State v. Bird

• Decision Date: 11 October 1948
• Docket Number: 40904
• Citation: 214 S.W.2d 38,358 Mo. 284
• Parties: State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Ernest Bird, Appellant
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

214 S.W.2d 38

358 Mo. 284

State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Ernest Bird, Appellant

No. 40904

Supreme Court of Missouri

October 11, 1948

Appeal from Dent Circuit Court; Hon. Claude E. Curtis Judge.

Affirmed.

Geo. F Addison for appellant.

(1) The trial court must instruct on the law of the case, and where the facts justify it, an instruction on common assault should have been given. State v. Mason, 14 S.W.2d 611. (2) Venue must be proven as laid. While the trial court has the discretionary power to permit the re-opening of a case for the purpose of offering additional evidence, it is an abuse of that discretion for the trial court to assist and point the way for the prosecuting attorney in the trial of his case by making suggestions from the bench that a request be made to re-open the case. State v. Hartnett, 75 Mo. 251; State v. Dunn, 77 S.W. 848. (3) Having erred by abuse of discretion in permitting the case to be re-opened for the purpose of proving venue, it was error to admit evidence tending to prove venue out of time and over objection. (4) To be an aider and abettor, one must do or say something which actually aids or encourages another in the commission of a crime. State v. Bresse, 33 S.W.2d 919; State v. Odbur, 295 S.W. 734. (5) The evidence was insufficient to sustain a verdict. State v. Remley, 237 S.W. 489.

J. E Taylor, Attorney General, and John S. Phillips, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.

(1) The court did not commit error in refusing to direct a verdict at the close of the state's case and in overruling a motion therefor. Sec. 4393, R.S. 1939; State v. Mason, 14 S.W.2d 611; State v. Hurlbut, 285 S.W. 468; State v. Sykes, 191 Mo. 62. (2) The court did not commit error in overruling defendant's motion for a directed verdict at the close of the whole case. Sec. 4393, R.S. 1939; State v. Pyle, 123 S.W.2d 166, 343 Mo. 876; State v. Catron, 296 S.W. 141, 317 Mo. 894. (3) The court did not commit error in refusing to direct a verdict for the defendant at the close of the whole case on the theory that the prosecuting witness did not avail herself of the opportunity to escape after the intentions of the defendant were made known to her. Sec. 4393, R.S. 1939; State v. Pyle, 123 S.W.2d 166, 343 Mo. 876; State v. Catron, 296 S.W. 141, 317 Mo. 894. (4) The court did not commit error in overruling motion for a directed verdict, on theory advanced by defendant that the prosecuting witness did not resist the defendant Bird. Sec. 4393, R.S. 1939; State v. Pyle, 123 S.W.2d 166, 343 Mo. 876; State v. Mitchell, 96 S.W.2d 341, 339 Mo. 228; State v. Mason, 14 S.W.2d 611; State v. Conrad, 14 S.W.2d 608; State v. Thomas, 1 S.W.2d 157, 318 Mo. 843; State v. Atkins, 292 S.W. 422; State v. White, 195 S.W. 994; State v. Cunningham, 100 Mo. 382. (5) The court did not commit error in refusing an instruction on the part of the defendant for common assault. State v. Mason, 14 S.W.2d 611. (6) The court did not commit error in permitting the state to reopen its case and prove the venue of the crime. State v. Dobbins, 174 S.W.2d 171, 351 Mo. 796; State v. Kenyon, 126 S.W.2d 245; State v. Rose, 195 S.W. 1015, 271 Mo. 17; State v. Dunn, 179 Mo. 95; State v. Worton, 139 Mo. 526; State v. Pennington, 124 Mo. 1. c. 391; Sec. 4070, R.S. 1939. (7) The court did not err in giving Instruction 9 on behalf of the state. Sec. 4839, R.S. 1939; State v. Bresse, 33 S.W.2d 919, 326 Mo. 885; State v. Murdock, 27 S.W.2d 730; State v. Mason, 14 S.W.2d 611; State v. Lockman, 12 S.W.2d 424; State v. Friedman, 280 S.W. 1023, 313 Mo. 88; State v. Eddy, 199 S.W. 186; State v. Orrick, 106 Mo. 111.

OPINION

Hyde, J.

Conviction for rape; defendant sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and has appealed.

Defendant and one Golden were tried and convicted together but Golden did not appeal. It is contended herein that a verdict should have been directed as to defendant. It is argued that no case was made against him either on the theory of aiding and abetting Golden in his rape or of his own forcible intercourse with the prosecuting witness, both of which were submitted. We find there was substantial evidence to support both submissions. Both defendant and Golden admitted having intercourse with prosecutrix but claimed it was with her consent; and it is argued that her testimony did not show sufficient resistance by her to sustain the verdict as to defendant.

The following facts were shown, considering the State's evidence to be true. The prosecutrix was 24 years old, 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall and weighed 135 pounds. She went to Salem on October 21, 1946, in a neighbor's truck, to try to obtain work. About 3:00 p.m. she started to walk to her home about 5 miles from town. At the junction of Highways 19 and 68 north of Salem, defendant drove up in his car and Golden, who was riding with him, got out and got her into the car, saying they would take her home. Her sister had introduced her to Golden on a previous occasion but she did not know defendant. Instead of driving on Highway 68 toward her home, they turned off on the Springcreek Road and in spite of her protests and screams drove off the main road into a wooded area. During this time they were taking liberties with her person against her will.

After the car was stopped both defendant and Golden continued to struggle with prosecutrix and pull up her dress; and stated their intentions to have intercourse with her. Finally Golden got out of the car and attempted to pull her out. She was temporarily able to escape from him and ran toward the Springcreek Road; but, after she ran a short distance, Golden caught her, threw her to the ground and held her down. Defendant came to his assistance and held her ankles until he saw that Golden could handle her, when he went back to the car. After Golden finished his intercourse with her, defendant came and had intercourse with her, while Golden stood by. She said she did not struggle much with defendant because she was too weak. However, she did say that she tried to get up but defendant pushed her down; that she slapped him and tried to get her legs back together; but that she was so weak she couldn't fight him much. Thereafter, Golden picked her up and lifted her into the car and they drove back on the Highway to a gate about a quarter of a mile from her home where they let her out.

Prosecutrix immediately told her mother, who said she came in crying about 5:30 p.m. As soon as her father got back from working at one of the neighbors, they all went to Salem, arriving there about 7:00 p.m., and told the Sheriff and the Prosecuting Attorney what had happened. The next morning the Prosecuting Attorney went to the scene of the rape; and he testified (being out of office at the time of the trial) that there was evidence of a struggle, with the leaves stirred up and even the dirt kicked up there. At this place, he also found a bow that was missing from one of the prosecutrix's shoes. A doctor who examined her said that there were abrasions on the front part of her thighs and that her hymen was torn in two places. He gave his opinion that she had not had a penetration before.

Defendant argues that her clothes were not in such condition as to show such resistance as prosecutrix claimed to have made. However, these clothes were shown to the jury and it is in evidence that her stockings were torn and that there were runs in the rayon pants she wore. Our conclusion is that these issues of consent, resistance and force were questions for the jury to decide under this evidence. [See State v. Catron, 317 Mo. 894, 296 S.W. 141; State v. Wilkins, (Mo. Sup.) 100 S.W.2d 889; State v. Pyle, 343 Mo. 876, 123 S.W.2d 166; State v. Marshall, 354 Mo. 312, 130 S.W.2d 301.] We hold that the trial court properly submitted the case to the jury.

Defendant further contends that the trial court improperly suggested...