People v. Taylor
People v. Taylor
Opinion of the Court
Defendant was convicted of the crime of grand larceny. He appeals from the judgment of conviction and from the order denying his motion for a new trial.
The complaining witness, an old man named Clark, resided at the state hospital, near Stockton. He came to that city on September 3, 1901, to view a circus parade. He wore a watch and chain at the time and carried a cane, and he testified that he looked at the watch at the hour of 10:30 A. M.
2. It is contended that it was error to admit evidence as to the cane, .and in admitting the cane itself. It is true, as contended, there was no charge that defendant had stolen the cane. The purpose of proving its possession by defendant within two minutes after he was seen walking with Clark and when he was leaving Clark was as a circumstance showing that they were together, and not to prove the commission of
3. It is urged as error that the witness McDiarmid w.as permitted to testify that he had a conversation with the witness Gengo. The conversation was not asked for, nor was it narrated—any part of it. What Gengo told the officer, we do not know. All we know is that, immediately after Gengo saw defendant passing, he spoke to the officer, and the officer followed defendant and arrested him. We can discover no possible prejudice to defendant in this circumstance, nor can we see that it was error to show it. The jury must have supposed the officer got his cue somehow, and although it was, perhaps, immaterial how he got it, the evidence could not have affected the minds of the jury to defendant’s prejudice.
4. It is urged as error that testimony was admitted to show the condition of Clark’s vest after the alleged larceny took place, the defendant not being present at the time. Gengo testified that, as Clark and defendant passed him, he noticed the watch chain, and also noticed that Clark’s vest was buttoned. Two minutes later he saw defendant going away from Clark, and he then noticed that Clark’s vest was unbuttoned, and the watch and chain were gone. He had seen defendant with his hands on Clark’s vest as he passed. These circumstances were all so nearly connected in point of time—practically simultaneous—that they were res gestae. The offense was committed on the person of Clark, and we think the condition of his vest, in which rested the watch,
The judgment and order should be affirmed.
We concur: Cooper, C.; Gray, C.
For the reasons given in the foregoing opinion the judgment and order are affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PEOPLE v. TAYLOR
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Larceny.—Evidence Examined, and Held to Sustain defendant’s conviction for grand larceny. Larceny—Evidence.-—In a Prosecution for Grand Larceny of a watch, evidence that defendant,.within two minutes after he had been seen with the prosecutor, also had his cane, was admissible as tending to show that the parties were together, and not objectionable as tending to prove another crime. Larceny—Evidence.—In a Prosecution for Grand Larceny, testimony by the officer arresting defendant that he had a conversation with a party who had seen defendant and the prosecutor together, even if material, was not prejudicial, the contents of the conversation not being given. Larceny—Res Gestae.—In a prosecution for grand larceny of a watch, where a witness testified that, as he passed defendant and prosecutor, he noticed the prosecutor’s watch and chain, and that two minutes later he saw defendant leave the prosecutor, his further testimony that he then noticed prosecutor’s vest was unbuttoned, and the watch and chain gone, was admissible as part of the res gestae.