838 DAVIS V. STATE [246 ALLEN FRANK DAVIS V. STATE OF ARKANSAS 5,5378 440 S.W. 2d 344 (4Audon Delivered May 5, 1969 [Rehearing denied Rine 2, 19691 1. Indictment & Information—Prosecution by Information—Validity Under Constitution.—Prosecution by information is authorized by Amendment 21 of Arkansas Constitution and has not been held violative of U. S. Constitution by Federal courts. 2. Jury—Impaneling for Trial—Challenge for Cause.—Asserted error in exclusion of jurors with conscientious scruples against capital punishment was not sustained by the record. Evidence—Admissibility of Photographs—Discretion of Trial Court.—Admission into evidence of photographs taken by commercial photographer with explanation by trial court that they were taken within a reasonable time after the incident and helped explain testimony as to what actually occurred held not an abuse of trial court's discretion.
ARK.] DAVIS V. STATt 889 4. Witnesses—Privilege as to Physician—Waiver.—Appellant by calling as a witness his private psychiatrist employed for purposes of testifying at the trial waived any privilege he may have had a right to claim under statute as to other examining psychiatrists called to testify. 5. Criminal Law—Appeal & Error—Insanity as Jury Question.— Contention that jury verdict was contrary to evidence and law concerning insanity held without merit where there was testimony from which jury could have found either way. 6. Criminal Law—Trial—Instruction on Insanity.—Objection to trial court's instruction on insanity held without merit - under rule in Bell v. State, 120 Ark. 530, which is reaffirmed. 7. Criminal Law—Trial—Repetitious Instructions.— Instructions covering subject matter in instructions already given were properly refused. 8. Criminal Law—Instruction on Intent—Sufficiency of Evidence. —Giving of an instruction on intent held not warranted by the evidence. 9. Criminal Law—Trial—Waiver of Error.—Any error which may have occurred in connection with appellant's absence from in-chambers hearings was waived by appellant and ' his counsel, since conduct complained of involved matters ordinarily conducted by attorneys upon objections made in open court prior to entry in chambers. 10. Criminal Law—Cruel & Unusual Punishment.—Punishment authorized by statute is not cruel and unusual unless it is barbarous or unknown to the law, or so wholly disproportionate to the nature of the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. 11. Courts—Issue of Capital Punishment—Judicial Powers.—Ques= tion of whether moral sense of community approves capital punishment should be addressed to legislature instead of courts, except in those instances where court may exercise its discretion under statute. [Ark. Stat. Ann. § 43-2310 (Repl. 1964)1 12. Homicide—Nature & Extent of P • unishment.—Sentence of death by electrocution held properly imposed for first degree murder under circumstances shown.
840 DAVIS V. STATE [246 • Appeal from Garland Circuit-Court, Henry M. Britt, Judge; affirmed. Jack Holt Sr. and Bailey, Trimble & Holt for appellant. Joe Purcell, Atty. Gen.; Don Langston, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee. CONLEY BYRD, Justice. On January 19, 1967, appellant Allen Frank Davis shot and killed his estranged wife Sharon Davis with a 30-30 caliber rifle. The jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree without recommendation and he stands before this court sentenced to death by electrocution. His defense was not guilty by reason of insanity. The record shows that appellant and his wife Sharon separated in 'August of 1966. Following the separation, appellant lived with his mother. On tbe date involved, appellant had caused bis wife to be kept under surveillance by a friend. About quittnig time appellant joined his friend across the street from where his wife worked. When he joined his friend he had with him a denim jacket described by his friend as being stiff enough to stand in the corner alone. While they were watching, bis mother-in-law drove by with his children to pick up his Wife. Appellant told his friend that be bated bis mother-in-law but liked her cooking and, in parting, told him he was going to do-something that he should have done a long time ago. His mother-in-law and Sharon proceeded to the Red Bird Laundromat and Service Station on Central Avenue. Appellant followed. At the laundromat he exchanged some words with his wife before he shot ber. He also shot his mother-in-law when she ran into the laundromat for help. Witnesses testified that as he drove away he brandished his shooting iron -and shouted, "Sharon, how do you like that." AppellAnt was . arrested at his mother's home a few minutes later where he was sprawled out on a bed in a
ARK.1 DAVIS V. STATE 841 stupor after taking some pills. The 30-30 rifle was found wrapped in his• denim jacket in a dog pen. POINT 1. Appellant, in arguing that he was deprived of his rights under the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution by virtue of the fact that he was tried and convicted upon an information, • readily • recognized that we have rejected this argument many times. Prosecution by information is authorized by Amendment 21 of our constitution. As we have pointed out many times the Federal Courts have not held that. prosecution by information is prohibited by the United States Constitution. For tbis reason -we hold appellant's first point to be without merit. POINT 2. A.ppellant contends here that the trial court erred, under the holding in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510 (1968), in excluding jurors who had' conscientious scruples against capital punishment. A subsidiary argument is that the trial court insured tbe prosecution's request for a conviction and death sent-- cum by excluding all prospective jurors wbo said they. opposed the death sentence or bad religious or conscientious scruples against the death penalty. We do not believe that the record sustains appellant's argument. As we read the record, the trial court followed the With erspoon case, excluding justice Douglas's concurrence, and our own case of Atkins v. State, 16 . Ark. 568 (1855). In the. latter case we pointed out: "Whatever may be a man's view of capital punishment as a question of policy, the jury box is not a proper place for him to consider such policy. There be is obliged, by his oath, to try the guilt or innocence of the accused, according to law and evidence, and not to set up his own private opinion against the policy of tbe law, which he is bound, as a good . citizen, to abide by and administer, so long as it is force, and until it is repealed by the consti,
842 DAN-LS V. STATE [246 tUted authority. See the authorities collected on this subject in Wharton's Crim. Law 857, 858." To follow : appellant's argument to its logical con-chision would create a kind of anarchy in our system of government whereby the minority will always hold a veto over any established public policy. For instance, since the holding in Bloom v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 194 (1968), it would be almost impossible to enforce some provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, if a court were forced to accept jurors whose private opinions are contrary to the policy of the law. For these reasons we find this point without merit. POINT 3: We find no merit in appellant's argument that .the trial court abused it$ discretion in admitting hi- evidence pictures taken by William Ralph Dever, Jr. • The record shows that Mr. Dever is a commercial photographer and a mail man. He has a police radio receiver in his car. When he heard the call con-cenning tbe shooting be immediately went to the scene and took the pictures of which appellant complains. In permitting -the pictures to be introduced, the trial court pointed out that they were taken within a reasonable time after the incident involved and that they helped explain the testimony as to what actually occurred, nothing more, nothing less. In Stewart v. State;'2M . Ark. 458, 345 S.W. 2d 472 (1961), we pointed out that it is within the sound discretion of the trial judge to permit the introduction of photographs to describe and to identify the premises which were- the scene of the crime, to establish the Corpus delicti of the crime charged, to - disclose the environment of the crinie at the time it was committed and to corroborAte testimony. See also, Reed v. MeGibboney, 243 Ark. 789, 422 S.W: 2d 115 (1967). Under this point appellant also argues that the pictures inti'oduced into evidence concerning Mrs. Knight's
A f:lK .] DAVIS V. STATE 843 shooting and the bloodstained floor from which she was removed are not-relevant, material or competent. Here, too, we find this was a matter within the discretion of the trial court. The record shows that-at the time Mrs. Knight. picked up appellant's estranged wife, appellant expressed hatred . for Mrs. Knight, his mother-in-law. Since the shootings were all one occurrence we are unwilling to say that the photographs could not be introduced for the purpose of showing malice. POINT 4. On the issue of insanity, appellant used two expert witnesses, Dr. Shelton Fowler, a psychiatrist on the Arkansas State Hospital staff, and Dr. Robert F. Shannon, a private psychiatrist. Dr. Fowler's treatment was limited to bis duties as an employee of the state hospital. Dr. Shannon was employed by appellant's mother for purposes of testifying at the trial. To rebut appellant's expert . - testimony, the -state called Dr. Yobe, a psychiatrist hired by Garland County to examine appellant for purposes of determining his sanity, and Dr. Robert Lewis, a- psychiatrist originally employed by appellant's mother for medical treatment and psychiatric . evaluation immediately following appellant's arrest. Appellant argues that the testimony of the latter two doctors is privileged within the meaning of Ark. Stat. Ann. § 28-607 (Repl. 1962). That statute provides "Hereafter no person authorized . to practice physic or surgery and no trained nurses shall be compelled to.disclose any information which he may have acquired from his patient while attending in a professional character and_ which information was necessary to enable him ta prescribe as a physician or daany act for him as a surgeon or trained nurse. Provided, if two [2] or more physicians or nurses are, or have been in attendance on the patient. for the same ailment, the patient by. waiving the privilege attaching to any of said physicians or nurses.
844 DAVIS V. STATE [246 by calling said physician or nurse to testify concerning said ailment, shall be d.eemed to have waived the privilege attaching to the other physicians or nurses." -Wefind tltat v, , Iten appellant called Dr. Sha11:110D, aS distinguished from Dr. Fowler, who may have served in a different capacity, he waived any privilege which he may have had a right to claim under the statute. • POINT 5. Appellant here argues that the verdict of ate jury ignores the overwhelming evidence of insanity and that their verdict is contrary to the evidence and to the law concerning insanity. Our cases, without exception, hold that when there is conflicting evidence upon an issue the matter should be presented to the jury. In this instance there was testimony from which the jury could have found either way. In addition to the la.y testimony, two doctors testified that appellant was insane and two doctors for the state testified that appellant was mentally competent. Therefore we find this contention without merit. POINT 6. In his argument on instructions, appellant admits that the insanity instruction given by the trial court is in accordance with Bell v. State, 120 Ark. 530, 180 S.W. 186 (1915), -but puts forth the argument adopted by the author in 20 Ark. Law Review 123 that the rule in Bell v. State represents "the hardened attitude". Appellant's description of the insanity rule laid down in Bell v. State is that of the author of the law review article referred to above. We do not necessarily accept as accurate appellant's description of the rule there laid down. However, we do acknowledge that the rule of who has the burden of proof on the issue of in-- sanity is not uniform in the many jurisdictions in this nation. The rule in Bell v. State has been applied many times by tbis court and in a number of cases in which other rules have been rejected. See Stewart v. State, 233 Ark. 458, 345 S.W. 2d 472 (1961). We again reaf-
ARK.] DAVIS v. STATE 845 firm Bell v. State in holding appellant's objections to the trial court's instruction No. 5 to be without merit. Appellant also complains of error in the trial court's refusal to give his instructions numbers 1 and 3. His instruction No. 1 bad to do with the burden of proof in the whole case and was covered by other instructions given by the court. Appellant's instruction No. 3 merely gave a definition of preponderance of the evidence, and this too we find was covered by the court's instructions numbers 5 and 6. Appellant's requested instruction No. 9 provides " You are hereby instructed that if you should find that the defendant, Frank Davis, was in fact under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the extent that he would be incapable of forming an intent, then you must . ind th e defendant not guilty of — the charge of murder in the first degree." We find no evidence in the record to warrant the submission of instruction No. 9 with reference to intent. The uncontradicted testimony in the record shows that he was driving . his automobile at the time and that after the shooting . he entered his mother's home and told her that he wanted a conference with her. It is true that he was found by the officers on the bed in a blacked-out condition, but here again the testimony shows that it was a result of some pills taken subsequent to the shooting. POINT 7. In arguing that the trial court erred in excluding the appellant and/or permitting his absence during trial, appellant refers to conferences in chambers between the court and counsel. The first such conference was conducted on the admissibility of certain evidence from Officer Seal. This conference was requested by the court and before 'any proceedings were had, the deputy prosecuting attorney, Mr. Harrison, asked ap-, pellant's counsel if he wanted appellant present. Appellant's counsel replied, "We don't know, we don't
846 DAVIS V. STATE [246 know what is going to . happen." All other such conferences between court and counsel were had at the request of appellant's counsel. 'Therefore, as . we . read the record there was no exclusion of appellant froth the in-chamber hearings. Furthermore the record shows that all rulings made as result of the in:chamber hearings were again made in oPen court before the jury, except in those instances when counsel for, appellant specifically requested such rulings be made in chathbers and not before the jury. Under these circumstances we find that if any error was committed, it was waived by appellant and his counsel. See Davidson v. State,108 Ark. 191, 158 S.W. 1103 (1913), and Nelson v. State, 190 Ark. 1027, 82 S.W: 2d 519 (1935). In holding that there was a waiver, we specifically point out that appellant was not excluded from such hearings and that the conduct complained of involved matters ordinarily *conducted by attorneys upon objections made in open court prior to the entry in chambers. POINT 8. Appellant's last argument is that the imposition of the death sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. In making this argument, appellant acknowledges that this court has held that punishment authorized by statute is not cruel and unusual unless' it is barbarous or unknown to the law, or so wholly disproportionate to the nature of the offense as to shock the moral sense of the community. In making this statement, however, appellant poses this question, "Does the moral sense of this community, taking a cross-section of its people, adhere to and approve the taking of human life as fit punishment," Our answer to appellant's question is that it should be addressed to the legislature instead of the courts, except in those instances wherein the Court may exercise its discretion Under Ark. Stat. Ann: § '43-2310 (Repl. 1964). From -our reading of the record we ' are nOt in a pesition to say that the punishment assessed is greater than onght to be inflicted under
ARK.] DAVIS V. STATE 847 the circumstances here shown. We make this observation without determining whether the statute vests the discretion in the trial court or in this court or both. • Jn his motion for new trial appellant raised other issues. We find all such issues to be without merit. Affirmed. HOLT, J., not participating. HARRIS, C.J., dissents. CARLETON HARRIS, Chief JuStice. 1 think the trial court committed error by allowing state exhibits No. 7, 8, 9 and 10 to be introduced into evidence. These exhibits all relate to the shooting of Mrs. Pauline Knight, mother of the deceased, Sharon Davis. Mrs.. Davis was shot while sitting in ber automobiler---aTrd--Atrs. Knight was shot just outside the Laundromat. Exhibit 7 shows Mrs. Knight lying in front of the Laundromat door ; exhibit No. 8 depicts the same scene from a different angle; both No. 9 and No. 10 show a large pool of blood left in the doorway after Mrs. Knight had been removed. do not consider this evidence to be relevant, nor proper, to the crime with which . Davis was charged (the murder of his wife). The shooting of Mrs. Knight was an entirely separate offense, for which he could also have been tried, and this evidence bad nothing to do with appellant's motive in killing Mrs. Davis. The majority say: "Under this point appellant also argues that the pictures introduced into evidence concerning Mrs. Knight's shooting and the bloodstained floor from which : she was removed are not : relevant, material or competent. Here, too, we find this was a matter within the discretion of the trial court:- The
848 DAVIS V. STATE [246 •. record shows that at the time Mrs. Knight picked up appellant's estranged wife, appellant expressed _hatred for Mrs. Knight, his mother-in-law. SinCc the shootings were all one occurrence we are unwilling to say that the photographs could not be in-. troduced for the purpose of showing malice." Malice for whom? The majority answer 'that question by saying that Davis had expressed hatred for his mother-in-law. Since hatred- for his mother-in-law was not the reason for his shooting his wife,.I can see no reason for the court to have permitted the introduction of these photographs. In. State v. Palmer (La.), 80 So. 2d 374, tbe Louisiana Supreme Court said: "In determining their admissibility, proper inquiry should be made to ascertain whether such evidence would clarify some material issue and would afford the court and the jury a clearer comprehen--sion of existing physical facts and throw greater light and more accurate appreciation of the weight, if any, to be given the oral testimony. Manifestly, where photographs are irrelevant or immaterial, would confuse, or mislead,. rather •than be helpful, distract the tribunal's attention to other than main issues, or where tbe natural effect of their introduction in evidence would arouse the sympathies or prejUdices, rather than throw helpful light, such evidence should be promptly excluded." In VOlume 1, Wharton's Criminal Evidence (12th Edition), § 154, page 299, -we-find: " The requirement that evidence be relevant applies to documents and photographs with the same force and effect as to other forms of evidence. They must be relevant to establish or disprove the fact conceniing which they are Offerecir" 'My emphasis.
AP K. S19 In Volume 2 of the same edition, Section 686, Page 652, it is said: "As in the case of all evidence, photographs must be relevant, and are inadmissible if they introduce a substantial irrelevant element. Thus a photograph of the victim of the crime and of a weapon is inadmissible when the weapon is not related to the crime." In line with these authorities, I maintain that the photographs of Abe shooting of Mrs. Knight were not relevant to establish the fact sought to be proved, i.e., the murder of Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis had already been mortally wounded before Mrs. Knight was shot, and the photographs therefore were not related to the crime with which Davis was charged and convicted. It is my view that this evidence could only distract the jury's attention from the main issue, and could only tend to arouse prejudice against appellant. Because, in my opinion, the court erred in allowing the photographs relating to Mrs. Knight to be introduced, I would reverse the judgment.
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.