State v. Hicks
| Decision Date | 05 February 1945 |
| Docket Number | No. 39139.,39139. |
| Citation | 185 S.W.2d 650 |
| Parties | STATE v. JIM HICKS, Appellant. |
| Court | Missouri Supreme Court |
Appeal from Ozark Circuit Court. — Hon. Gordon Dorris, Special Judge.
AFFIRMED.
Green & Green for appellant.
(1) Where evidence is entirely circumstantial and all facts testified to and circumstances shown may be accepted as true and yet such facts and circumstances are not inconsistent with innocence of accused proof is not sufficient to support verdict of guilt. State v. Schrum, 162 S.W. (2d) 17; State v. Burney, 143 S.W. (2d) 273; State v. Wilson, 136 S.W. (2d) 993; State v. Kelley, 106 S.W. (2d) 486; State v. Hager, 102 S.W. (2d) 579; State v. Freyer, 48 S.W. (2d) 894; State v. Pritchett, 39 S.W. (2d) 794. (2) A verdict based on suspicion, conjecture or surmise will not be permitted to stand. State v. Schrum, 152 S.W. (2d) 17; State v. Carter, 36 S.W. (2d) 917; State v. Perkins, 18 S.W. (2d) 6; State v. Eklof, 11 S.W. (2d) 1033; State v. Tracy, 284 Mo. 619; State v. Counts, 234 Mo. 580; State v. Buckly, 274 S.W. 74; State v. Singleton, 243 S.W. 147; State v. Francis, 199 Mo. 671. (3) The court erred in overruling defendant's plea in abatement for the reason said cause was not tried or brought to trial before the end of the third term of the court in which the cause was pending after such information was filed. (4) Under this section (Sec. 4086, R.S. 1939), the burden is on the State to exclude the exceptions, and, where information was pending and no application for delay was made by defendant, and there was time to try the case the fact that defendant was in the penitentiary did not bring the case within the exceptions of the statute. State ex rel. Stevens v. Wurdeman, 246 S.W. 189. (5) A verdict based on suspicion, conjecture or surmise will not be permitted to stand. State v. Schrum, 152 S.W. (2d) 17; State v. Carter, 36 S.W. (2d) 917; State v. Perkins, 18 S.W. (2d) 6; State v. Eklof, 11 S.W. (2d) 1033; State v. Tracy, 284 Mo. 619; State v. Counts, 234 Mo. 580; State v. Buckly, 274 S.W. 74; State v. Singleton, 243 S.W. 147; State v. Francis, 199 Mo. 671. (6) The court erred in overruling defendant's plea in abatement for the reason said cause was not tried or brought to trial before the end of the third term of the court in which the cause was pending after such information was filed. Under this section (Sec. 4086, R.S. 1939), the burden is on the State to exclude the exceptions, and, where information was pending and no application for delay was made by defendant, and there was time to try the case the fact that defendant was in the penitentiary did not bring the case within the exceptions of the statute. State ex rel. Stevens v. Wurdeman, 246 S.W. 189. (7) The court erred in refusing to give at request of defendant a converse instruction to State's Instruction 1 and erred in refusing to give defendant's offered Instruction 4 and the court erred in failing to formulate and give a correct converse instruction to State's Instruction 1 even though the court believed defendant's offered Instruction 4 was not in proper form. (8) Even if the instruction requested by defendant is not in proper form it should be held to be a request for a proper instruction on that subject and the court should prepare and submit a proper instruction. State v. Gibilterra, 116 S.W. (2d) 88; State v. Lawrence, 71 S.W. (2d) 740; State v. Brooks, 92 Mo. 542; State v. Reed, 154 Mo. 122; State v. Moore, 160 Mo. 443; State v. Thomas, 250 Mo. 189; State v. Bobbitt, 228 Mo. 252.
Roy McKittrick, Attorney General, and Gaylord Wilkins, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.
(1) The court did not err in overruling appellant's plea in abatement. State v. Nelson, 279 S.W. 401; State v. Pierson, 343 Mo. 841, 123 S.W. (2d) 149. (2) The evidence in this case was sufficient and the court did not err in refusing to give appellant's Instruction 1. State v. Gregory, 339 Mo. 133, 96 S.W. (2d) 47. (3) The court did not err in refusing appellant's requested Instruction 4. State v. Williams, 248 S.W. 922; State v. Jones, 225 S.W. 898; State v. Bartley, 337 Mo. 229, 84 S.W. (2d) 637. (4) The court did not err in giving Instruction A. State v. Thornton, 58 S.W. (2d) 314. (5) The court did not err in giving Instruction B. State v. Hicks, 167 S.W. (2d) 69. (6) The court did not err in giving Instruction C. State v. Kebler, 228 Mo. 367, 128 S.W. 721; State v. David, 131 Mo. 380, 33 S.W. 28; State v. Lawrence, 71 S.W. (2d) 740. (7) The court did not err in refusing to give the "converse" instruction requested by the appellant. State v. Lawrence, 71 S.W. (2d) 740; State v. Gibilterra, 116 S.W. (2d) 88; State v. Bobbitt, 242 Mo. 273, 146 S.W. 799; State v. Reppley, 278 Mo. 333, 213 S.W. 477; State v. Thornton, 167 S.W. (2d) 69.
Jim Hicks appeals from a judgment imposing a sentence of two years' imprisonment for felonious assault. Sec. 4408, R.S. 1939. The information charged Charley Hicks, Walter Hicks, Charley Homan, and defendant with the commission of the offense. Defendant seeks a discharge on the ground the State failed to give him a speedy trial within the statutory provisions relating thereto and on the ground the State failed to make a submissible case. He also complains of the instructions.
[1] Defendant claimed nisi and reasserts here that he was entitled to his discharge under Sec. 4086, R.S. 1939, providing for the discharge of an accused held on bail if he not be brought to trial before the end of the third term of court, unless the delay be occasioned upon his application or by the want of time to try the cause. Consult also Sec. 4087, R.S. 1939. State ex rel. Stevens v. Wurdeman (Banc), 295 Mo. 566, 246 S.W. 189, (overruled in part — see State ex rel. Billings v. Rudolph (Banc), 322 Mo. 1163, 1169, 17 S.W. 2d 932, 933), was an original action in prohibition here on respondent's demurrer to the pleaded facts, and is cited by defendant, we understand, to the proposition that an accused confined in the penitentiary was entitled under the facts to his discharge from a charge pending at the time of his sentence if he were not put upon his trial within the statutory number of terms of court where the continuances were not upon his application, or with his consent, or by reason of want of time to try the cause. The instant review involves additional facts, mentioned infra, not within the scope of and not discussed in State ex rel. v. Wurdeman. Statutory enactments of this nature may be waived by a defendant, being enacted for the benefit of an accused and implementing his constitutional right to a speedy trial. They, as their language indicates and as has been held, are to prevent unreasonable delays in prosecutions, forestalling the protracted imprisonment or harassment of one accused of crime. Their purpose is not to furnish a technical escape from trial and punishment or to forfeit any rights of the public, when the public's representatives are not at fault, to safeguard that law and order necessary for the preservation of society and made effective through the punishment of criminals for their wrongs. Their effect is that an accused "shall not be deprived of speedy trial on account of the laches of the state." State v. Nelson (Mo.), 279 S.W. 401, 403[1]; State v. Huting, 21 Mo. 464, 475; State v. Pierson, 343 Mo. 841, 848[2], 123 S.W. 2d 149, 151[2, 3] (reviewing cases); State v. Woods, 346 Mo. 538, 544[2], 142 S.W. 2d 87, 89[2, 3]; State v. Nolan (Mo.), 171 S.W. 2d 653, 654[2].
The instant information was filed in the September term, 1939, of the court of Douglas county, and the trial occurred at the November term, 1943, of court in Ozark county, the venue having been changed. The State's position is that the continuances involved were by the court of its own motion and, in the circumstances shown of record, defendant waived his rights under the Statute. The continuances occurred by reason of defendant's confinement in the penitentiary on a different charge, he having been discharged therefrom subsequent to the November term, 1942, of the Ozark circuit court. He never made any effort to get to trial. He never asked for or corresponded with his attorney concerning a trial. The cause was continued to the trial term after his release upon his application. The State was at all times ready to try the cause and so informed defendant's counsel. The prosecuting attorney mentioned defendant's recognizance for appearance in Ozark county to defendant's counsel and did nothing in the matter upon defendant's counsel's assurance it was not necessary. Defendant first filed a plea for discharge on the day of the trial. In these circumstances, under the authorities supra, the State has not been guilty of laches in bringing defendant to trial. His prayer for discharge was properly overruled.
[2] Defendant contends the State did not make a submissible case on the ground there was no probative evidence connecting him with the offense. We reach a different conclusion. Defendant presented no witness. The State's evidence stands uncontroverted and to the following effect:
Hobart Barker, an automobile salesman, and Mrs. Merle Douglas were in his automobile in Douglas county, Missouri, on June 23, 1939, when about 7:00 P.M. a tire went "flat." On account of a defective automobile jack Barker was unable to get the wheel off the ground. In 15 to 20 minutes defendant came by in his automobile, going south toward his father's home. Barker attempted to stop him to get a jack, but defendant drove past, stopping 400 to 500 feet away. Barker had turned back to the tire and Mrs. Douglas hallooed to the defendant for an automobile jack. Defendant drove on without answering. About a half hour later defendant again passed Barker's car, going in the opposite direction. This time he had someone with him. Mrs. Douglas again hallooed, intending to ask for an automobile jack. Barker continued intermittent...
To continue reading
Request your trial