[Cite as McManus v. State, 36 Ala. 285 (1860). NOTE: This decision deals with the use of a brick as a weapon and what kind of weapon contributes to the distinction of manslaughter and murder. On p. 293 the court remarks, "the law secures the right to all to employ deadly weapons, even to the fatal result, in protection of life, or to save one's person from grievous bodily harm...".]
INDICTMENT FOR MURDER.
1. Manslaughter.--If death ensues from the intentional application of unlawful force, though there may have been no specific intention to kill, and though the weapon used is not ordinarily calculated to produce death, the perpetrator is guilty of manslaughter in the first degree under the statute of this State, (Code, §§ 3084, 3085,) as he would be guilty of voluntary manslaughter at common law. (A. J. Walker, C. J., dissenting.)
2. Relevancy of prisoner's subsequent acts and declarations as evidence.--Under an indictment for murder, it having been shown that the prisoner and the deceased, while on a drunken frolic, had an altercation together, which resulted in a fight between them; that the prisoner struck the deceased with a brick-bat during the fight and that the latter died from the effects of the blow during the following night,--it is competent for the State to prove, "that about a half-hour after the blow had been given, and after the fight was entirely over, and after the parties had left the place where the fight occurred, the prisoner went to the place where the deceased was, with a pistol in his hand, and said he had come to kill the damned old rascal."
From the Circuit Court of Lowndes.
Tried before the Hon. Robert Dougherty.
The prisoner in this case was indicted in Montgomery (p.286)county, at the January term of the circuit court, 1859, for the murder of Stewart Dillard, "by striking him with a brick-bat." The venue was changed, on the prisoner's application, to Lowndes county, where he was tried at the November term, 1859, and convicted. The facts of the case, as disclosed on the trial, are thus stated in the bill of exceptions:
"The proof showed that, in January, 1859, in Montgomery county, the prisoner and the deceased, while on a drunken frolic, had an altercation together, which resulted in a fight between them; that the prisoner, during the fight, threw at the deceased a piece of brick, as large as one-fourth, or one-half of a brick, which struck the deceased on the side of the head; and that the deceased died during the night of the day on which said fight occurred. Some proof in the cause tended to show, that the blow from said brick-bat produced concussion of the brain, which caused the death of the deceased; while other proof tended slightly to show, that the deceased died from the effects of excessive intoxication. There was some proof tending to show, that the prisoner struck said blow with malice, and under such circumstances as would make the killing murder if death ensued; and there was also proof tending to show, that he struck said blow in the heat of passion, and without malice, and under such circumstances as would make the killing manslaughter if death ensued from said blow. There was some proof, also tending to show that the blow was struck in self-defense; and other proof tending to show, that said blow was struck in a fight between the parties, mutually and willingly engaged in on equal terms, and was not struck with any intention to kill; and that as struck with the weapon used death would ordinarily be very unlikely to ensue. The State offered to prove, that about a half-hour after the blow had been given, and after the fight was entirely over, and after the parties had left the place where the fight occurred, the prisoner went to the place where the deceased then was, with a pistol in his hand, and said 'that he had come to kill the dammed old rascal,' meaning the deceased. The prisoner objected (p.287)to the introduction of this evidence; the court overruled his objection, and he excepted.
"The foregoing being, in substance, all the evidence in the case, the court thereupon charged the jury, acceptably to the prisoner, in relation to the law of murder, manslaughter in the first degree, and self-defense. The court also charged the jury, that if they believed from the evidence that said blow caused the death of the deceased, and was not struck in self defense, but was struck voluntarily, then the lowest grade of offense, of which the prisoner could be found guilty, was manslaughter in the first degree; and to this charge the prisoner, by his counsel, excepted.
"The prisoner asked the court to give the following written charge: 'If the jury believe from the testimony that the deceased came to his death by a blow inflicted by the prisoner, by the throwing of a piece of brick; and that said blow was inflicted in the progress of a fight between the prisoner and the deceased, willingly commenced and prosecuted; and that after the commencement of the fight, and during its progress, both parties were on equal terms, or equally armed; and that the defendant threw the piece of brick in the fight, not intending to kill; and that the throwing and striking with such a piece of brick, under the circumstances, and in the mode and manner that the proof shows the prisoner did it in this case, would not be likely to produce death,--then the prisoner may be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.' The court refused to give this charge, and the prisoner excepted."
Wm. L. Yancey, and Thos. J. Judge, for the prisoner. To constitute manslaughter in the first degree, under our statute, there must be an intention to kill, either actual or implied, if there be no proof of an actual intent, an implied intention may be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon. But, if the weapon used be of such a character as to negative such implied intent, and there be no proof of an actual intent, the party cannot be found guilty of a higher offense than manslaughter in the second (p.288)degree. The charge of the court violated the distinction between the two degrees of manslaughter, and ignored the question of intent as an element of the crime; instructing the jury, in effect, that they must find the prisoner guilty of the first degree of manslaughter, although he did not intend to kill the deceased, although the weapon used was not ordinarily calculated to produce death, and although it was used in a manner very unlikely to produce death. In Oliver's case, (17 Ala. 587,) the weapon used was a gun--an instrument deadly in its nature, likely to produce death, made, indeed, for the express purpose of killing. Hence, the plain distinction between that case and this.
M. A. Baldwin, Attorney-General, contra.--The true distinction between the first and second degrees of manslaughter, under the Code, (§§ 3084-85,) is, that in the first the act producing the death must be voluntarily done, and in the other accidental.--Oliver v. The State, 17 Ala. 601; People v. Rector, 19 Wendell, 592; People v. Clark, 3 Selden, 392; Commonwealth v. Biron, 4 Dallas, 125; Sludstill v. The State, 7 Geo. 14; Beets v. The State, 1 Meigs, 106; Ann v. The State, 11 Humph. 164; Commonwealth v. Gable, 7 Serg. & R. 428; Wharton's Amer. Crim. Law, (4th ed.) §§ 932-33; Archbold's Crim. Law, 211, 226; East's P.C. 232, 241, 255, 257, 266. Involuntary manslaughter is the killing in the performance of an unlawful act, without intent to do bodily harm. Roscoe, 681.
STONE, J.--Manslaughter, at the common law, was divided into voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter included all felonious homicides, less heinous than murder, which resulted directly from any unlawful force, aimed at, and applied to the party slain. It was not necessary that the perpetrator should have intended or willed the death of the party. The force being unlawful, and intentionally directed against the deceased, the law pronounced the consummated act--the manslaughter--to be voluntary.--Com. v. Gable, 7 Serg. & (p.289)R. 428; People v. Rector, 19 Wend., 592, 593; Whar. Am. Cr. Law, § 932; Whar. Am. Law of Hom. 35; Whar. Am. Cr. Law, §§ 978, 971, 976, 987; 2 Bish. Cr. Law, § 659; 4 Black. Com. 191; Com. v. Biron, 4 Dall., 125 [1 L.Ed. 769]; Johnston's Case, 5 Grat. 660; State v. Jarrott, 23 N.C. 76. Involuntary manslaughter included all those homicides which were below the grade of murder, and were neither justifiable nor excusable, and which were the accidental result of some unlawful act, less than a felony, not aimed or directed against the person slain. Whar. Amer. Cr. Law, § 933; Whar. Am. Law of Hom. 35; Whar. Am. Cr. Law, 1002; 4 Bla. Com. 192; Ann v. The State, 11 Humph. 164.
The framers of our penal code have employed language somewhat different. Their classification is as follows: "§ 3084. Every person convicted of the crime of manslaughter by voluntarily depriving a human being of life, is guilty of manslaughter in the first degree." "§ 3085. Every person convicted of manslaughter, under any other circumstances than those expressed in the previous section, is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree."
That it was not the intention of the legislature to reduce any of the common-law murders to the crime of manslaughter is shown by sections 3080 and 3081 of the Code. Section 3080 defines murder in the first degree, and section 3081 declares, that all other common-law murders, not embraced in section 3080, are murders in the second degree. It is thus shown, that all common-law murders are statutory murders, either in the first or second degree.
While the definition of voluntary manslaughter, as given above, cannot be controverted, it is contended, that our statute has introduced a different rule--namely: that to come within the section which defines manslaughter in the first degree, it is not enough that the force which causes the death be direct and intentional, but that the intention and will shall go further, and contemplate the killing itself, in other words, that the "voluntarily depriving a human being of life," mentioned in the statute (p.290)cannot take place in the absence of a specific intention in the perpetrator to take the life of his victim.
In looking into the statutes of some of the other States, we have found no provision which is expressed in the language of ours. Neither has the precise question presented by this record ever been before this court, in the form in which it is here presented. In the case of Oliver v. The State (17 Ala. 587,) this statute came under review. The 3d charge in that case presented substantially the same question as the one we are now considering, with the exception that, in that case, the homicide was committed with a deadly weapon, while the record in this case informs us that from the blow, "as stricken with the weapon used, death would ordinarily be very unlikely to occur." Considering the evidence recited in this record, in the light of the verdict of the jury upon that evidence, we feel justified in assuming that the death was caused by a piece of brick--as much as a fourth or a half--which was cast by the prisoner at the deceased, and struck the latter on the side of the head, causing concussion of the brain and death.
In Oliver's Case it seems to have been conceded, on both sides, that a specific intention to kill was a necessary ingredient in every manslaughter in the first degree. On the one hand, it was contended, that the employment of the deadly weapon, which caused the death in that case, furnished the proof of a specific intention to kill; while this proposition was denied on the other. Some of the expressions in that opinion, viewed abstractly, would incline us to the opinion, that the court recognized a specific intention to kill, as necessary to constitute manslaughter in the first degree. Other expressions, however, are inconsistent with this view, and lead us to the conclusion, that what the court said, tending to the opinion last above noted, must have been in reply to objections and points taken in that case. This, we think, is shown by the fact, apparent in the report of that case, that no distinction seems to have been taken between our statutory manslaughter in the first degree, and voluntary manslaughter at the common law. So far from this being (p.291)done, there are many expressions in that opinion, which induce us to believe that the specific intent to kill, there impliedly recognized, would have been held to apply alike to voluntary manslaughter at the common law, and to our statutory manslaughter in the first degree.
A further support to our view, stated above, is found in the fact, that, in Oliver's Case, there are evidences that this court entertained the opinion, that the prisoner might be guilty of a higher grade of homicide than manslaughter in the first degree.
We do not think Oliver's Case ought to be recognized as an authority on the question we are considering, because in that case the record did not raise the point.
We confess ourselves unable to distinguish between "voluntary manslaughter," and manslaughter by "voluntarily depriving a human being of life." Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being, without malice. To kill is to deprive of life. If, then, instead of voluntary manslaughter, we substitute its synonym and definition, we have "the unlawful and voluntary depriving a human being of life, without malice." This is, in substance, and almost in words, what our legislation declares shall be manslaughter in the first degree.
The arguments drawn from the judicial construction, in other States, of the word "willful," as employed in statutory murder, can exert no influence in the definition of voluntary manslaughter. "Willful" is not the synonym of voluntary. In truth, they express no distinct idea which is common to both. The former is a word of much greater strength than the latter. "Willful," in this connection, denotes "governed by the will; without yielding to reason; obstinate; stubborn; perverse; inflexible." "Voluntary," in this connection, means "willing; acting with willingness." It is the antithesis of "involuntary." "Voluntary manslaughter" covers the whole ground of manslaughter, not occupied by involuntary manslaughter, which latter includes homicides that are the accidental result of some unlawful act, less than a felony. It is a perversion of language to say, that a force which is direct and unlawful, and which is intentionally aimed at a (p.292)particular person, and causes his death, or that the homicide thus brought about, is involuntary.
Construing the charges given and refused in this case in the light of the testimony, we think the court did not err.
(2) The circuit court did not err in admitting evidence, against the prisoner, of his acts, declarations and conduct, when he returned, a half-hour after the blow was stricken, to the scene of the engagement. The indictment was for murder, and such declarations and menacing acts tended to show the hostile feelings of the accused towards the deceased. Armed as he was with a deadly weapon, and threatening to take the life of the man he had just before assaulted with great violence, this, in the absence of sufficient provocation, was a circumstance for the jury to weigh, in determining whether he had not acted with a formed design to take life. It tended to repel the idea, that the fatal blow had been struck in a sudden transport of passion--pending the furor brevis--which, in a proper case, will mitigate homicide to manslaughter.
It is to be lamented deeply, that death by violence has, in this State, grown to be of such alarming frequency. Scarcely a week passes that does not add its victim to the long and frightful list of homicides. The fault is not in the law. While its provisions are humane and just, they are yet sufficiently strict, if duly administered, to punish crime and restrain the lawless. The fault lies in a loose, and falsely merciful administration of the law. Acquittals, in prosecutions for homicide, have become so frequent, that the criminal law has lost much of its terror. In this way, misdirected sympathy for one malefactor has, we fear, nerved and prompted the wicked to the destruction of many valuable lives. A just and humane appreciation of the rights and perils of the accused, should at all times pervade the jury-box; yet our sympathy and solicitude should take a wider range. The lives of others--the very repose and security of society, rest on a wise system of penal laws, faithfully, yet humanely administered.(p.293)
A false opinion has, we fear, obtained extensive credence, that notions of chivalry, or personal prowess, can lawfully enter into individual quarrels and combats. The humane doctrine of the common law, which, for the protection of human life, required the citizen to decline a combat, and to abstain from the shedding of blood, whenever he could do so, without endangering his person in the one case, and his life in the other, seems, in a great degree, to have been lost sight of.
We have discovered no disinclination to administer the law in its purity, when the killing was by stealth, by lying in wait, by poison, or for the sake of gain. When however, life has been taken boldly, during a personal engagement, or in resentment of an assault or gross insult recently given, it is difficult to obtain a faithful administration of the law. Voluntary manslaughter, and even the most atrocious murder, may be, and frequently is committed, while the parties are engaged in personal combat.
Much of the waste and destruction of life, under which society is suffering, grows out of the pernicious practice, too prevalent among our citizens, even in the peaceful pursuits of life, of wearing deadly weapons upon their persons. Such deadly weapons are readily drawn, and fatally employed, in resentment of injuries and insults of the most trivial character. While the law secures the right to all to employ deadly weapons, even to the fatal result, in protection of life, or to save one's person from grievous bodily harm, as the law understands that term, we may well ask, why, in a peaceful community, do citizens wear arms, who have no just grounds to apprehend danger to their lives, or those grievous personal injuries, which will excuse a resort to deadly weapons? The law views as equally sacred the life of every citizen, no matter how humble or worthless he may be; and cannot hold him guiltless, who takes vengeance into his own hands, except there be a well grounded apprehension, at the time, of imminent danger to life or member, from which there is no other reasonable way of escape. An insult, or an assault, or an assault and battery, which does not endanger (p.294)life or member, furnishes no excuse for taking life. If the provocation be personal violence, which does not endanger life or member, and immediately afterwards, influenced and maddened by the injury, and without any formed design, the party stricken slay the other, and there be no evidence of previous malice, or intention to kill, then the law, out of respect to human infirmity, mitigates the offense to manslaughter. If, however, there was a previous specific intent to kill, and the assault was provoked or taken advantage of as a pretext for taking life, and such intention be carried out, this is murder. So, if a party be armed with a deadly weapon, or have such weapon within his reach, and have formed the general purpose to employ such weapon upon an exigency, such as an assault and battery upon him, not endangering life or member, and do so employ it, and thereby take life, pursuant to such previous design--this is a species of universal malice, and constitutes murder.
In the case of Rex v. Thomas, (7 C. & P. 817,) Baron Parker, in charging the jury, said: "If you find that, before the stroke is given, there is a determination to punish any man who gives a blow with such an instrument as the one which the prisoner used," (a sword cane)--"because, if you are satisfied that, before the blow was given, the prisoner meant to give a wound with such an instrument, it is impossible to attribute the giving of such a wound to the passion of anger excited by that blow; for no man who was under proper feelings--none but a bad man of a wicked and cruel disposition, would really determine beforehand to resent a blow with such an instrument."--See, also, 2 Bishop's Criminal Law, section 643.
The law is so framed as to secure personal immunity to every citizen, and affords ample redress for all his injuries. Cases may arise, when, on provocation which falls below self-defense, life is taken, or attempted, by one who habitually wears arms, and when the proof fails to show just grounds to apprehend an attack. How far these circumstances should be considered in adjusting the degree of the offense, it is not proper we should here declare. We (p.295)leave this subject to be determined, when the subject comes directly before us.
Judgment affirmed.
A.J. WALKER, C. J., dissenting.