People v. Gilmore

SHAW, J.

Defendant was charged with the crime of grand larceny, and upon trial was convicted of an attempt to commit the offense with which he was charged.

[333]

He appeals from the judgment and an order of court denying his motion for a new trial.

The only ground upon which a reversal is asked is that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict.

A brief statement of the ease shows appellant’s contention to be wholly without merit. No evidence was offered on behalf of defendant. That offered on behalf of the people shows that during the noon hour on December 18, 1913, defendant, with a companion named Isenberg, entered the jewelry store of O. L. Wuerker, in Los Angeles, stating to Mr. Willard, manager of the store, that they desired to look at some diamond rings. Mr. Willard then took from the show-case a tray of diamond rings and' exhibited them to defendant and Isenberg, who, after looking them over, indicated that none of them was satisfactory, defendant suggesting that they be shown a tray of rings which was in the show-window. Mr. Willard replaced the tray of rings taken from the show-case and brought out the tray from the window. Prom this tray Isenberg selected a ring priced at ninety dollars, saying he would make a deposit of two dollars upon it. Defendant meanwhile was looking at a ring from the tray priced at two hundred and eighty-five dollars. As Willard reached for an envelope wherein to place the ninety dollar ring selected by Isenberg, and while defendant was looking at the two hundred and eighty-five dollar ring, he (Willard) saw in the tray containing the rings an imitation diamond ring in size similar to the two hundred and eighty-five dollar ring, the latter not being in the tray. Willard picked up the tray and, as he returned it to the show-case, took therefrom the bogus diamond and said: “I don’t want this ring; come on, give me the good ring, and do it quick. You can’t do that to me here. ... I don’t want your $2. ... I shoved the $2 back to him and I took the $90 ring. He says,‘What do you mean by "that?’ Isays, ‘I mean you got to pay for that ring or give it to me quick.’ As I said that, why Mr. Gilmore starts and turned around and run, and Mr. Isenberg. So I went out after them just as hard as I could go.” At the door defendant and Isenberg separated, one going north and one south. Willard followed Isenberg, and a gentleman who was entering the store followed defendant, who ran north to Second and Spring streets, thence to Broadway, thence south to the middle of the block, where he was caught and turned over to an officer. Willard further