Summary
Error to Oktibbeha circuit court. William L. Haréis, J.
Argued the ease orally.
Cited, The Commonwealth v. Boby, 12 Pick., 496; Taylor v. Manly, 6 S. & M.,> 305; 9 ib., 115; Organ v. The State, 4 Cush., 78.
There are only two points requiring 'the consideration of the ■ court: .
1st. The improper influence exercised by the bailiff, one of the officers of the court, over the minds of the "jury, while he had them in chargp. It was denied by the state, below, and doubtless will be denied by the state in this court, that what was said by the bailiff did amount to such improper influence, or meddling or tampering with the jury, as should set aside the verdict, let us see what was his action towards the jury, and what his language was, upon which this branch of the motion is founded.
It is beyond question established, by the evidence of the bailiff himself, as well as by the jurors, who were permitted by the court to .testify, that he did tell the jury, “ That unless they decided the, case, ’one way or the other, they should have nothing more to eat, and no water to drink.” But the bailiff was not only understood to say this, but some of the jury thought he said that the judge said so. True, all of them say that they regarded it as a joke, and that it had no influence upon their verdict. No doubt they thought so. But, under any circumstances, this.would be said to a jury. One or more of them might be influenced, and seeing the unpleasant attitude that he would be placed in, should he confess it, would of course deny that he had been influenced by the remark. True' they are all presumed to be próbi et legales homines, yet they are fallible, they aye weak.men, and may be operated upon by undue influences, and if . so, they would be very loth to confess it.
But we respectfully submit it to the. court, whether a man, a juror, one perfectly honest and disposed to do his whole duty, both to the state and to the prisoners, might not be unduly influenced, and yet he himself be unconscious of the influence exerted? The human mind is so “strangely and wonderfully made,” may there not be exerted upon its secret springs an unseen, and perhaps an unfelt influence, which would powerfully direct it to this or to that conclusion, and, at the same time, its possessor be totally unconscious of the controlling power ? This principle, though it may not be universally held by lawyers, is recognized by intellectual philosophers. It is what they term “ unconscious influence.” But upon this point we are not entirely without legal authority. In the case of Hix v. Drury, 5 Pick., 302, the court says: “ So, where a paper which is capable of influencing the jury on the side of the prevailing party, goes to the jury by accident, and is read 'by them, the verdict will be -set aside, although the jury may think that they are not influenced by such paper; for it is impossible for them to say what effect it may have had on their minds.” So in the case of HcQuillen v. State of Mississippi, 8 S. & M. 596, .Chief Justice Sharkey uses the following language : “ Or if prejixdices existed agaixist him in the community, as is sometimes the case, there was danger that it might be comxnuxxicated to the miixds of these jurors, without their being aware of the motive or effect.” At this day, whexi it is customary to allow jurors food and drink, they would take it as a pecxxliar hax-dship, if they were to be denied the necessary food and drink which would keep thenx comfortable during the determination of a cause; and a weak-minded man, one wanting in resoluteness of purpose, might be induced, through fear of this punishment, to go over to the majority or mixxority, as the case might be, and thus decide against his better judgment. He would x-egax’d it as tyraixny, and might exxdanger the safety and liberty of the prisoners,, to save himself from the penalty.
■ It will be perceived from the recoi’d, that the jury had been ■considering their verdict a whole night (Thursday), axxd until .3 o’clock p. m. on the next day (Friday). The cause was taken up on Wednesday afternoon, and the examination of witnesses and ax’guxnents of counsel continued uxxtil Thux’sday night. ' On Friday, at noon, they had not determiixed xxpon a verdict. It was then that the bailiff made the remarks attributed to him; and, in a short time afterwards, they made up and returned their verdict into court. The circumstances all go to show that the remarks of the bailiff must have exercised an influence prejudicial to the rights and interests of the prisoners/
But let us examine this subject in the light of authority.
It is well settled that it is not necessary to show that the minds of the jury, or of any member of it, were influenced. It is sufficient to show that intermeddling did take place, to set aside the verdict. Too much strictness cannot be exercised in guarding trials by jury from improper influence. It has been said that “ this strictness is necessary to give confidence to parties in the result of their causes; and every one ought to know that for any, even the least, intermeddling with jurors, a verdict will always be set aside.” Knight v. Freeport, 13 Mass., 220.
This is the language of the supreme court of Massachusetts in a civil cause. IIow much more important is it to guard the purity of jury trials against improper influence when the matter at stake is the life or liberty of a prisoner.
The authorities upon this point all agree; and, as they are very numerous, we will only cite, for the attention of the court, a few of the most important.
In the case of Com. v. McCaul, 1 Virginia Oases, 271, it is said (in referring to the-separation of the jury), “Although there might be, and properly was, no tampering with any juryman in this case, yet, in a free country, in deciding a particular cause, the decision must be, according to general principles, as applied to that case; and more good will arise for persevering in the sacred principles involved in that case, than will from granting a new trial, although in this individual instance, a verdict has probably been given by twelve men in fact unbiased by the separation.”
In this case a majority of the court were of the opinion that actual tampering with the jury was not necessary to be shown, to set aside the verdict; it is sufficient if the opportunity be offered. A new trial was granted, although the court assumed that the minds' of the jury were entirely unbiased.' They decid'e the great principle that the door to abuse must not be opened; that thq.'court will not- inquire into the circumstances of a particular ‘case. It is enough’ if they axe satisfied of the possibility of .'abuse. . ; . - '
The case of Com. v. Boby is, perhaps, the most important case outside of our ówñ state. In this case the court enter into the questions presented with much clearness and ability, and examine many opinions bearing upon them.' They- say that “ when-the jury have had communications hot authorized, then, inasmuch,, as there can be certainty that the verdict has not been improperly influenced, the-proper mode of correction or relief is,by undoing what is thus improperly, and may have been corruptly .done.” ■ ’
But this; court..have adjudicated this very question,’and'referred to the authorities .above cited, especially, the last one. The rule which has been established by this court is, “ that if the verdict be given under circumstances which might conduce to an improper influence, or the natural tendency of which' might ¡he. to produce bias or corf uj>tion, it caiinot be said to be above-suspicion; and if it be not, it nrust fall short of that pere fectioniwhich- the law requires,' and which, under a more guarded, administration, is capable of producing. It is not necessary that any attempt should be made to bias the minds of the jurors, of that 'any pernicious influence should be exerted. The door to tampering is to be'closed;’ this is the only séeurity ;• for if it -be left open, it may.be -predicted, with certainty, that evil consequences will fall somewhere.' * * '* * If the purity of the verdict might have been affected,' it must be set aside: if it coiild. not have been affected, it will be sustained. - A verdict upon which doubts might rest cannot be good. It must command. entire confidence.” Hare v. State, 4 Howard, 192.
In'this.'opinion- Chief Justice Sharkey, who delivered the' opinion of the‘court, adopts the language of Chief Justice-Shaw in the case of Corn. v. Boby, above referred to.' .....
In the case of-McQuillen v. State, 8 S. & M., 596, Chief- Jus-: tice Sharkey delivered the’ opinion of the court, and said, “ It is' immaterial-whether improper'influences have been exerted or «not; the only safety is in'keeping the jury free from any liability to such influences.” ,
In the case of Lewis v. State, 9 S. & M., 121, the. court says: “ The trial' by jury should be preserved free from ,alh extraneous or improper influences. Confidence in the administration of justice'can only be preserved by removing even the shadow of suspicion from those in whose hands it is intrusted.”
In the case of Boles v. State, 13 S. & ]VL, 402,, Sharkey, Chief Justice, delivered the opinion of the court, and- said: “But it has been argued that the verdict should stand, unless tampering or improper influence be shown. This would be a very unsafe rule. The prisoner, who is in confinement, would not be able, one time in a hundred; to show that a verdict had been procured' by improper means, although such may have been- the case.”.
In the case of' McCann v. State, 9 S. & M.-, 469, the court says, quoting the ■ language of the judge in Lo'rd Delamere’s ease, “An-officer is sworn to keep the. jury, without permitting them to separate, or any one to converse Avith them; for no man knows what, may happen; although the law requires that honest men should be returned upon juries, and, without a known objection, they are presumed to beprobi et legales homines, yet they are weak men, and-perhaps maybe wrought upon by undue applications. The evil to be guarded against is improper influence; and when an exposure to such an influence is shown, and it is not shoAvn that it failed .of effect, .then the presumption is against the purity of the verdict.”
In the ease of Nelms, v. State, 13 S. & M., 508,. Chief Justice Sharkey delivered the opinion of the court, and said: “The purity of the trial by jury must be strictly guarded. ; The verdict, when rendered, should command entire confidence; whatever may detract from that confidence mtist weaken the security which is felt in the community in this mode of-trial. The officer is required by the nature of his duty, as .well as by his oath, not to speak to the jury himself on the subject of their deliberations, or to permit others to do so. This ceremony is a -mockery if a violation has.no other effect than to subject the officer to punishment. If he may speak to them himself, he may per- - mit others to do so, and .the .door is thus thrown , open to -tarnpering, and the safety of trial by jury is invaded to an alarming * extent. The duty of the officer is prescribed for the safety of the accused. If improper influences have been employed, it is a poor boon to say to him that the officer is liable. The officer may be willing to incur the punishment for the salce of gratifying his wishes, or for reward. One who thus violates his duty and his oath, should be subjected to the severest penalties; but that does not purify the verdict; it should be set aside.”
Tin's court, in a recently decided case, lays down and adheres to the rule established in Hare’s case. They say, “If the verdict was rendered under circumstances in which its purity might have been affected, it must be set aside; if it could not have been affected, it will be sustained.” Ned and Taylor v. State, 33 Miss., 364.
Now, to make an application of these principles to the case before us, can it be said that the purity of the verdict could not have been affected ? Oan it be said that there was no improper influence ? that the verdict was rendered under circumstances which caused it to command entire confidence ? Can it be said that there is no probability that it might have been affected by the language of - the officer % Here the bailiff, a sworn officer of the law — sworn, too, in the presence of the jury, not to converse with them himself, or to suffer any one else to do so, “ unless by order of the court, after they have retired from the bar ” (Eev. Code of Miss., 604, art. 156), enters the jury-room, and tells the jury that, “ unless they decide that case one way or the other, they shall have nothing more to eat and no more water to drink! ” Some of the jurors testify that they thought that the bailiff said that the judge said so. One of the jurors also interrogated him, and inquired if the judge did say so ? and even then he did not deny it. Of course, it must have been supposed that it came from the court; for no jury would suppose for a moment that any one else but the judge would attempt to enforce such measures upon them. Still less would they suppose that an officer who was discharging his duty, under the solemnity of an oath, would attempt to trifle with them, while deliberating upon an important cause, because, forsooth, he had become very weary in waiting upon them. They thought that the remark had no influence upon their verdict. Just here it must be remembered that there were only eight jurors present' out of twelve, and who testified upon the motion. Four were absent. Who will say that it did not influence the absent four ?
But it is not necessary for the plaintiffs in error to show that the jury were influenced. It is sufficient if they might have been. ,
In the case of the Com. v. McCall, 1 Yirginia Cases, 271, the court makes use of the following wise remarks: “ From the mode in which collusion and tampering is generally carried on, such circumstance is generally known to no person except'the one tampering and the person tampered with, or the persons between whom a conversation may be held which might influence a verdict.. If you question either of those persons on the subject, he must criminate or declare himself innocent, and you lay before him. inducement not to give correct testimony.” . If the accused were compelled to show the influence and its extent, their rights and interests might be constantly imperiled, of which they might be' inwardly conscious, and yet possess no adequate remedy. It is sufficient, as stated by the court, in Hare’s case, if the verdict might have been affected. The duty of the officer is prescribed for the protection of the accused; and if they show a gross violation of that duty, the presumption of law is, that they have been injured thereby. The case before us comes fully within the rule, and is, indeed, a much stronger case than either Hare’s case or Nelm’s case.
If such tampering, and intermeddling, and joking with a jury as this be allowed, anything may. If an officer who is sworn not to speak to the jury, is allowed to converse fully with them about their verdict, and that, too, with an authority which seemed to come directly from the court, surely any one else might be allowed the same privilege. If it were right, and proper, and lawful, for an officer who is sworn not to converse with the jury, unless by the permission of the court, to do so, certainly the door had as well be thrown open, and admit any one who may desire to enter. Yerdicts have been set aside by this court, as in McCann’s case, 13 S. & M., 471, because an unsworn officer had charge of the jury during a portion of their retirement, although no undue influence was shown. It is as great a violation of the law for a sworn officer to converse with the jury- as it is for an unsworn officer to have them in charge. Better, in fact, that an unsworn officer should thus have them in charge, than for a sworn officer to talk to them at will. The-injury is as great in the one case as in the other, and either departure from the rule should avoid the verdict. The mere ceremony of swearing-the officer is useless and idle,, and should be abrogated, if he is allowed to violate if at his pleasure. This verdict is not above suspicion, and does not and can not command entire confidence, and respect.'
. For this first branch of the motion, the verdict ought to be set aside, and a new trial granted.
2d. As to the jury having spirituous liquors in the jury-room during the progress of the trial.
It appears from the testimony that one of the jurymen, being sick, sent the bailiff after liquor, “ to take as medicine.” This “ medicine,” though in a black bottle (a very large dose, one would suppose), was doubtless taken in broken doses; it was not prescribed by a physician, nor was it given to the juror by the consent or through the knowledge of the court. .The bottle of liquor was handed in by the bailiff. • He did not see any of the jurors drink save Mr. Owen (the sick man), but he could not say that any . one else did drink. This is substantially the testimony of the bailiff.
It was impossible for the accused to discover to what extent these “ doses ”-of - “medicine” were taken, or what were the effects, produced. They might have, been taken by all the jury, and some of them might have been under the influence of the intoxicating dose. A man who drinks at all, is liable to drink too' much, particularly when cribbed and -confined to a jury-room day and night. The prisoners were unable to ascertain the extent of the drinking, inasmuch as it has been settled by. this court, and very properly and -wisely too, that no juror shall be allowed to testify to his own wrong, to “ impeach his verdict.” - But will it be contended that a prisoner’s life or liberty shall be endangered; that the inalienable right which the Constitution gives, him, to be tried by twelve good and lawful men. shall be wrested from him, because of his inability to show that the verdict is corrupt, when he shows, from the natural tendency of things, that, it might have been corrupted ? They show that the means of corruption were in the reach of the jui-y — sent for by one of their members. This seems to us to be sufficient. From the nature of things, they could not show more.. If spirituous liquors were allowed to circulate in a jury-room; if jurors, through real (as in this case it was) or pretended sickness, are allowed to send a bailiff and get liquor in any quantity, without the knowledge or consent of the court, we can see no reason why they may not be allowed to introduce anything they please into a jury-room. In pur opinion, it ought not to be allowed. The trial by jury is justly regarded by the wisest and best of men as the great palladium of civil liberty, and its purity, even as to the forms intended to protect it inviolate, should be scrupulously guarded against every possible encroachment..
We will refer the court to a few adjudicated cases, upon this point, which seem to us sufficient to settle this matter. In the case of The People v. Douglass, 4 Cowen, 26, the court holds the following language: “ Drinking .should not be tolerated in any shape in a jury, during the progress of the, trial; and we have uniformly held that it vitiated the.verdict in a civil cause, even where the liquor was given to the jury by consent. It may not do to weigh and examine the quantity which may have been taken by the jury, nor the effect produced. . In this case it is not at all probable that either of these jurors .was the least under the influence of strong -drink; but being doubtful whether they may not have drunk something, we ought not, especially in a case of life and death, to sustain the verdict.” In this case the court deliver their opinions seriatim. Mr. Justice Sutherland says: “ There is no difference among us that the mere fact of drinking spirituous liquors is enough to set aside the verdict. It will never do to hold a rule short of this: that when any one of the jury, in the course of the trial, drinks spirituous liquor, we will set aside the verdict on .this ground alonp; * * * * Where there is the slightest suspicion of abuse, their verdict should be set aside.” . Vide also Rose v. Smith,'4 Cowen, 19.
In the case of Brant v. Fowler, J Cow., 562, the court says, u "We cannot allow jurors thus of their own head to drink spirituous liquors while engaged in the course of a cause. We are satisfied that here there has been no mischief; but the rule is absolute, and does not meddle with consequences. Nor should exceptions be multiplied.”
In this case the juror made affidavit that he took the brandy to check a diarrhoea, yet it was held that the verdict should be set aside. This, too, was a civil cause; and we may again ask, if it be important to guard the trial by a jury with so much strictness and vigilance in a civil cause, how much more impor- . tant is it to enforce the rule in a criminal cause ? But it may be said that this last case has been overruled in the same court, at a subsequent • sitting, under the administration of different judges. 1 Hill, 207. True, it was to some extent. But it seems to be upon the ground that it was admitted that no mischief was done. In the case before us nothing is admitted; the prisoners waive no right. From their position — being in the custody of the officers of the law, and excluded from any opportunity to search out the facts — they were utterly unable to show to what extent the drinking was carried, or whether it operated injuriously upon the final result or not. All they were able to do was to show that an unauthorized act had been done by the jury, that the means of corruption had crept into their midst, and that the verdict might have been tainted with corruption. This they have shown. Can any one say that they have not suffered by the misconduct complained of?
In the case of Kellogg v. Beed & Wilder, 15 Johns., 455, both parties were allowed by the justice to treat the jury to a bottle of whiskey, “ to enable them to listen to the remarks of counsel;” and although the court reverse the judgment on a different ground, still they say that it was gross misconduct in the justice to permit the use of spirituous liquors at the trial, to which the consent of parties affords no excuse.”
In the case of Gregg v. McDaniel, 4 Harring., 367, the verdict was set aside for the introduction of intoxicating liquor into the jury-room. Not having the reports before us (only the syllabus), we do not know the character of the case or the extent of the drinking. But it appears that the .verdict was set aside simply for the introduction of the liquor into the jury-room.
Anciently it was the rule to swear the officer who had the jury in charge to “keep them without meat, drink, fire, or candle.” This rule in modern times has been greatly modified and relaxed; but certainly it will not be contended that because this modification has taken place, that the bailiff in charge will be permitted to introduce into, the jury-room, at his pleasure, or at the pleasure of any member of the jury, whatever species of refreshment may be desired. The rule was relaxed in order to secure to all parties interested in the result of a cause a fair and impartial trial, without compelling the jury, or any member of it, to suffer for those refreshments absolutely essential to render him comfortable. It was thought that a proper relaxation would inure to the benefit of all parties, and add to the security of jury trials. But then it was never intended that it should be allowed save through the knowledge and by the consent of the court. The court, it was- thought, would judge of what was right and proper for each individual case. If it is understood that any member of a jury, through the plea of sickness, may introduce into the jury-room, without the knowledge or consent of the court, spirituous liquors, may it not be feared that by such conduct the confidence which is now universally reposed in jury trials will be poisoned ? It will not do to say that jurors and officers thus violating their duty render themselves amenable to the severest possible punishment, which should in every case be rigidly inflicted; for, although it may deter offenders from a repetition of the offense should the opportunity again be offered, still it affords no redress to the unfortunate party' who may, nevertheless, have been wronged. Suppose, for illustration, that instead of introducing a bottle of liquor into the jury-room, the bailiff had allowed a physician to enter. Would it be contended for a moment that, under such circumstances, the verdict should stand ? We think not. And why \ Because the opportunity for tampering — the door against corruption, would thus be opened. In this case it would not be necessary for the prisoner to show that tampering had actually taken place. It would be sufficient for them to show that the opportunity was offered, from which the law would presume that it might have been done. In the case before us, it seems to us that where the prisoners have shown an .irregularity has taken place, that an- unauthorized act has been done; that the means by which the fountain of justice might have been corrupted was in the midst, of the jury; that it is, sufficient to set aside the verdict. In the language of Judge Gaston, in a similar case, “ The irregularity is confessedly against the law; it impresses oh the .verdict the stamp of legal suspicion; that impression is not removed; and until it is removed, the law will not found a judgment on what it reprobates and distrusts.” "We also refer the court to the case of Riggs v. State, 26' Miss., 55.
For either of .the grounds suggested in the motion, we think the verdict ought to.be;'set: aside and;a new trial granted. . As. it now stands,- it "does not, and can not, by any possibility, command .that confidence and respect which verdicts of a jury should inspire. ■ Such practices, either on the parts of jurors or officers, should never receive the sanction of courts. This mode of trial being justly regarded, when jDure and uncontaminated, as the great bulwark against injustice and oppression — as the strongest-security to the .rights and. liberties of the citizen, which human ingenuity and sagacity have ever devised, should be guarded with the strictest vigilance; and “where there-is any partiality of the proceedings, inasmuch as there .can be no certainty that the verdict, has béen influenced, the proper mode of correction and relief is by undoing what is thus improperly, and may have been corruptly done, or where the irregularity consists in doing- that which may disqualify the jurors , for proper deliberations and . exercise of their reason and judgment, as where ardent spirits were introduced, then it would be proper to set aside the verdict; because no reliance can be -placed on its purity and correctness.” ' "
■ 1st. On the part of the communication made by the bailiff: Hare’s case, 4 How., 187; McQuillen’s case, 8 • S. & M., 596; Lewis’ case, 9 ib., 121; Boles’ case, 13 ib., 402; McCann’s case, . 9 ib-, 469 ;’Nélm’s case, 13 ib., 508; Ned and Taylor’s cáse, 33 Miss., 370; 6 Serg. & E., 577; 3 Eawle’s E., 498.
2d. As to the effect of introducing intoxicating liquors into the jury room: TT. S. v. Gilbert, 2 Sumner E., 83; Stone y. State, 4 Humph., 27; Brant y. Fowler, 7 Cow., 562; McLain v. State, 10 Merger, 241.
Syllabus and headnotes are prepared by the reporter or publisher, not the court, and are not part of the opinion.
