People v. Robles

California Supreme Court Jul 1, 1868Published

Before: Sawyer

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Holding. The court held that an indictment for larceny is sufficient without alleging the value of each individual item, but reversed the conviction because the trial court erroneously instructed the jury to disregard an admitted fact regarding a witness's indictment.

Issues

Whether an indictment for larceny is insufficient for failing to allege the value of each individual item stolen.
Whether evidence of a separate theft is admissible when the property was taken during the same act.
Whether it is error to instruct a jury to disregard an admitted fact regarding a witness's indictment status.

Disposition. reversed and remanded

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“The indictment is sufficient.”

“The indictment of the witness was an admitted fact on the part of the prosecution. The District Attorney was competent to make this admission, and there was no occasion to introduce further proof.”

“For this error the judgment must be reversed and a new trial had, and it is so ordered.”

Synopsis

Indictment—Value of Stolen Property.—An indictment charged defendant with the larceny of two hundred and fifty sheep, of the value of one thousand dollars: held, that a demurrer to the indictment for insufficiency, on the ground that the value of each sheep should be separately stated, was properly overruled.

Evidence of More than One Offense—Relevancy.—On the trial W. testified, under the objections of the defendant, on the grounds of irrelevancy, and as tending to prove offenses other than that charged, to the larceny of a band of his own sheep, which before had been and at the time were herded together with the sheep alleged to have been stolen from R., the prosecutor, and after the larceny were found by W. still together, in the possession of the same parties: held, that the testimony was properly admitted, as tending to establish the larceny of the sheep of R.

Admissions of the District Attorney as Evidence.—Where, during the progress of the trial, the District Attorney «admitted before the Court and jury, that R., a material witness for the people, was then under indictment for receiving stolen property, knowing it to be such, which was the same property, in part, for the larceny of which defendant was on trial: held, first, that the admission was binding on the people; second, that it was material, as affecting the credibility of R.; and third, that the Court erred in excluding it, by instruction, from the consideration of the jury.

By the Court, Sawyer, C. J.: . The defendant was indicted for the larceny of two hundred and fifty sheep, alleged to be of the total value of one thousaiid. dollars, ' Defendant demurred; and the ground of demurrer relied on in this Court, is, that the indictment is insufficient, because the value of each sheep is not alleged. Some embarrassment might arise, perhaps, under an indictment in this form, if the proof should only show some particular article, and not the whole of the property described, to have been stolen. But the indictment is sufficient. (2 Bish. Crim. Pr., Sec. 677.)

We think the evidence of Wheeler with reference to his own sheep admissible under the circumstances. This "was not evidence of a distinct felony, committed by the same parties at a different time. Wheeler’s and Reynolds’ sheep were herded together, were driven off together by the same parties, and sold together by the parties driving them off. There was but one act. If Wheeler’s sheep were stolen, this fact afforded some ground for ■ an inference, nothing to the contrary appearing, that all, taken at the same time, and undtp the same conditions and circumstances, were stolen. The evidence being admissible, there was no error in the instruction based upon it.

One Ramon was examined as a witness for the prosecution, and testified that defendant, and another, drove the sheep to the rancho, where they were found, and sold them to the party in possession at said rancho. On cross examination defendant was endeavoring to show, that Ramon, himself, had been indicted for the same larceny, whereupon the District Attorney admitted that Ramon was indicted for receiving the stolen property, knowing it to be stolen, and the matter was not pursued farther.

In submitting the case to the jury, the Court, at the request of the People, gave the following instruction: “That there is no proof in this case, that the witness, Ramon, has been [594]indicted, or now is indicted for any crime, and you will not consider the statement of counsel, that indictments are now pending against him in this Court, as there is no such evidence.”

We think this was error. The party himself, on cross examination, without objection by the People, had testified, that he had been in jail, and supposed he was indicted for the same offense, and the .District Attorney cut the matter short by making the admission before referred to. The indictment of the witness was an admitted fact on the part of the prosecution. The District Attorney was competent to make this admission, and there was no occasion to introduce further proof. It was important, as tending to show the position of the witness in relation to the matter, and as affecting his credibility. Yet its consideration was "withdrawn from the jury by the .instruction given. For this error the judgment must be reversed and a new trial had, and it is so ordered.

People v. Robles

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