GEORGE DEEB, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR,
v.
H. E. GANDY, SHERIFF, ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, DEFENDANT IN ERROR
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This case reviews a habeas corpus proceeding where the plaintiff in error was denied bail on a first-degree murder charge. The appellate court determined that the evidence did not clearly establish premeditated design, thus entitling the plaintiff in error to bail.
The court held that the proof of premeditated design was not evident, nor was the presumption thereof great. Therefore, the plaintiff in error is entitled to bail.
“The question for us first to determine here is, whether or not the proof is evident, or the presumption great, that the alleged homicide was committed by Deeb from and with a premeditated design to effect the death of the person assaulted, and not, whether or not Deeb unlawfully killed the person assaulted.”
This quote defines the central legal question the court must answer regarding the standard for denying bail.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe plaintiff in error, George Deeb, sought bail after being charged with first-degree murder and denied release by the Circuit Court. The evidence pr…
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This case comes before us on writ of error to a judgment of the Circuit Court of the First Judicial circuit in a habeas corpus proceeding wherein the plaintiff in error was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Escambia County to be held without bail on a charge of murder in the first degree.
Writ of error affords the proper method of review of a judgment in habeas corpus proceedings. See Tyler v. Painter, 16 Fla. 144, and authorities there cited.
*284If, however, a Circuit Court on petition refuses to issue a writ of habeas corpus then the petitioner may apply direct to this Court, presenting his original petition here which will be treated as an application to this Court for an original writ. See Ex Parte Jeffcoat, opinion hied March 23, 1933.
The question for us first to determine here is, whether or not the proof is evident, or the presumption great, that the alleged homicide was committed by Deeb from and with a premeditated design to effect the death of the person assaulted, and not, whether or not Deeb unlawfully killed the person assaulted. The case was presented to the court below on stipulation between counsel for the State and counsel for the defendant that a transcript of the testimony taken before the coroner’s jury would constitute all the evidence to be submitted either by the State or the defendant for the purpose of that hearing and the same testimony comes to us for consideration embodied in a bill of exceptions.
The rule appears to be well settled that it is improper where an Appellate Court is reviewing the judgment of the Circuit Court in refusing bail in a criminal case, for the Appellate Court in the opinion to comment upon, or discuss, the evidence because of the probability that such comment upon, or discussion of, such evidence might have influence in the determination of the cause on the final trial. “Ex p. Mandil, 15 Ala. A., 421, 73 S. 756; Ford v. Dilley, 174 Iowa 243, 156 N. W. 513; Ex p. Garvin (Okl. Cr.) 192 P. 363; Ex p. Argenta, 88 Tex. Cr. 41, 224 S. W. 891 ; Ex P. Smith, 85 Tex. Cr. 649, 215 S. W. 299; Ex p. Webster, 80 Tex. Cr. 644, 192 S. W. 1063; Ex p. Parker, 80 Tex. Cr. 114, 188 S. W. 983; Ex p. Sapp, 77 Tex. Cr. 400, 179 S. W. 109; Ex p. Lawrence (Tex. Cr.), 137 S. W. 697; Ex p. Sperger, 62 Tex. Cr. 133, 137 S. W. 351; Ex *285p. Beaupre (Tex. Cr.), 135 S. W. 547; Ex p. McFarlane (Tex. Cr.), 129 S. W. 610; Ex p. Rucker, 6 Tex. A. 81; Ex p. McKinney, 5 Tex. A. 500; Ex p. Day, 3 Tex. A. 328; Ex p. Cook, 2 Tex. A. 388; Sharp v. State, 1 Tex. A. 299.”
We, therefore, refrain from here entering into a discussion of the evidence to show our reasons for arriving at the conclusion reached.
In Gainey v. State, 42 Fla. 607, 29 Sou. 405, in which case this Court had before it an application for bail in the case wherein the petitioner was charged with murder in the first degree, this Court said:
.“Where the proofs in such a case go no further than to establish a probability of guilt they are not sufficient either to sustain a verdict of conviction or to call for a denial of bail.”
In Russell v. State, 71 Fla. 236, 71 Sou. 27, this Court said:
“The question is not whether the evidence adduced on an application for bail is sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but whether the evidence is sufficient to establish that degree of proof where the judge to whom the application is made may say that guilt is evident or the presumption is great, which is a greater degree of proof than that of establishing guilt merely to the exclusion of a reasonable doubt.
■ “The word ‘evident’ is defined by Webster as ‘clear to the understanding and satisfactory to the judgment.’ Synonyms: ‘Manifest, plain, clear, obvious, conclusive.’ The word ‘manifest’ is defined as follows: ‘To put beyond question of doubt.’ In a trial this degree of proof is not required, for it not infrequently happens that upon a conviction the' court will refuse to grant a new trial because there is evidence to support the verdict, although to his *286mind guilt may not have been established to the point of being manifest, obvious, beyond a question of doubt, yet it is to the court to whom application for bail is made, and his judgment is invoked as to the degree of proof established by the evidence and not what a petit jury not yet impaneled may pos'sibly decide as to the probative force of the evidence.”
After a fair and careful consideration of the evidence, we are of the opinion that the proof of premeditated design is not evident, nor the presumption thereof great, and that, therefore, the plaintiff in error is entitled to bail. We, therefore, hold that the plaintiff in error should be set at liberty, upon having entered into a bail bond in the sum of $7500.00, with good and sufficient sureties to be approved by one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, conditioned that he, the plaintiff in error, shall be and appear in and before the Circuit Court of Escambia County at the next regular or special term thereof to answer the charge pending against him, and otherwise according to law in such cases made and provided..
It is so ordered.
Davis, C. J., and Ellis, BROWN and BufoRD, J. J., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Deeb v. State, 131 Fla. 362 (Fla. 1937)…iff in error was indicted by the grand jury of Escambia County, Florida, June 14, 1933, for murder in the first degree alleged to have been committed in Escambia County, Florida, April 19, 1933. Accused was allowed bail. Deeb v. Gandy, 110 Fla. 283, 148 So. 540. For further proceedings relative to the custody of the accused, see State, ex rel., Deeb, v. Fabisinski, Judge, 111 Fla. 454, 152 So. 207; State, ex rel. Deeb, v. Campbell, 123 Fla. 894, 167 So. 805. When the accused was brought into the Circuit C…
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State v. Campbell, 123 Fla. 894 (Fla. 1935)…Davis, J. Petitioner’s ward, George J. Deeb, was arrested and committed to the County Jail of Escambia County on the charge of murder and thereafter released on bond to await the action of the Grand Jury. See: Deeb v. Gandy, 110 Fla. 283, 148 Sou. Rep. 540. While at large on bail, and prior to the convening of the Escambia County Grand Jury, Deeb was haled before the County Judge of Leon County in statutory insanity proceedings (Sections 3654-3657 C. G. L., 2308-2311 R. G. S.), adju…
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State of Fla. ex rel. Mary Freeman v. Kelly, 86 So. 2d 166 (Fla. 1956)…we do not think there is a clear showing that appellant was guilty of the degree of homicide for which she was charged. State ex rel. Young v. Kelly, Fla., 66 So. 2d 252; State ex rel. Connor v. Sullivan, 160 Fla. 844, 36 So. 2d 828; Deeb v. Gandy, 110 Fla. 283, 148 So. 540; Russell v. State, 71 Fla. 236, 71 So. 27; Mayo v. State, Fla., 71 So. 2d 899. The last cited case is apposite because we there held that defendant’s version of the homicide can not be ignored where there is absence of other evidence l…
Previewing 3 of 9 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Russell v. State, 71 Fla. 236 (Fla. 1916)
- Tyler v. Painter, 16 Fla. 144 (Fla. 1877)
- Ex parte Gainey v. State, 42 Fla. 607 (Fla. 1900)