People v. Mackinder

The first and most important question involved upon this appeal relates to the admission in evidence of the confessions made by the ■appellants. They contend that these confessions were made under duress; were obtained by threats, were involuntary, and, therefore, inadmissible. If these confessions were made under the influence ■of fear produced by threats, then it is manifest that the court erred in admitting them in evidence, and, as there was no other sufficient evidence upon which to convict the defendants, the judgment must be reversed.

Thus, the important question to be determined is whether the confessions made by the defendants were voluntary, or were produced by fear engendered by threats of the officers having them in charge. On the trial considerable evidence was given upon the question. The evidence of the defendants was to the effect that these confessions were obtained by threats, and, if believed, was, perhaps, sufficient to show that the confessions were involuntary, and produced by threats and promises made by the officers in whose charge they were. The defendant Albert Mackinder testified that he was in the custody of the chief of police of Syracuse; that he told him that if he did not tell him the truth he would give him twenty years for perjury, and that he would apply to the court for him and get him off with a light sentence; that he would make him

The defendant Frank testified that he was arrested in the forenoon of August fourteenth; that he had some conversation with the chief of police on that day, and that on the next day he asked the chief what he was arrested for, and he told him for highway robbery and an attempt at murder; that he then asked him if he could give bail, and he said he would not need bail for some time; that on that day Officer Kratz came where he was and asked him if he had anything to say, to which the defendant Frank replied, “No,” that he did not know anything; that he was then taken to the office of the chief of police where Becker, Kratz, Hoxsie, Hancock and "Wright were (Kratz and Becker were police officers, Hoxsie the sheriff, Plancock the district attorney and Wright the chief of police); that it was about ten o’clock in the forenoon; that Kratz and Becker said there was no use in his holding back, for they had all the evidence in the world against him ; that they had a man that saw the gray hairs in his head; that Mr. Wright asked him if he had anything to say ; that he said he didn’t know anything ; that he said he had an affidavit of the whole thing ; that he asked him to read it, and he read over one affidavit; that he told him if he put anything down against him to put down the same as the rest; that he wrote it down and he signed it; that he did not read it over to him after he made it out; that that was all that took place with reference to the confessions; that Mr. Wright told him that his brother George had testified, and said that he had traded revolvers for blankets; that in signing that paper making the statement that

On the other hand, the People called as witnesses Officer Kratz, Chief of Police Wright and Sheriff Hoxsie, who testified as to what transpired prior to and at the time these confessions were made and signed by the appellants. The evidence of these witnesses tended to show quite conclusively that the confessions admitted in evidence were voluntary, were not made under the influence of fear produced by threats, or induced by any promise by such officers. It was proved by several of these witnesses that before either of these confessions was made or signed, the district attorney stated to the defendant making it that before he made any statement he wanted him to know that he did it of his own free will and accord, voluntarily, without any threats or promises of any name or nature, and the district attorney asked him if he understood it, and he said he did, and that it was after such statement to each of the defendants that the confessions offered in evidence were made, read over to each of the defendants, and signed by him.

The chief of police admitted that on the day when Albert Mackinder made the confession introduced in evidence, he said something to him about committing perjury; that he read him the law on the subject, and told him that he was a liar; but testified that he had no recollection of telling him he would be arrested for perjury, and thinks he did not, but would not undertake to say he did not; that he thought he told them it would be better for them to tell the truth; that he did not say that if they would tell the truth he would use his influence with the court to have their sentences lightened, but that he told Albert that the best thing for him to do was to tell the truth; that all thieves from bank robbers down to clothes line thieves squealed when they got in tight places; that he thought he did not say to Albert that he would ask the court for mercy for him if' he would tell the truth about it, but that he would not swear that he did or did not; that he did not say that in substance to both of them. He also testified that this conversation was before the defendant Albert was informed of the charge against him, and related to his

After the introduction of the evidence upon both sides bearing uj>on the circumstances under which these confessions were made, the court admitted them in evidence.

In submitting the case to the jury the court said: “ It was the duty of the court at the outset to pass upon the question particularly whether these instruments or statements, called confessions, should be received in evidence or not. The court has performed what it deemed its duty in that regard, and they have been received, but that is not conclusive upon you. You are now, as a jury, to pass upon the question whether they do come within the law permitting them to be received as evidence against the defendants, and I will read you the statute itself which lays down the rule as to the confessions and their reception. ‘ A confession of a defendant, whether in the course of judicial proceedings or to a private person, can be given in evidence against him, unless,’ and this is the exception, ‘made under the influence of fear produced by threats, or unless made upon a stipulation of the district attorney that he shall not be prosecuted therefor; but is not sufficient to wan-ant his conviction, without additional proof that the crime charged has been committed.’ In other words, that the crime itself has been committed by somebody. The authorities go a little further than the statute itself, and authorities which I think this court is bound to regal’d.. The statute itself says, as I have read, that such confessions can be given, unless made under the influence of fear produced by threats. That is one thing. Or, unless made upon a stipulation of the district attorney, that he shall not be prosecuted therefor. That is another thing. But the cases themselves go a little further and say, in effect, that if they are induced by promises or reward, particularly by anybody having immediate connection with the case, such inducement may vitiate the confession. Now, gentlemen, you

While, perhaps, the evidence shows that the chief of police who had these defendants in charge was more zealous than wise in trying to obtained from the defendant Albert Mackinder a true statement as to where he obtained the money that he had expended in traveling, in the purchase of furniture and for other purposes, and that hN language to the prisoner was not commendable, and while it may be that if the defendant Albert had then been informed of the charge made against him and his confession had been procured at that time and before he was apprised of the fact that no promises or threats should be considered by him in making such' confession, it would have been inadmissible, yet, as the evidence was to the effect that the confession was not made at that time and not until he had been expressly informed by the district attorney that if he made any statement it must be voluntary, made of his own free will and accord, and without any threats or promises, and not until after he

Section 395 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides: “A confession of a defendant, whether in the course of judicial proceedings or to a private person, can be given in evidence against him, unless made under the influence of fear produced by threats, or unless made upon a stipulation of the district attorney that he shall not be prosecuted therefor.”

In The People v. Mondon ( 103 N. Y. 211 , 219) it was said: “ The rule thus established (§ 395) is founded upon the common-law rule on the subject of confessions, but is much more definite and stringent. The rule as laid down in Hawkins is stated to be that a confession, whether made under an official examination or in discourse with private persons, which is obtained from a defendant either by the flattery of hope or by the impression of fear, however slightly the emotions may be implanted, is not admissible in evidence.” By the section of the Code quoted, the fear which is required to exclude the confession must be a fear produced by threats, and- the hope must be based upon the stipulation of the district attorney promising immunity from prosecution for the crime confessed.” A confession made by a defendant in a criminal action voluntarily, is competent evidence against him, although made when he was under arrest. (Cox v. The People, 80 N. Y. 500 , 515; The People v. McGloin, 91 id. 241; The People v. Druse, 103 id. 655; People v. Chapleau, 121 id. 266.) A statement by a police officer to a prisoner, after she knew she was suspected of the crime, that “ they had found enough to convict her; she might as well own up,” was held not to be a threat within the meaning of section 395. (People v. McCallam, 3 N. Y. Cr. Rep. 189 . See, also, The People v. Wentz, 37 N. Y. 303 ; Cox v. The People, 80 id. 500; The People v. McGloin, 91 id. 241.)

Where there is -a conflict in the evidence as to the circumstances under which such statements were made, the question of their

"Within the doctrine of these authorities we think it is obvious that the question whether the confessions of the defendants were improperly procured was for the jury; that it was justified in finding that they were not, and, consequently, justified in finding the defendants guilty of the offense charged in the indictment.

. The appellants also contend that the court erred in permitting the witness George A. Mackinder to testify as to the number of pistols he sold the defendant Albert Mackinder. The question was asked and answered before any objection was taken, and there was no motion to strike out the answer. Moreover, we think the evidence was admissible, and that the exception was not well taken.

On the cross-examination of the witness George A. Mackinder, who had testified to having sold his brother Albert two pistols about two and one-half months before the robbery, he was asked: “ What did you let him have the pistols for? [Objected to.] The Court: Do you mean whether he sold them to him or not ? Mr. Kennedy : No, sir; the purpose he let him have the pistols for. Mr. Hancock : I object to that. The Court: The objection is sustained. [Exception taken by defendants’ counsel.] ” The defendants contend that the court erred in rejecting this evidence. As I construe the question of the defendants’ counsel, it called for the purpose or motive of George in letting his brother have the pistols. It is not quite apparent how evidence of his purpose was admissible. If it was, the defendants’ counsel should have explained to the court how. If, however, I am wrong in construing the object of the question, and it should be construed as calling for the purpose of Albert in buying' them, then it would seem that the witness could not have known his purpose unless Albert stated what it was, and thus the evidence would have been at most the declaration of the defendant in his own favor. But, be that as it may, if it be admitted

On the trial the prosecution asked the witness Purnell, who had testified to having seen the defendant Frank Mackinder after the robbery and the same month he was arrested, the following question : “ Now, state whether he had a quantity of money he was displaying there in your shop.” This was objected to as “ incompetent and improper, and immaterial, and too remote.” The objection was overruled, and the defendants excepted. We think there was no error in receiving this evidence.

The People were also permitted, under the defendants’ objection that the evidence was incompetent, immaterial and not a part of the res gestae, to prove by the witness Hoxsie that, in a conversation which took place after the statement or confession had been made by Frank Mackinder, that he had said to him, “Frank, would you have shot those men that morning ?” to which he said: “ I don’t know; I was pretty nervy that morning.” From an examination of the appeal book it would seem that this conversation took place at the time that the statement by Frank Mackinder was made, and amounted at least to an admission that he was there at the time the offense was committed. We think the evidence was admissible. If not, we are unable to see how, under all the evidence in the case, its reception was prejudicial to the defendant. Section 542 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides : “ After hearing the appeal the court must give judgment, without regard to technical errors or defects or to exceptions which do not affect the substantial rights of the parties.” If the confessions made by the defendants were believed by the jury, they were entirely sufficient to justify the verdict, and if they were not believed, the jury was instructed by the

We have examined the defendants’ exception to the remarks of the court during the discussion as to the admission of the confessions of Frank Mackinder, but find nothing in that exception that requires us to disturb the judgment, and discover nothing, in the statement of the court that could have been prejudicial to the defendants.,

The following appears in the appeal book: “ Mr. Kennedy : I desire to have it go upon the record that counsel has made a statement that a young man of slight build, about twenty-six years old, got upon a train with a revolver and committed one of the most infamous crimes known, and that he is now in prison for ninety-nine years. Mr. Hancock: More or less. Mr. Kennedy: I desire to except to that statement, and I now ask that a juror be withdrawn and that the case go over the term. The Court: That is denied. [Exception taken by defendants’ counsel.]” From this statement we are unable to discover that any error was committed, or that the court erred in denying the defendants’ request.

Having now considered all the exceptions suggested by the learned counsel for the defendants upon their brief, and having found none that would justify us in reversing the judgment, it follows that the judgment and order denying the defendants’ motion for a new trial should be affirmed.

HaediN, P. J., and MehwiN, J., concurred.

Conviction and judgment of the Court of Sessions of Onondaga county affirmed, and after the judgment is entered in the judgment book, a certified copy of this entry shall be forthwith remitted to the clerk of Onondaga county, with whom the original judgment roll is filed, in accordance with section 547 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.