Commonwealth v. Tatisos

Witness, Child. Practice, Criminal, Determination of competency of child witness, Exceptions. Child. The mere fact, that a girl was just past six years of age when she was offered by the Commonwealth as a witness at the trial of an indictment for an assault upon her with intent to commit rape, did not as a matter of law disqualify her as a witness. Where a judge presiding at the trial of an indictment, in the exercise of his discretion after an examination of a child offered as a witness by the Commonwealth, has found and ruled that the child is competent to testify, such ruling will not be revised upon an exception by the defendant unless it is clearly erroneous. At the trial of the indictment above described, the girl was carefully questioned by the judge on one day, after which the judge stated that he could not then bring himself “to the conclusion that this girl can qualify as a witness.” With the permission of the judge, the girl received instructions from a priest of her mother’s religious faith between court days and, after further extended examination on the next day by the judge and by the defendant’s counsel, the judge permitted her to testify. Held, that no error appeared in the action of the judge.

Indictment, found and returned on September 10,1920, charging the defendant with assault with intent to commit rape upon one Catherine M., called Mabel, Stafford, a child about five years and ten months of age at the time of the assault. There was a trial in the Superior Court before Cox, J., and the Commonwealth offered Catherine M. Stafford, then just past six years of age, as a witness. The judge interrogated her, and she answered as follows: Q. “I am going to ask you some more questions. You don’t mind, do you? ” A. “ No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. “ What is your name?” A. “Mabel Stafford.” — Q. “How old are you?” A- “Six.” — Q. " Where do you live? ” A. “ 10 Bolton Place.”— Q. “What city?” A. “Lowell.” — Q. “Do you go to school?” A. “No, I don’t go to school.” — Q. “What do you do?” A. “Stay in the house.” — Q. “I thought you went to the sisters’ school. Do you?” A. “Yes.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. “Do you go to the sisters’ school?” A. “Yes.” —Q. “You used to go to the sisters’ school, is that it?” A. “Yes.”— Q. "Do you go to Sunday School?” A. "No.” —Q. “To church?” A. “Yes.” — Q. "I want to ask you a little more about the same thing I asked you before this morning. Do you know what happens to anybody when they tell alie?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “What is it?” A. “Lick them.” — Q. “Who does the licking?” A. “The mother.” — Q. "Anything else happen to them?” A. "Whipping.” — Q. “Anything else besides that?” A. “No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. “Do you know why you are here today?” A. “No.” — Q. "Do you know what an oath is?” A. Mouth?” — Q. "No, oath.” A. "No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. “You told me that all the good people went to Heaven, this morning, didn’t you?” A. "Yes.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. "Where do the bad people go?” A. “Down to the ground.” — Q. “If anybody asked you, told you to tell the truth, and you said that you would, what would you do?” A. “I would do nothing.” — Q. “Would you tell the truth or would you tell a wrong story?” A. "Tell the truth.” — Q. “Suppose you didn’t tell the truth. Suppose you told a wrong story, what then?” A. “ Get a licking.” — Q. "Is that all?” A. "Yes.” — Q. “Is it right to tell lies?” A. “No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. "Why not?” A. “Don’t know.” — Q. “How long have you gone to the sisters’ school?” A. “I don’t know.” — Q. “What did they tell you there when you went? Did you have anything about the catechism? Ever hear about that?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “What is it? Do you know any of it?” A. "No.” (Shakes her head). — Q. "Did you ever hear of God?” A. "No.” The judge then stated: "As it stands, I cannot bring myself to the conclusion that this girl can qualify as a' witness. I appreciate the seriousness of the charge against the defendant, not only in so far as he is concerned, but the community as a whole. It appears that this little girl has been some time to the sisters’ school, and I should assume that she must have had some sort of instruction. She appears to be bright and intelligent, and her answers are direct, and it does not appear, so far as I can see, that she is answering anything as a result of any instruction. . . . The girl seems to be intelligent, and by that I mean she has intellect that seems to be responsive and I should be inclined not to make my finding upon her story at this time if it should seem worth while to give her some instruction. That, however, is a matter, the result of which cannot be foreseen, and I will leave it entirely with you. I will make my ruling now or later.” With the approval of the judge, the trial of the case was suspended until the next day, the child in the meantime talking with the parish priest of her mother’s religious faith. On the next day the child was further interrogated by the judge and answered as follows: Q. “How are you this morning?” A. “Fine.” — Q. "Did the priest talk to you last night?” A. “Some.” — Q. "Where did you see 'him, at your house, or did you go to his house?” A. “At the priest’s house.” — Q. “Do you know now what happens to little girls when they tell lies?” A. “God punishes them.” — Q. “Who?” A. "God.” The defendant’s counsel then interrogated and the child replied as follows: Q. “How long were you at the priest’s house last night?” A. “Went out a little while.” — Q. “You didn’t know anything about God until last night?” A. “No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q. “Did the police officer go with you?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “To the priest’s house?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “Who is God?” A. “God is a creator.” — Q. “Do you know what you came down here to court for?” A. “No, sir.” — Q. “You don’t know what it means when you hold up your right hand in court? You don’t know what that means do you? ” A. "No.” (Shakes her head.) — Q'. “You don’t know what an oath is?” A. “I don’t know what it is.” — Q. “You don’t know — how does God punish anybody?” A. “Sends them down to the ground.” — Q. “Sends them in the ground?” A. “Down in the ground.” —Q. “Where is God?” A. “God is up in heaven.” — Q. “Who did you talk with besides the priest?” A. “What?” — Q. “Who did you talk with about God besides the priest?” A. “Mr. Petrie.” — Q. “Mr. í’etrie, he talked with you about God?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “And who.else?” A. “I don’t know who else.” — Q. “Was it last night after you left the court house that you went to see the priest?” A. “Yes.” — Q. “You were with — how long were you with the priest?” A. “Just a little while.” — Q. “You don’t know how long?” A. “No, I don’t know how long.” — Q. “Now if you came here in court and said something that wasn’t so —” A. “It would be a lie.” The judge thereupon ruled on the evidence that the child, was a competent witness and permitted her to testify, subject to an exception by the defendant. The defendant was found guilty; and alleged exceptions.