State v. Griggs

• Decision Date: 27 October 1950
• Docket Number: 16420.
• Citation: 61 S.E.2d 653,218 S.C. 86
• Parties: STATE v. GRIGGS.
• Court: South Carolina Supreme Court

61 S.E.2d 653

218 S.C. 86

STATE v. GRIGGS.

No. 16420.

Supreme Court of South Carolina.

October 27, 1950

Matthew Poliakoff, Thomas W. Whiteside, Spartanburg, for appellant.

Solicitor Samuel R. Watt, Horace C. Smith, Spartanburg, for respondent.

STUKES, Justice.

Appellant operated a roadside restaurant in Spartanburg County. Allegedly undertaking to quell a disturbance among customers, he struck one in or about the face with his fist. The victim fell and the evidence indicates that the back of his head hit a counter, stool or the cement floor, which resulted in a skull fracture from which he died ten days later. Appellant and his witnesses testified that the blow was struck as the deceased drew back to strike appellant. On trial upon an indictment for murder appellant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

There was evidence that appellant had previously warned the deceased to desist from disorder or leave the premises. Accordingly the trial judge instructed the jury relating to the rights of appellant thereabout and also charged with reference to self defense which was pleaded. After considerable deliberation the jury returned and requested through a bailiff further instructions on voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, with which the court complied. Then a juror asked of the judge, as follows 'Did you say he had a right to defend himself with force if necessary?' The court declined to answer this query explaining that it related to the law of self defense and he would not confuse the jury by emphasizing one portion of the charge more than another. A juror then inquired, as follows 'Does he have the right to defend his place of business to that extent, if it takes that?' The court then proceeded to instruct the jury that an implied invitee in a public place may become a trespasser if he refuses to leave after request by the proprietor or one in charge and further quoting again from the record: 'You have the legal right to use such force, short of killing him, as may be necessary to eject him; and, if he resists by force, the owner, proprietor, or one in charge of such office, store, or place of business may legally defend himself, and for this purpose use such force as the nature of the attack and the surrounding circumstances require, and in so defending your property, or yourself, from attack, if made by a tresspasser, you may use such force as is necessary to protect your property and your person, and not thereby abridge or destroy any of your rights under your plea of self defense. Does that cover what you have in mind? Anything else that troubles you, don't hesitate to let me know.'

There were no additional questions from jurors (which was hardly to be expected) but one of appellant's counsel said to the court, in effect, that he thought the jury should have been instructed, in response to the inquiries, upon the law of self defense in one's own place of business. The court, however, declined and expressed satisfaction with the instructions. The jury retired again and afterward brought in their verdict.

Upon consideration of the record we are constrained to...