State v. Richetti

• Citation: 119 S.W.2d 330,342 Mo. 1015
• Decision Date: 17 August 1938
• Docket Number: 35160
• Parties: The State v. Adam Richetti, Appellant
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

119 S.W.2d 330

342 Mo. 1015

The State v. Adam Richetti, Appellant

No. 35160

Supreme Court of Missouri

August 17, 1938

Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court; Hon. Ray G. Cowan Judge.

Affirmed and remanded (with directions).

Ralph S. Latshaw and James Daleo for appellant.

(1) The court erred in refusing to sustain defendant's motion to quash and abate the indictment. Norris v. Alabama, 294 U.S. 587; Carter v. Texas, 177 U.S. 447; Neal v. Delaware, 103 U.S. 397; State v Curtis, 210 Ala. 1, 97 So. 291; Green v. State, 73 Ala. 26; State v. Warner, 165 Mo. 417; State v. Shawley, 67 S.W.2d 81; State v. Christopher, 39 S.W.2d 1043; U.S. Const. Amendments, Five, Six and Fourteen; Mo. Const., secs. 12, 22, 30; Secs. 3514, 3515 8746, 8795, 8796, 8838, 8839, R. S. 1929. (2) The court erred in refusing to sustain the demurrer offered by defendant in the nature of an instructed verdict at the close of all the evidence. (a) The evidence offered by the State was insufficient, speculative and conflicting. (b) There was an absence of substantial evidence upon which to base a conviction. (c) The verdict of the jury was the result of bias, passion and prejudice. State v. Huff, 161 Mo. 487, 61 S.W. 1104; State v. Prendible, 165 Mo. 353, 65 S.W. 566; State v. Welton, 225 S.W. 968; State v. Liston, 292 S.W. 48, 315 Mo. 1305; State v. Gregory, 96 S.W.2d 52; State v. Bennett, 87 S.W.2d 161; State v. Bass, 157 S.W. 787, 251 Mo. 107; State v. Webb, 162 S.W. 628; State v. Nagle, 32 S.W.2d 601, 326 Mo. 661; State v. Matticker, 22 S.W.2d 648; State v. Archer, 6 S.W.2d 914; State v. Tracy, 225 S.W. 1011; State v. Goldstein, 225 S.W. 913; State v. Wheaton, 221 S.W. 28; State v. Edmundson, 218 S.W. 867; State v. Frisby, 204 S.W. 4; State v. Miller, 137 S.W. 890, 234 Mo. 588; State v. Johnson, 209 Mo. 357; State v. Gordon, 199 Mo. 596; State v. De Witt and Jones, 191 Mo. 58; State v. Francis, 199 Mo. 693; State v. Crabtree, 170 Mo. 657; State v. Singleton, 243 S.W. 150; Carner v. St. L.-S. F. Ry. Co., 89 S.W.2d 950; Monroe v. C. & A. Ry. Co., 249 S.W. 647. (3) The court erred in admitting evidence as to any alleged conspiracy before the arrival of defendant in Kansas City and of any telephone conversations made between Miller and others. State v. White, 292 S.W. 411; State v. Weaver, 165 Mo. 6; State v. Spray, 174 Mo. 582; State v. Goetz and Martin, 34 Mo. 89. (4) The court erred in admitting prejudicial evidence as to separate and distinct crimes. (a) The kidnaping of Sheriff Killingsworth and Walter Griffith. (b) The assault on Chief Fultz at time of defendant's apprehension in Ohio. State v. Spray, 174 Mo. 582; State v. Buxton, 22 S.W.2d 636; State v. Irvin, 22 S.W.2d 773; State v. Hyde, 136 S.W. 322; State v. Buckley, 298 S.W. 781; State v. Richards, 67 S.W.2d 60; State v. Gregory, 96 S.W.2d 56; Reineman v. Larkin, 222 Mo. 170; State v. Isaacs, 187 S.W. 22; State v. Jones, 155 S.W. 35; State v. Horton, 153 S.W. 1054; State v. Martin, 129 S.W. 887; State v. May, 142 Mo. 154; People v. Molineaux, 61 N.E. 293; State v. Spaugh, 200 Mo. 571. (5) The court erred in the admission of evidence concerning the capture and death of Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd. State v. Buckley, 298 S.W. 781; State v. Richards, 67 S.W.2d 60; State v. Hyde, 136 S.W. 322; State v. Fenley, 275 S.W. 40; State v. May, 142 Mo. 154; State v. Jones, 155 S.W. 35; State v. Thompson, 238 S.W. 786. (6) The court erred in admitting the revolvers and machine gun taken from either Floyd or Richetti and all testimony respecting same in evidence. State v. Richards, 67 S.W.2d 60; State v. Fenley, 275 S.W. 40; State v. Buckley, 298 S.W. 781; State v. Hyde, 136 S.W. 322; State v. May, 142 Mo. 154; State v. Jones, 155 S.W. 36; State v. Staats, 246 S.W. 955; State v. Singleton, 243 S.W. 152; State v. Thompson, 238 S.W. 786. (7) The court erred in the admission of evidence concerning the finger prints of Richetti and Miller. State v. Richards, 67 S.W.2d 60; State v. Fenley, 275 S.W. 40; State v. Thompson, 238 S.W. 787. (8) The court ered in giving Instruction 2. State v. Lindsey, 62 S.W.2d 423; State v. Gentry, 44 S.W.2d 29; State v. Nasello, 30 S.W.2d 137; State v. Williams, 274 S.W. 435; State v. Cooper, 32 S.W.2d 1098; State v. Johnson, 234 S.W. 796; State v. Harris, 134 S.W. 536. (9) The conduct, statements and arguments of the prosecuting attorneys were erroneous, highly improper, illegal and prejudicial. State v. Jones, 155 S.W. 36; State v. Webb, 162 S.W. 628, 254 Mo. 414; State v. Gregory, 96 S.W.2d 56; State v. Jackson, 83 S.W.2d 94; State v. Bowenkamp, 39 S.W.2d 755; State v. Nicholson, 7 S.W.2d 375, l. c. 379; State v. Jackson, 95 Mo. 654; State v. Farris, 129 Ill. 521; State v. Hyde, 136 S.W. 333; State v. Martin, 129 S.W. 887; State v. Snow, 252 S.W. 632; State v. Jones, 268 S.W. 86; State v. Wellman, 161 S.W. 800, 253 Mo. 302; State v. Dixon, 253 S.W. 748; State v. Pierson, 56 S.W.2d 125; State v. Flores, 55 S.W.2d 955; State v. Mathis, 18 S.W.2d 10; State v. Taylor, 8 S.W.2d 37; State v. Houston, 263 S.W. 225; State v. Connor, 252 S.W. 722; State v. Dengel, 248 S.W. 605; State v. Thompson, 238 S.W. 117; State v. Goodwin, 217 S.W. 267; State v. Isaacs, 187 S.W. 22; State v. Ackley, 183 S.W. 293; State v. Hess, 144 S.W. 491, 240 Mo. 147; State v. Phillips, 135 S.W. 6, 233 Mo. 299; State v. Clapper, 102 S.W. 58, 203 Mo. 553; State v. Spivey, 90 S.W. 89, 191 Mo. 113; State v. Woolard, 20 S.W. 29, 111 Mo. 255; State v. Ulrich, 19 S.W. 660, 110 Mo. 365.

Roy McKittrick, Attorney General, J. E. Taylor and Olliver W. Nolen, Assistant Attorneys General, for respondent.

(1) The court did not err in overruling defendant's motion to quash the indictment. (a) Indictment was sufficient in form and substance. Sec. 3982, R. S. 1929; State v Benson, 8 S.W.2d 53; State v. Carroll, 232 S.W. 702; State v. Nasello, 30 S.W.2d 138; State v. Meadows, 51 S.W.2d 1037; State v. Myers, 198 Mo. 258; State v. Blan, 69 Mo. 320. (b) The grand jury which returned the indictment in this cause was properly and legally drawn. State v. Washington, 242 Mo. 408; Norris v. Alabama, 294 U.S. 587; State v. Sartino, 216 Mo. 416; In re Halladjian, 174 F. 834; Ex parte Fung Sing, 6 F.2d 670; State v. Warner, 165 Mo. 417; Secs. 8746, 8830, 8838, 8840, R. S. 1929; State v. Shawley, 67 S.W.2d 81; Ramirez v. State, 40 S.W.2d 141; Langrum v. State, 78 S.W.2d 973. (2) The court did not err in refusing to sustain the challenge of the defendant to the prospective juror, Sam C. Hudson. (3) The court did not err in admitting testimony concerning the kidnaping of Sheriff Killingsworth or in overruling defendant's motion to strike out such testimony. State v. Smith, 68 S.W.2d 697; State v. Peebles, 87 S.W.2d 169; State v. Young, 24 S.W.2d 1046; State v. Neely, 56 S.W.2d 66. (4) The court did not err in admitting evidence of the arrest of defendant and surrounding circumstances thereof. 16 C. J., sec. 1070, pp. 553, 554; State v. Silvey, 296 Mo. 131; State v. Taylor, 118 Mo. 163; State v. Moore, 117 Mo. 402; State v. Moore, 101 Mo. 330; State v. Shipley, 171 Mo. 548. (5) The court did not err in admitting evidence concerning the capture of Floyd and the weapons found on him at the time of his capture. Sec. 3735, R. S. 1929; State v. Shawley, 67 S.W.2d 83; State v. McKeever, 339 Mo. 1066; State v. Mangercino, 30 S.W.2d 765; 2 Wharton's Criminal Evidence, sec. 714, p. 1205; Underhill's Criminal Evidence, sec. 779, p. 419; Ford v. State, 9 S.W.2d 345; Arlington v. State, 263 S.W. 595. (6) The court did not err in admitting the Thompson machine gun found in Wellsville, Ohio, to be received in evidence. State v. Mangercino, 32 S.W.2d 765; State v. McGee, 83 S.W.2d 106; State v. Fenley, 275 S.W. 40. (7) The court did not err in admitting in evidence the automatic revolver found on Richetti at the time of his arrest. State v. McGee, 83 S.W.2d 106. (8) The court did not err in admitting evidence of finger prints of defendant. Sec. 3735, R. S. 1929; State v. Dollarhide, 87 S.W.2d 158; State v. Arthur, 57 S.W.2d 1061; State v. Fenley, 275 S.W. 40. (9) The court did not err in admitting evidence of the admission of defendant that he arrived in Kansas City, Missouri, the night of June 16, 1933. State v. Lindsey, 80 S.W.2d 127; 16 C. J., sec. 1243, pp. 626, 627, 628. (10) The court did not err in admitting evidence of the formation of the conspiracy and telephone calls relative thereto before the arrival of Floyd and Richetti in Kansas City. Sec. 3735, R. S. 1929; State v. Dollarhide, 87 S.W.2d 158; 16 C. J. sec. 1307, p. 656; State v. Crab, 121 Mo. 563. (11) There is no medit to appellant's assignment of error No. 12 in his motion for new trial. Sec. 3735, R. S. 1929; State v. Dollarhide, 87 S.W.2d 158; State v. Sinovich, 46 S.W.2d 878; (12) Appellant's assignment of error No. 13 in his motion for new trial in regard to the testimony of Mrs. Smith is without merit. State v. Sinovich, 46 S.W.2d 879. (13) The court did not err in admitting evidence of the test bullet fired from the revolver found on Floyd. Authorities under Point 5; State v. Shawley, 67 S.W.2d 85; State v. McKeever, 339 Mo. 1066. (14) The court did not err in admitting in evidence testimony of Merle Gill. State v. Sinovich, 46 S.W.2d 877; State v. McKeever, 339 Mo. 1066. (15) Appellant's assignment of error No. 16 in his motion for new trial relative to the testimony of John E. Brennan is not founded upon any fact appearing in the record. State v. Sinovich, 46 S.W.2d 877; (16) The court did not err in admitting the testomony of Jerry R. Murphy in regard to a comparison of finger prints of the defendant Adam Richetti. State v. Sinovich, 46 S.W.2d 877. (17) Appellant's assignment of error number 18 in his motion for new trial is insufficient to preserve anything for review. Sec. 3735, R. S. 1929; State v....