Summary
In S. v. Poll, 8 N.C. 442, 9 Am. Dec., 655, the declaration of a sick person that he had been poisoned by certain individuals and despaired of recovery was admitted, although death did not immediately follow.
Summary of this case from State v. JordanOpinion
June Term, 1821.
1. The declarations of a deceased person, that he was poisoned by certain individuals, not made immediately previous to his death, but at a time when he despaired of his recovery, and felt assured his disease would prove fatal, are admissible as dying declarations.
2. When a common design is proven, the act of one in furtherance of that design is evidence against his associates, but the declarations of one of the parties can be received only against himself.
3. It is not competent for owners of slaves, or their counsel, to consent to the removal of a criminal cause against such slave; it cannot be otherwise removed than on affidavit.
THIS was an indictment against the prisoners and one John Skinner for the murder of Samuel Skinner, by poisoning, from CHOWAN. The bill was originally found by a grand jury of the county of Washington, and, after arraignment and the plea of not guilty, recorded severally for each. The solicitor for the State, and the prisoner John Skinner consented to remove his case to the county of Chowan for trial, and the owner and counsel of the other two prisoners consented, with the State's officer, to a similar removal of the cases of Poll and Lavinia.
The indictment against Poll and Lavinia came on to be tried in Chowan Superior Court, before Daniel, J., and the following outline presents such facts as are necessary for a correct understanding of the points raised. The poison alleged to have been given was white arsenic; and the object of the State was to show that John Skinner purchased the poison, under false pretences, and gave it to the prisoners (who were domestics in the family of Samuel Skinner), and that they mixed it with the food and drink of Samuel. The State, to prove a conversation between the prisoners, introduced a witness who accidentally overheard it, and he stated that they spoke of having put something into Samuel Skinner's soup which would kill him and all others who partook of it. Lavinia then advised Poll to carry some (443) of that which they had put into the soup into the house, and if, during the night, Samuel Skinner called for water, to put some in the water, adding, "That is the way he said do it"; and Poll accordingly took down from a shelf something wrapped in paper, and, putting another wrapper of paper over the first, placed it in her bosom. On examination before the committing magistrate, Lavinia said that he, referred to in the conversation stated, was John Skinner, who had given to Poll something like lime, but it was heavier.
The solicitor for the State then offered to prove, by a declaration of John Skinner, that he had purchased a quantity of arsenic just before, under the pretence, as the State alleged, of curing the horse of one Mariner of poll evil. This declaration was objected to, but the court received it; and Mariner then proved that he never requested John Skinner to purchase arsenic to cure his horse, and, in fact, never had a horse diseased with a poll evil.
Samuel Skinner died on Thursday, and his declarations, from the Sunday previous up to his death, were offered in evidence. These were objected to, as not being dying declarations, but the court received them. He stated his belief that he should die, though he was occasionally better. He said he was poisoned, and, as he believed, by Poll, who had given him something in his food and drink.
The jury found the prisoners guilty, and a new trial was moved for — first, because Samuel Skinner's declarations were improperly received; and, secondly, because the declarations of John Skinner, that he had purchased arsenic; were not evidence against the prisoner. A new trial was refused; and it was then moved, in arrest of judgment, that the Superior Court of Chowan had not jurisdiction of the cause. The motion was overruled and sentence of death pronounced, from which the prisoners appealed.
The declarations of the deceased, made (444) at the time when he despaired of his recovery and felt sure that, though he was something better after the physician attended him, his disease would prove ultimately fatal, appear to me to have been properly admitted. The latest and most authoritative cases show that the court is to decide, and not the jury, whether the deceased made the declaration under the apprehension of death. 1 East Pl. Cr., 357 — John's case. But, as to the declarations of John Skinner, I know of no principle upon which they could be received as evidence against the prisoners. Even if he were a party to the record, they could be evidence only against himself, and not against the other defendants. For this reason, there ought to be a new trial. Whether the Superior Court of Chowan had jurisdiction of this case depends upon the construction of Laws 1816, ch. 912. The words of the second section are: "That such cases may be removed for trial to an adjoining county upon affidavit of the owner, or, in his absence, of the counsel of such slave or slaves, in the same manner as causes may now be removed by freemen." By the preceding act of 1813, ch. 853, suits may be removed by consent; but there is nothing in the phraseology to warrant a belief that criminal prosecutions were intended to be included. On the contrary, where the Legislature provides for their removal, they use different language, as in Laws 1808, ch. 745, in which the words are, "that no cause, civil or criminal," and it then proceeds to require an affidavit for their removal. The same expressions, "all causes, civil and criminal," are used in Laws 1806, ch. 693. From all which, the conclusion is that, as criminal causes could not in 1816 be removed otherwise than by affidavit, it was not competent for the owner of the slaves and their counsel to consent to the removal of this. I am therefore of opinion that a new trial should take place in Washington Superior Court, unless the case be properly removed (445) by affidavit.
By the act of 1813, N. R., 1274, the parties in a suit may remove it, by consent; and should the word "suit" embrace criminal prosecutions for capital offenses, a removal, by consent of the owner or counsel of a slave, or the consent of both, is neither within the words or spirit of the act, for they are not parties. But it is inferred that, as a cause may be removed upon the affidavit of the owner or counsel, it may be removed by their consent. I think such inference is incorrect. The object of the law is to obtain an impartial trial, and when it is made to appear to the court that in all probability such object is unlikely to be obtained in the court where the cause is pending, the court is directed to remove it; and it is a matter of not much moment from what source the information comes. It is the act of the court upon such information. The court perceives, if the fact be true, that the purposes of justice will be forwarded by a removal; and, therefore, in conformity to the purposes before mentioned, the Legislature gave to the owner or counsel the power of showing on oath the facts upon which the court acts. But, whether the purposes aforesaid will be answered when the owner or counsel consents to the removal, do not appear. What are the reasons for such assent need not be stated. There may be none, and therefore it would be better, perhaps, for the slave to be tried in the county where the offense is alleged to have been committed. The character, both of the accused and witnesses, would be better known, or the motive may be to obtain an unfair trial; and it is no answer to say that the counsel or owner might obtain the same thing upon their affidavits. It is true they may, but in so doing they must commit a perjury, and every power or privilege may be abused. I therefore think that the cause (446) was never properly in Chowan Court, and that the trial there was a perfect nullity. Judgment of death pronounced by that court must therefore be reversed. The court of Washington will proceed to the trial, as if no such proceedings had ever been, as have taken place in Chowan. This view of the case renders it not absolutely necessary to express an opinion on that part of the case which respects the declarations of John Skinner being given in evidence to the jury. But perhaps it will prevent another appeal to this Court, shortly to state the reasons why we think they ought not to have been received, as possibly our silence on the subject may be construed into an approbation. The rule has never been carried further than this, that when a common design is proven, the act of one in furtherance of that design is evidence against his associates; it is in some measure the act of all; but the declarations of one of the parties can be received only against himself. As to the dying declarations of the deceased, I concur in the opinion of the Chief Justice.