State v. Butler
Decision Date | 12 June 1967 |
Docket Number | No. 52120,No. 1,52120,1 |
Citation | 415 S.W.2d 784 |
Parties | STATE of Missouri, Respondent, v. Henry Lewis BUTLER, Appellant |
Court | Missouri Supreme Court |
Norman H. Anderson, Atty. Gen., Jefferson City, Joseph S. Boland, Sp. Ass't. Atty. Gen., Clayton, for respondent.
Henry L. Butler, pro se.
HIGGINS, Commissioner.
Appellant waived jury trial and was convicted by the court of burglary, second degree, and stealing. Criminal Rule 26.01, V.A.M.R.; §§ 560.070, 560.110, V.A.M.S. Pursuant to such conviction and upon a further finding of prior conviction, the court assessed appellant's punishment at 5-years' imprisonment in the penitentiary for each crime and sentenced him accordingly, further ordering the sentences to run concurrently. §§ 556.280, 560.095, 560.110, V.A.M.S.
Appellant's point I claims that the
Prior to the 1945 Constitution of Missouri a defendant charged with a felony could not waive trial by jury. State v. Talken, 316 Mo. 596, 292 S.W. 32, 33(5); and see also § 546.040, V.A.M.S. However, Article I, Section 22(a), Constitution of 1945, V.A.M.S., authorized waiver of jury trial in criminal cases, and the manner of such waiver is spelled out in Criminal Rule 26.01(b): Suffice to say that the constitutional authority was exercised and that the requirements of its exercise as defined by rule were satisfied by the memorandum, 'Defendant hereby waives his right to trial by jury and agrees that the cause be tried to the Court,' signed by Henry L. Butler and Hugh White, his attorney, 'approved' by David J. Murphy, Judge, and filed prior to trial February 9, 1966. State v. Taylor, Mo., 391 S.W.2d 835, 836(1). See also Patton v. United States, 281 U.S. 276, 50 S.Ct. 253, 74 L.Ed, 854; Singer v. United States, 380 U.S. 24, 33, 34, 85 S.Ct. 783, 13 L.Ed.2d 630; Hatcher v. United States, 122 U.S.App.D.C. 148, 352 F.2d 364, 365(2, 3); Riadon v. United States, 6 Cir., 274 F.2d 304, 307(4, 5); Dranow v. United States, 8 Cir., 325 F.2d 481. There is nothing in the record to impeach the memorandum of waiver, and the affidavit attached to appellant's brief on appeal does not constitute any proof of appellant's charge.
Charles Brookshire, police officer of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department assigned to homicide, was on duty January 3, 1966, and at 3:30 a.m. was 'cruising east on Olive Street' was his partner, Richard Mueller. As he approached the intersection of Grand and Olive he 'observed a negro male with an arm full of clothing coming from the window of Downs Clothing Company, and threw the clothing at the curb.' When first seen the subject a 1959 red and white Oldsmobile. This was accomplished with the aid of siren, flashing lights, and three shots. Officer Brookshire drove the police car and had the Oldsmobile in sight at all times. Upon stopping the pursued car the officers placed its driver, appellant Henry Lewis Butler, under arrest and searched his car. The coats were seized and marked as evidence. 'We then convened him back to the store, where we observed the window was broken.' There was broken glass on the sidewalk on the north side of Downs Store, on the Olive Street side. There was also glass inside the store. This statement was voluntarily made and not reduced to writing. Officer Brookshire identified photographs of the automobile driven by appellant and of the broken window, and identified a sports coat as one taken from the car.
Detective Richard Mueller of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Officer Brookshire's partner, also described events of this occasion. The automobile was in sight during the entire chase. When it stopped, appellant was arrested 'at which time we saw the clothing on the front seat.' Detective Mueller also corroborated Officer Brookshire respecting the condition of the window at Downs Clothing Store and the statement made by appellant, and he identified a picture of the 'ten jackets that were taken out of the window.'
Harry Schneider, vice-president of Downs Men's Shop, helped close the shop about six o'clock in the evening, December 31, 1965. He and a Mr, Potter accomplished the closing so that the electric burglary alarm system would function. He next went to the shop about four o'clock a.m., January 3, 1966, upon a call from the police. There were glass fragments both inside and outside the store; the concrete block was 1 1/2 or 2 feet inside the store. He identified the coats taken from the car driven by appellant as being property of Downs' Men's Shop...
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...proceed with the trial and a memorandum was prepared and signed by defendant, by both lawyers, and by the trial court (See State v. Butler, Mo.Sup., 415 S.W.2d 784). Defendant contends that the verdict of guilty rendered by less than twelve jurors is a nullity. He is supported in this conte......
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State v. Mitchell
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