State v. Parker

Macfarlane, J.

This is the second appeal of defendant from a conviction for murder in the second degree for killing David C. Montgomery. The first appeal is reported in 96 Mo. 383 . The case was retried with the same result as upon the first trial. The plea was again self-defense. A number of errors are assigned which will be considered in their order.

I. Defendant’s first complaint is, that the court improperly refused to grant him a continuance. The ground of the application was that the attorneys who had attended to his defense on all former trials, and in the supreme court, and who were familiar with all the facts were unable to attend to his defense on account of the press of other important business. On the eleventh of March he employed another attorney, J. S. Crosby, who was then sick but thought he would be well in time to prepare for trial. His attorney so employed had not sufficiently recovered to attend to his case, and he could *222 not now secure the services of counsel who conlcl prepare for and proceed with the trial at that term of court. The application was made on the eighteenth day of March, 1889, and overruled. On the twenty-second of March, Hon. H. S. Kelley, a partner of Crosby, appeared for defendant and requested a postponement for two weeks, which was also denied. On the twenty-sixth the trial was commenced, Hon. H. S. Kelley and J. S. Crosby appearing for defendant, though the latter was still in delicate health.

The granting or refusing a continuance, particularly for'causes not enumerated in the statute, is largely a matter within the discretion of the circuit court, and nothing but its abuse will warrant this court in interfering with its exercise. “ When a party seeks to substitute the discretion of this court for that of the' court below, and to give relief under circumstances which, in the discretion of that court, do not entitle him to it, he must present a strong case, — ’’ Scott, J., in Jacob v. McLean, 24 Mo. 40 . State v. McGuire, 69 Mo. 198 ; State v. Walker, 69 Mo. 274 ; Greer v. Parker, 85 Mo. 107 ; State v. Griffith, 63 Mo. 545 ; State v. Bailey, 94 Mo. 313 .

We can see no arbitrary or unreasonable exercise of the discretion of the court in denying a continuance on the grounds alleged in the application. There had already been two jury trials of the case, in one of which, at least, the evidence had been preserved by bill of' exceptions. The questions of law had been mostly settled by the decision of this court in the former appeal. But little time was, therefore, required in which to get a full understanding of the case. Thq application was made on the eighteenth of March, and the trial was not commenced until the twenty-sixth of the same month. Defendant was represented in the trial by counsel of great experience and distinguished ability. Nothing prejudicial to defendant on account of the denial of the- *223 continuance appears. No sufficient cause is shown for our interference with the discretion of the trial court.

II. Defendant next objects to the seventh instruction given by the court. This instruction tells the jury in substance, if defendant brought on the difficulty, and in so doing was actuated by a felonious intent to kill deceased, or to do him some great bodily harm and during the progress of said difficulty, did shoot and kill him, then the jury cannot acquit on the ground of self-defense. To this the court adds the following: “But although the jury believe from the evidence that the defendant began the quarrel or provoked the difficulty with the deceased, yet if they also believe, from the evidence, that this was done by defendant without any felonious purpose, and that thereupon the deceased attacked him and compelled him, in order to save his own life, to take that of the deceased, still the law, while it will not entirely justify the homicide on the ground of self-defense, will hold the defendant guilty of no higher grade of crime than that of manslaughter in the fourth degree. The word felonious, as rised in this instruction, means wickedly and against the admonition of the law — • unlawfully.”

We can see nothing in this instruction or omission therefrom of which the defendant can justly complain. Pull benefit is given him of the liberal rule declared in Partlow’s case, 90 Mo. 608 , and followed in the subsequent cases of State v. Gilmore, 95 Mo. 554; State v. Parker, 96 Mo. 393 , and State v. Berkley, 92 Mo. 53 .

We are unwilling to extend the rule of self-defense one step further than has been done in that laid down in those cases, and acted upon by the criminal court in the trial of this case. One who voluntarily brings on, seeks or provokes a difficulty, in the progress of which, though to save his own life, he kills his adversary, cannot be justified on the ground of self-defense, but .should and must, in part at least, bear the consequences *224 of his own lawlessness, the degree of his guilt depending on the intent with which the difficulty is brought on or provoked.

We can see no objection to the definition of the word “felonious,” as used in this instruction. An unlawful intent to kill would be a felonious intent.

III. The court gave an instruction, numbered 16, of the series, on the question of self-defense, which is a literal copy of instruction, numbered 13, given in case of State v. Gee, 85 Mo. 650. This instruction was approved by this court in that case, and properly declares the law under the evidence in the case at bar.

Defendant asked an instruction on the same subject, which was refused. ' This instruction was, in substance, the same as number 16 given, with the exception that it omitted the following, which was the conclusion of the one given : “ Whether or not he had reasonable cause is for you to determine, under all the facts and circumstances given in evidence. If you shall believe from the - evidence, that defendant did not have reasonable cause to so believe, you cannot acquit him on the ground of self-defense, although you may believe that the defendant really thought he was in danger.”

The objection defendant urges to this part of the instruction is that it did not give him the right to act upon an honest belief that danger was impending, though there was, in reality, no reasonable ground for his apprehensions. To adopt such a rule would open a way of escape to every one charged with murder. How could the belief and apprehensions of a murderer be interpreted? “He must decide at his peril upon the force of the circumstances in which he is placed.” State v. Sloan, 47 Mo. 612 . The statute requires, in justification of a homicide, on the ground of self-defense, that reasonable cause to apprehend danger should have existed. R. S., sec. 3462 ; State v. O’Connor, 31 Mo. 389 ; State v. Johnson, 76 Mo. 121 ; State v. *225 Gonce, 87 Mo. 627 ; State v. Eaton, 75 Mo. 586 ; State v. Wilson, 98 Mo. 442 . The instruction given properly declared the law of self-defense, and there was no-error in refusing the one asked by the defendant. State v. Walton, 74 Mo. 270 ; State v. Smith, 80 Mo. 516 .

IY. Defendant asked two instructions, on the-theory that defendant killed deceased in the necessary defense of his son, Prank, wlio was in danger from an attack then being made upon him by deceased or someone acting with him. This instruction was properly refused for the reason that there was no evidence-in the case that defendant’s son, Prank, was assaulted or attacked by deceased or any other person.

Y. Defendant complains most > seriously of the-action of the court in not allowing him a reasonable-time after the adjournment of court in which to prepare and incorporate in the bill of exceptions all the-evidence taken on the trial.

Allowing time in vacation in which to prepare- and file bills of exceptions is a matter within the discretion of the court, and which should be exercised soundly and reasonably, so as not to deprive parties of a full and complete presentation of their case, and all exceptions taken on the trial in the appellate court. Granting such reasonable time has been, for years, the-practice, so far as we are advised, throughout the circuits of this state. It is well-known that under the-present practice it is next to impossible to prepare a full bill of exceptions, including all the evidence, during the sitting of the court. A case of such hardship-could be made by a refusal to grant such time, that we-might feel required, in order to prevent injustice, to remand a case for a retrial for that reason alone. We-do not think such a case is presented by this record. The bill of exceptions, as prepared, recites that evidence was offered tending to prove all the issues that arose in the case. It does not appear from anything *226 ■contained in the record, or otherwise, that any questions affecting the substantial rights of defendant would have been more fully presented under all the ■evidence. It also appears that the verdict was rendered ■on the thirtieth of March, — the motion for a new trial was filed April 3. The motion was continued to April 13, at which time the motion was overruled, sentence passed, bill of exceptions filed and appeal taken. It was upon this day the request was made for time to have the evidence prepared.

The case was tried by the judge of another circuit sitting specially in this case. It is as well-known that adjournments are frequently taken in such cases for the purpose of giving opportunity to prepare bills of exceptions, as that time is granted in vacation for that purpose. Prom the thirtieth of March to the thirteenth of April, nothing was done towards the preparation of a bill. The official stenographer was not called on to copy the evidence or consulted about it, though the affidavit for appeal was made on the ■twelfth day of April, the day before the motion for a new trial was passed upon. Defendant’s counsel must have been advised beforehand that final sentence would be passed on that day. There was ample time to have had the evidence prepared. We are unable to see that the court exercised its discretion unsoundly or ■unreasonably, or that defendant was in any manner prejudiced in not getting the whole evidence in the bill of exceptions.

No error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.

All ■concur.