People v. Van Sciever
People v. Van Sciever
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was charged with embezzlement in converting to his own use a bank check for $1,075, the property of one Mrs. Anderson. He appeals from the judgment and an order denying him a new trial.
But one point need be noticed. It is contended that the evidence does not support the verdict, and it is clear that it does not. One Taylor desired to procure a loan of $2,200, to be secured by a mortgage upon land owned by him in San Bernardino county, and employed defendant, as broker, to negotiate the loan, and get the money for him. Defendant went to Mrs. Anderson, for whom he had previously loaned money, and with whom he had had considerable other business, who agreed to make the loan to Taylor, and defendant was directed by her to attend to the matter of looking after the title to the land in her behalf, and the taking of the mortgage. Defendant accordingly examined the land and the title, and, finding them satisfactory, procured the due execution of the mortgage by Taylor, and the same was given by Taylor to defendant, to be delivered to Mrs. Anderson upon receipt of the money. Mrs. Anderson did not have the entire amount required on hand at the time of the execution of the mortgage, but certain sums were paid over to Taylor, through defendant, from time to time, until a balance of $1,075 remained. Subsequently Mrs. Anderson drew her check in favor of defendant for this balance, to enable him to pay the money over to Taylor. Defendant cashed the check, and with the proceeds paid certain
We concur: Harrison, J.; Garoutte, J.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PEOPLE v. VAN SCIEVER
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Embezzlement—Sufficiency of Evidence.—In a Prosecution for Embezzlement of a check, the evidence showed that one T. employed defendant as a broker to obtain a loan for him; that defendant went to complainant, who agreed to make the loan, and defendant was directed by her to attend to the matter of looking after the title to the land, and taking of a mortgage thereon; that defendant found the title satisfactory; that T. made the mortgage, and gave it to defendant, to be delivered to complainant on receipt of the money; that afterward she drew the cheek in question for the balance in favor of defendant, who cashed it, and with the proceeds paid certain of T.’s obligations; and that defendant refused to deliver to complainant the mortgage until she settled with him for his services in the matter, and for certain other services which he claimed to have rendered her. Held, that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction.