whether, so considered, it gave to the jury proper instructions-as to the weight which they should attach to that class of evidence. They were told that evidence of good character was not a defense to crime; that, if they were satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the defendant, his previous good character was no defense; and we think the charge substantially instructed the jury that good character was only to be-considered when a reasonable doubt might arise on the evidence as to the guilt of the defendant. This certainly was not such a charge as the defendant was entitled to in a case like-this. He was entitled to have the jury instructed as to the full weight which should be given to evidence of that character. People v. Wileman, 44 Hun, 187 ; 8 St. Rep. 300 . The charge as. given is clearly erroneous.

The complaint is made by the defendant of the language of' the court in regard to a reasonable doubt. To this portion of the charge no exception seems to have been taken. Whatever may be the origin of the doctrine that the guilt of the defendant must be proved beyond a reasonable, doubt, and whatever opinions may exist as to the original necessity or usefulness-of such a rule, i-t is now too firmly fixed in the jurisprudence-of this state to be overthrown. In every case the prisoner upon trial is entitled to have an instruction that his guilt must be-proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Code Or. Proc., § 389. Such a doubt is n-ot a mere guess or surmise that the man may not be guilty; it is such a doubt as a reasonable man might entertain after a fair review and consideration of the evidence. It is one which arises from the evidence and its character, or-from the absence of satisfactory evidence in the case. If, upon a consideration of all the evidence in the case, with such pre

Because of the erroneous charge upon the question of character we feel ourselves constrained to reverse the judgment and order a new trial.

All concur.

NOTE ON “GOOD CHARACTER IN CRIMINAL ACTION.”

Defendant’s good character in a criminal prosecution, is admissible. People v. Pollock, 51 Hun, 613 ; 22 S. R. 84; People v. Pavlik, 20 id. 187.

It is to be considered with the other evidence bearing upon the question of guilt. People v. Spriggs, 33 S. R. 989.

Proof of good character, in a doubtful case, is entitled to great weig-ht, and is sometimes sufficient to produce acquittal. People v. Drown, 38 S. R. 985.

If jury conclude that defendant is guilty, his good character, though established, will not clear him. People v. Sweeny, 36 S. R. 75.

Witness to good character may be asked, on cross-examination, as to everything he has heard conflicting with his general opinion. People v. Watson, 27 S. R. 78; People v. Jeffery, 82 Hun,, 409 ; 63 S. R. 585; 31 Supp. 267.

NOTE ON “REASONABLE DOUBT.”

Defendant is presumed to be innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Owens, 148 N. Y. 648 . No inference of guilt can be founded upon Circumstances except such as naturally or necessarily follow from the facts. Id.

Rule that, in criminal cases, the defendant is entitled to the benefit of a reasonable doubt, applies not only to the case as made by the prosecution, but to any defense interposed. People v. Riordan, 117 N. Y. 73 ; 26 S. R. 531; People v. Downs, 56 Hun, 11 ; 29 S. R. 122; 7 N. Y. Cr. 481; 8 Supp. 524; People v. Guidici, 100 N. Y. 503 ; 3 N. Y. Cr. 558; People v. Reavy, 38 Hun, 428 ; People v. Willett, 36 Hun, 500 ; People v. Stone, 117 N. Y. 480 ; 27 S. R. 823; see People v. Downs, 123 N. Y. 558 ; 34 S. R. 262.

Reasonable doubt is such a doubt as a reasonable man might entertain after a fair review and consideration of the evidence. People v. Guidici, 100 N. Y. 503 ; 3 N. Y. Cr. 559; People v. Stott, 4 N. Y. Cr. 306; People v. Stephenson, 66 S. R. 566; 32 Supp. 1122; People v. Frnedland, 2 App. Div. 332 ; 73 S. R. 516.

Reasonable doubt does not exist, where jury are so firmly convinced of the fact necessary to establish the prisoner’s guilt that, if it was a very grave and serious matter affecting their own affairs, they would not hesitate to act’ upon such conviction. People v. Hughes, 9 N. Y. Cr. 277; 137 N. Y. 29 ; 50 S. R. 62.

Rule of reasonable doubt applies to question of defendant’s insanity. People v. Coleman, 1 N. Y. Cr. 5; Walker v. People, Id. 7, 22.

But this rule does not apply to an action for a penalty in which the people is the party plaintiff. People v. Briggs, 114 N. Y. 65 ; 22 S. R. 317.

Question of reasonable doubt is always one for the jury under proper instructions from the court. People v. Davis, 46 S. R. 214.

Duty of trial judge to give, in behalf of defendant, a clear and ungrudging instruction upon the subject of reasonable doubt. People v. Stephenson, 66 S. R. 566; 32 Supp. 1122; People v. Friedland, 2 App. Div. 332 ; 73 S. R. 516.