People v. Wheeler

The defendant was indicted for manslaughter in the first degree in causing the death of one George Sharp by shooting him with a revolver. In his main charge the learned county judge instructed the jury that the proof did not warrant a conviction for the crime charged in the indictment, but submitted the question of fact for them to determine whether the defendant was guilty of the crime of manslaughter in the second degree on the ground that he was chargeable with culpable negligence in handling his revolver in “ wanton disregard of the consequences.” (Penal Code, sec. 193, subd. 3.)

After the jury had deliberated for a time they returned, asking the court if they were permitted to find the defendant guilty of a lesser crime than manslaughter in the second degree, and were thereupon instructed by the trial judge that they might find the defendant guilty of either of the two lesser degrees of assault, to- which instruction the defendant’s counsel excepted. The jury found the- defendant guilty of assault in the- second degree-. A motion for a new trial was made in his behalf, which was denied, and the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $600.

The more serious problem arises over the contention of the learned counsel for the appellant that the conviction of the defendant for the lesser offense impliedly acquitted him of the graver crime, and consequently no new trial may be directed, for that would put him in jeopardy twice on the same indictment, in violation of article 1, section 6, of the State Constitution, which reads: “ Mo person shall be subject to1 be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.” It is obvious that a strictly literal interpretation of this provision is not to be given in every case, for that'would prevent any retrial of an indictment where the trial court has committed an error in the reception or exclusion of evidence to- the prejudice of the defendant, or in the: event of the disagreement of the jury. It has always been the law that a new trial may be ordered for errors preju- ■ dicial to the defendant, and even where the evidence was insufficient to' uphold the conviction, as in People v. Ledwon ( 153 N. Y. 10 ). The defendant, who claims he has been improperly convicted, applies to' the court for relief from the burden, and by this act. waives the constitutional inhibition quoted and elects, if. successful, to' face his peers again on a retrial upon the indictment, which is the only pleading charging him with

In principle the defendant in this case is in that position. He is dissatisfied with his conviction. Whether accomplished by reason of the erroneous rulings of the court or an improper verdict of the jury is1 not significant, for by the mode of procedure regulating the review of criminal cases he is endeavoring to' have the wrong righted, the errors remedied. By analogy this implies he is seeking a new trial, for that is the usual result of a successful appeal from a judgment of conviction.

Until the adoption of the Code of Criminal Procedure there was considerable confusion over this question. The execution of the criminal law for ages had been surrounded with technical difficulties, and the purpose of the codifiers in adopting the Criminal and Penal Codes was to simplify the practice and make it conform to that embodied in the Code of Civil Procedure, so far as was consistent with the preservation of the rights of one accused of a crime. Whatever conflict existed over this question in the former practice was> therefore, obliterated by the Code of Criminal Procedure. Section 465 prescribes the grounds upon which a new trial may be granted, among which are “ when the court, has misdirected the jury in a matter of law” (subd. 5), and “when the verdict is- contrary to law or clearly against evidence.” (Subd. 6.) Section 464 provides that the “ granting of a new trial places the parties in the same position as if no- trial had been had,” and section 544 that, “when a new trial is ordered it shall proceed in all respects as if no trial had been had.” In conformity to1 the practice in civil cases, the court may affirm or reverse the judgment (sec. 543), and if no new trial is ordered, but a reversal had, direct the discharge of the defendant. (See. 545.) By these provisions it was intended to give the trial court or the appellate court the power to order a new trial, and when granted it

In People v. Palmer ( 109 N. Y. 413 ) the defendant was indicted for assault in the first degree, but convicted for assault in the third degree, of which offense the Court of Special Sessions had exclusive jurisdiction. The General Term reversed the judgment and ordered a new trial. The defendant unsuccessfully endeavored to secure at General Term a modification of its order granting a new trial, by providing for the discharge of the defendant on the reversal of the judgment, and an appeal was taken to the Court of Appeals from this order and that part of the judgment ordering a new trial. The sole question, therefore, was whether the conviction for the minor offense acquitted the defendant of the crime charged in the indictment, and on which he was tried, and the court, after a careful consideration of the case, affirmed the judgment of the General Term which granted the new trial. The court decided that the provisions of the Criminal Code authorizing the granting of the new trial pertain to the procedure, and did not contravene the inhibition of the Constitution already quoted. After commenting on the provisions of the Criminal Code the court say, at page 419: “ It would be a grievous miscarriage1 of justice, and the intent of the law would be thwarted, if it should be held that a reversal, upon a prisoner’s appeal for errors of law upon his trial, had the effect of putting it out of the power of the People to further try him under the indictment, when his guilt might be competently established. We do not think such is the result. The effect of the defendant’s appeal is merely to continue the trial under the indictment in the appellate court; and if reversal of the judgment of conviction follows, that judgment, as well as the record of the former trial, have been annulled and expunged by the judgment of the ap

The court further held that where a defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction “he must be deemed to- ask for a correction of errors made upon his trial and to waive his constitutional protection. Of necessity he must be deemed to ask for a new trial.” The opinion of the court concludes as follows : “ The defendant must go back and stand hisi trial under the indictment as though he had never been tried, for he himself has removed the bar which was. effective to prevent his further trial for the offense charged.”

The counsel for the appellant lays much stress upon a clause in this opinion that “ only where the result of the former trial was, in effect, an acquittal of another crime charged in the indictment may he plead that result in bar of further prosecution for that crime.” To. illustrate, if the indictment contains two counts, one for burglary and the other' for larceny growing out. of the same transaction, as they must to be incorporated in the same indictment (Code Crim. Proc. sec. 279; People v. Wilson, 151 N. Y. 403 ), if the jury pass upon the acts and find the defendant guilty of one crime charged in the indictment that acquits of the other crime charged as deduoible from the same facts. The court did not intend to. go beyond this plain principle of the criminal law in the sentence quoted. It did not. intend by that single cause to. destroy the force of its decision. If the language is to be given the scope claimed for it no new trial should have been ordered,' for “ in effect ” the conviction for assault in the third degree was an acquittal of the higher crime. It simply intended to relate to a conviction had upon an indictment containing more than one count.

The decision in People v. Cignarale ( 110 N. Y. 23 ), and upon which the counsel for appellant relies., was rendered at the same term as the Palmer case referred to1. In this case the

Guenther v. People ( 24 N. Y. 100 ) and People v. Dowling (84 id. 478), only the latter of which sustains the position of the counsel for the appellant, were decided before the adoption of the sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure to which we have adverted. In Sullivan v. People ( 27 Hun, 35 ) the question was reviewed and a new trial was ordered by a majority of the court. (See, also, People v. Shields, 34 Misc. Rep. 256 ; People v. Webster, 59 Hun, 398 , 402; State v. Behimer, 20 Ohio St. 572 .) Kring v. Missouri ( 107 U. S. 221 ), cited by the counsel for the appellant, is1 not in point. In that case, after the commission of the crime, the Constitution of the State of Missouri was amended to the effect that: upon the conviction of a lesser offense than that charged in the indictment, if the judgment of conviction were set aside: it did not operate to acquit the defendant of the graver offense. The trial court gave to this provision which abrogated the existing law a retroactive effect, and for that reason the conviction on the second trial was reversed by the United States Supreme Court. That court, however, expressly held that the State possessed the

We believe the change wrought- in the practice by the sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure is a salutary one. A defendant is accused of a grave crime and is convicted of a lesser offense, which finds no support in the evidence and lacks the constituent elements of the crime charged; he moves for a new trial, in effect saying to the court: “ I prefer a new trial 'on the indictment to submitting to this unjust verdict-.” The court takes him at his word and sets aside the verdict and accords him the new trial. He makes his application voluntarily within the regulations governing the practice. It is neither reasonable nor logical upon granting his application to hold that the verdict- is a nullity, but still retain in it sufficient vitality to acquit him of the offense of which he is accused' in the indictment.

The defendant by a motion for a new trial.took advantage of the erroneous instruction to the jury permitting them to convict of the lesser offense. The court entertained and denied the motion. There was no motion to discharge the defendant. The trial court acted upon the precise issue tendered by the defendant, and then imposed sentence. It is too late now for the defendant to maintain that he did not desire the new trial, which was the only relief sought. He elected his mode of procedure and is bound by it.

The judgment of conviction should be reversed and new trial ordered in the County Court.

Adams, P. J;, Hiscock and Hash, JJ., concurred; McLennan, J., concurred in result.

Judgment of conviction reversed and new trial ordered in Cattaraugus County Court.