People v. Ardell

COOPER, C. Defendant was convicted of grand larceny, committed by the felonious stealing of $280 from the person of one Heath. He appeals from the judgment and an order denying his motion for a new trial.

One Trixy Lewis, who was an accomplice, testified fully as to the facts. Her testimony, if true, showed defendant’s guilt beyond question; but it is claimed that there is not sufficient evidence, aside from that of the accomplice, tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense. We have carefully examined the evidence, and find it fully sufficient within the rule. The defendant claimed to be a friend of Heath, and knew of the money, being in Heath’s pocket. He participated in drinking at his own saloon, prior to the robbery, with Heath, Trixy Lewis, “Missouri Kid ” and others. He went with all these parties, in the late hours of the night, to a dance at a dance-hall kept by “Missouri Kid” in the outskirts of Fresno. After the woman, Lewis, had danced with Heath, taken him into a crib adjoining the dance-hall and taken the money out of his pocket, he made complaint to defendant and others. Defendant pretended to be sorry, and apparently cried. He told Heath to say nothing about it, and he would try to get the money back. He sent Heath to San Francisco the same night on the 1 o’clock train, gave him half a dozen cigars, some whisky and a letter of introduction to “Spider Kelley.” Heath returned [829]to Fresno in a day or two, and had the woman arrested. Defendant tried to get Heath to dismiss the case against the woman, gave him $40, and told him'to go to the judge, and' tell him that he had not been robbed; that one Brooks had taken his money while he was drinking to keep for him; and to ask the judge to dismiss the case, and for Heath to pay the costs. Heath did not succeed in getting the case dismissed, and defendant gave him the $40, and sent him by the Owl train, the same night, to Santa Monica. Defendant fled from the scene of the crime, and when arrested was found in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, going under the assumed name of Frank Perry. Heath testified, without objection, to a conversation with one Brooks and defendant, in regard to getting the case against Trixy Lewis dismissed—being the conversation at the time defendant gave Heath $40—and told him to tell the judge he had not been robbed. Defendant, after the evidence was given, moved to strike it out as irrelevant and incompetent. The motion was properly denied. The evidence was material, and tended to show the solicitude of defendant as to settling the matter. Besides, having been received without objection, it was not error to refuse a motion to strike it out: People v. Rolfe, 61 Cal. 543.