People v. Graham

THOMAS, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment

of

conviction for petit larceny, on the ground of misconduct of the prosecuting officers.

The information charged defendant and another with the crime of grand larceny—the stealing of two sows and five pigs, of the value of seventy-five dollars. Graham demanded and was granted a separate trial. From the record before us it appears that four days were consumed and fifty-five witnesses examined during the trial—the transcript covering nearly five hundred pages.

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It is claimed by appellant that, “During the arguments of the case to the jury the following remarks of the counsel for the prosecution were excepted to by the defendant:

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“Mr. Ham, Deputy District Attorney: It is our theory that these men are a band of hog thieves, that they make their living by stealing hogs.

“Mr. Machetanz: I want our objection to go to that, that these men are a band of hog thieves.

“Mr. Ham: The court can instruct the jury.

“The Court: Very well. The jury are instructed to disregard that statement of the district attorney.

“Mr. Ham: It is our theory that those men were engaged in stealing hogs; it is our theory that that defendant went around there stealing hogs throughout that country.

“Mr. Perkins: We object to that as irrelevant, incompetent, and immaterial, and prejudicial to the substantial rights of the defendant.

“The Court: Go ahead with your argument. . .

“Mr. Scott, District Attorney: My theory is that there is a band of hog-stealers down there, and that there is a combination in that country down there in that neighborhood of Alpaugh that has been, stealing hogs. That is a proper inference to be drawn.

“Mr. Perkins: We except to the remarks of the district attorney that there is a band of hog-stealers, and to the statement that there is a combination down there in the neighborhood of Alpaugh that has been stealing hogs.