Baldwin v. State

• Decision Date: 19 August 1968
• Docket Number: No. 287,287
• Citation: 5 Md.App. 22,245 A.2d 98
• Parties: Shaffer BALDWIN v. STATE of Maryland.
• Court: Court of Special Appeals of Maryland

Page 22

5 Md.App. 22

245 A.2d 98

Shaffer BALDWIN v. STATE of Maryland.

No. 287.

Court of Special Appeals of Maryland.

Aug. 19, 1968.

Edward J. Birrane, Jr., Baltimore, for appellant.

Edward S. Digges, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., with

whom were Francis B. Burch, Atty. Gen., Charles E. Moylan, Jr. and Michael E. Kaminkow, State's Atty. and Asst. State's Atty. for Baltimore City respectively, on the brief, for appellee.

Before MURPHY, C. J., and ANDERSON, MORTON, ORTH, and THOMPSON, JJ.

ANDERSON, Judge.

On May 19, 1967, the appellant, Shaffer Baldwin, was tried in the Criminal Court of Baltimore by a jury, Judge Albert L. Sklar presiding, upon a five count indictment charging robbery, assault with intent to rob, common law assault, larceny, and receiving stolen goods. The appellant was found guilty of robbery. A Motion for a New Trial was filed on May 24, 1967, and denied after a hearing on June 27, 1967. Appellant was then sentenced to five years imprisonment under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction, with the court's recommendation that he be referred to the Patuxent Institution for evaluation as a possible defective delinquent.

Appellant raises four contentions on appeal:

1. That the trial court committed reversible error in refusing appellant's Motion for a Mistrial when it was discovered that the foreman of the jury had failed to properly answer one of the questions asked him on his voir dire.

2. That the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to grant appellant's Motion for a Mistrial when the prosecutor cross-examined his own witness without laying a proper foundation therefore, questioned the witness on prior Grand Jury testimony in front of the jury in an attempt to establish surprise, and made reference to the prior Grand Jury testimony by the witness in his closing argument to the jury.

3. That the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to grant the appellant's Motion for a Mistrial after the prosecutor made prejudicial remarks in front of the jury implying that counsel for the appellant was guilty of suppressing evidence.

4. That the trial court committed reversible error in admitting the photographs of the accused and five others into evidence without laying a proper foundation and in view of testimony that these were the only photographs shown an eyewitness to the crime some three weeks after the crime.

The record below discloses that the jurors were subjected to a voir dire examination, inclusive of the inquiry, '* * * have you or any member of your immediate family ever been the victim of a crime? If so, would you kindly raise your right hand?' There was no response. After the jury was sworn, counsel advised the judge that the jury foreman was at that time a complaining witness in a juvenile court proceeding. Defense counsel, out of the jury's presence, argued for a mistrial based upon the foreman's failure to answer to this voir dire. The court was advised by appellant's counsel that the foreman had evidenced hostility toward the police and the juvenile authorities. After due consideration, the court found no basis for the alleged prejudice and denied the mistrial.

The State first called the victim of the assault and robbery, Henry Tolson, who identified himself as an insurance collection agent, and testified that on July 28, 1966, while making his rounds in the 2500 block of McHenry Street, Baltimore, he was assaulted and robbed by 'two or three' persons. After a brief struggle, he passed out and was unable to identify any of his assailants.

The State next called Eric Livingston, an eyewitness to the crime. He testified that he saw the attack, but observed the appellant across the street from the attack, at that time, and that the appellant was not involved therein. To this testimony, the assistant State's attorney inquired, 'Now Eric, do you remember testifying before the Grand Jury?' To which the witness responded, 'No, sir.' The appellant's counsel objected at this point and a bench conference ensued, wherein the assistant State's attorney claimed surprise. The trial judge accepted the claim and directed that a proper foundation be laid. The assistant State's attorney then proceeded with the cross examination, to which the appellant's counsel objected. The trial court sustained the objection, directing the assistant State's attorney to refrain from 'going into detail' in the form of questions propounded. The cross examination continued with the court carefully explaining to the jury that examination of the State's own witness was allowed in order 'to explain to the jury why he was called as a witness in the first place.' The court further informed the jury '(t)hat what is adduced here by means of cross examination is not to be considered as substantive evidence in the case.'

The State's next witness was Mrs. Carrie Ford who testified that she observed the assault and robbery of Mr. Tolson, from the vantage point of her bedroom window. She positively identified the appellant as one of five assailants. On cross examination, the witness was confronted with a photograph of the scene evidencing trees in front of her house. On redirect, the assistant State's attorney elicited from the witness that while a tree hides the window, wherefrom she observed the incident, that 'if you're standing at the window it's a very clear view, it's nothing there to keep you from seeing. You can see very well.' Thereupon, the assistant State's attorney stated that the appellant's counsel had other photographs, the withholding of which was detrimental to the case. A bench conference was held wherein the appellant's counsel stated that the other photographs constituted a work product and that the remarks made in front of the jury were highly prejudicial. A mistrial was requested and denied, after which the judge directed the jury to disregard the comment made by the assistant State's attorney.

The State's final witness was Officer Joseph Cook of the Baltimore City Police Department, who testified that he had presented Mrs. Ford with six photographs nearly three weeks after the robbery from which she selected the photographs of the appellant and one David Maith. The photographs were then introduced into evidence over objection. The State did not identify the nature of the photographs, who took them, or where they came from.

A Motion for Judgment of Acquittal was made at the close of the State's case, which the trial judge denied.

The assistant State's attorney argued to the jury in his closing argument, that the witness, Eric Livingston, had made statements to the Grand Jury which were contrary to those made on the stand. Appellant's counsel objected and moved for a mistrial, which was denied by the court.

Appellant's first, second, and third contentions shall be treated together. The granting of a mistrial is an exercise which rests within the discretion of the trial judge. A mistrial should be granted only where plain and obvious reasons exist, upon the greatest caution and under urgent circumstances. Where, in the exercise of this discretion, the trial court refuses to grant a mistrial, such a decision will not be disturbed on appeal without giving full regard to the fact 'that the trial court is in an advantageous position to judge the question of prejudice and its decision with reference thereto should not be reversed unless it is clear that there was prejudice.' Carroll v. State, 3 Md.App. 50, 53, 237 A.2d 535, 538 (1968) quoting Cook v. State, 225 Md. 603, 610, 171 A.2d 460, 463, cert. den. 368 U.S. 970, 82 S.Ct. 445, 7 L.Ed.2d 398 (1961).

After examining the aforenoted information regarding the foreman, the trial judge found that there was an insufficient showing of prejudice to the appellant in that his counsel argued that the juror 'could be prejudiced' only, and that in light of the foreman's alleged attitude of hostility toward the police, the judge stated that it would be just as likely that the foreman would be inclined to favor the appellant. It is clear that the appellant failed to satisfy his burden of showing that the foreman was not impartial. See Jones v. State, 2 Md.App. 429, 431, 234 A.2d 900, 901 (1967). Prejudice must be shown as a 'demonstrable reality' and not as a 'matter of speculation.' United States ex rel. Darcy v. Handy, 351 U.S. 454, 462, 76 S.Ct. 965, 100 L.Ed. 1331 (1956).

Only where the prejudice is manifest will the finding of impartiality be set aside by the trial court. Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 724, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961). Here, the allegation of prejudice is so speculative as to leave appellant's first contention devoid of merit. Moreover, we think the witness answered the voir dire question truthfully, since he was not the victim of a crime but had only initiated a juvenile proceeding...