People v. Gray
People v. Gray
Opinion of the Court
In count 1 of an information, defendant Gray, one Lane, and one Loenbruck were accused of violating section 337a, subdivision 1, of the Penal Code (bookmaking on result of horse racing). In count 2, Lane and Loenbruck were accused of violating subdivision 2 of said section (occupying a bar room with paraphernalia for purpose of recording bets on horse racing). In count 3, defendants Gray, Lane, and Loenbruck were accused of violating subdivision 3 of said section (receiving and forwarding money bet on horse racing). In count 4, Lane was accused of violating subdivision 5 of said section (permitting Loenbruck to occupy a room for purpose of recording bets on horse racing).
Lane’s motion to dismiss was granted. Trial by jury was waived as to Gray and Loenbruck. Upon stipulation the cause was submitted on the transcript of the preliminary examination, subject to the right to offer additional evidence. Gray was adjudged guilty on count 1 (bookmaking) and not guilty on count 3 (receiving money). Loenbruck was adjudged guilty on counts 1 and 3. Gray appeals from the judgment and the order denying his motion for a new trial.
Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the judgment.
During a period of several weeks prior to the arrest herein on April 22, 1954, Officer Bovenseip had spent considerable time in a bar, in Van Nuys, known as The Club. He told the operators of the bar that he worked for the gas company. On April 4, 1959, he saw defendant Lane behind the bar. A few minutes thereafter Lane went into the rear office and used the telephone. The officer went into that room and, after telling Lane that he wanted to wager on a horse, he gave Lane $6.00 and a slip of paper on which was written the name of a horse, the number of the race, and amount of the bet. On April 6 the officer telephoned the bar and talked with Lane and Loenbruck, and made an appointment to meet Loenbruck that afternoon. At the appointed time the officer went to the parking lot at the rear of the bar and sat with Loenbruck in Loenbruck’s automobile and talked about horse racing. Then the officer gave him two wagers on certain horse races, and also gave him $5.00.
Officer Bovenseip testified that he placed a telephone call to HOllywood 7-6896 and the telephone was answered by a male voice; the officer identified himself as “Bob for number one,” and he said, “In the 6th, Over High, five to win”; the male voice repeated the wager; then the officer said, “7th, Bounty Bay, two across”; the voice repeated the wager; the officer gave three additional wagers, and the voice repeated them; according to daily newspapers, the horses referred to in the telephone conversation were scheduled to run in races at Tanforan on that day, April 22; after that conversation, the officer signaled to his fellow officers who had the apartment under surveillance and they entered the apartment 308-A.
Officer Halliburton, one of the fellow officers, testified that, pursuant to pre-arrangement regarding surveillance and the signal, he was just outside the door of apartment 308-A; when he received a signal, which was the approach of Officer Van VIecb, he forced the apartment door open; then he saw defend
Officer Bovenseip testified that after he gave the signal he went to the apartment, arriving there just after his three fellow officers had entered; at that time Gray was the only person, other than the officers, in the apartment; it was a small one-room apartment, with a closet and bathroom; there was one exit or entrance; in the apartment there was a single bed, small desk, a telephone, chair, and dresser; while the witness was in the apartment, the telephone rang and he (witness) answered it, and a male voice said, “Bud for number three. At Tanforan in the 6th Malcolm G, one to win, one to place. In the 7th Pemaroth, one to win, one to place. In the 8th Hemet Star, one to win. In the 8th Go and Call, one to win. Total of $6.00.”; the witness replied, “Got it,” and then he hung up the receiver; while the witness was in the apartment, at the time of the arrest and in the presence of the three other officers, he had a conversation with Gray. When the deputy district attorney asked the officer to state the conversation, counsel for Gray objected thereto on the ground that the corpus delicti had not been established. The objection was overruled. Thereupon, the officer testified that Gray stated that he had nothing to say, and that “he was told that if he got caught he shouldn’t say anything until he talked to his lawyer.” Defendant Gray testified that he was present at the'preliminary examination when Officer Bovenseip testified that he made a telephone call to an apartment and he made a wager with Gray on a horse race. Gray’s counsel asked him: “Did Mr. Bovenseip make a wager with you?”; Gray answered, “He did not.” On cross-examination, Gray testified that he was alone in the apartment at the time Officer Halliburton entered the apartment; during the half hour before Officer Halliburton entered, no one (other than Gray) had been in the apartment; he (Gray) had been convicted of a felony (forgery).
Appellant contends, as above stated, that the evidence was insufficient to support the judgment. He argues that the testimony of Officer Bovenseip does not identify appellant as the person who answered the telephone when the officer telephoned prior to the arrest; that, in the absence of identifying the voice that answered the telephone, no one could establish that the officer dialed the correct number, nor
The evidence was sufficient to support the judgment.
The judgment and the order denying the motion for a new trial are affirmed.
Pourt, J., and Lillie, J., concurred.
Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied October 5, 1960.
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