People v. Klee
People v. Klee
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was tried upon an information for embezzlement, was found guilty, and appeals from the judgment and the order denying a new trial.
The property alleged to have been embezzled was a gray mare, the property of one J. C. Hickey, which had been intrusted to defendant on the 18th of October, 1901, “to use and care for as a bailee.” A brief preliminary statement of facts is to the effect that the defendant was engaged in selling paper bags, twine, etc., through the country, carrying his stock in a covered delivery wagon, with one horse, and wished to get a second horse “for its keep”; that he obtained from the prosecuting witness, J. C. Hickey, in the city of Los Angeles, a gray mare, which he drove with his own horse, and at or near Saticoy, in Ventura county, traded her to one Willis for another horse, paying $25 “to boot,” and continued on northerly, intending to go to Oakland, and was detained at Niles, in Alameda county, by a constable, upon information from Los Angeles. Defendant’s contention is that he had an option to purchase the mare at a stated price, and was therefore authorized to dispose of her. The prosecuting witness, J. C. Hickey, testified that he was “engaged in buying and selling horses, keeping a sale stable”; that defendant advertised that he wanted a horse for its feed; that he went to see him, but he was absent; that he came to his stable that evening, looked at the mare, and seemed to like her, and an agreement was made that he should have
Defendant’s motion for a new trial was based upon the grounds: (1) That the evidence was not sufficient to justify the verdict; (2) that the court erred in its instructions to the jury; and (3) that the verdict is against law. The evidence is brought up by bill of exceptions.
The act of the defendant upon which the information is based was the trading of the mare to Mr. Willis, and the statute under which it was framed is section 507 of the Penal Code, which relates to embezzlement by a bailee. Defendant calls our attention to section 511 of the same code, which provides as follows: “Upon any indictment for embezzlement, it is a sufficient defense that the property was appropriated openly and avowedly, and under a claim of title preferred in good faith, even though such claim is untenable. But this provision does not excuse the unlawful retention of the property of another to offset or pay demands held against him. ’ ’ This section was embodied in an instruction requested by the defendant, and given to the jury, and presented the ultimate fact to be determined. It would be sufficient here to say that the evidence was materially conflicting, and that in such case the verdict of the jury should not be disturbed. In view, however, of the very earnest contention of counsel for defendant, we will briefly call attention to some of the facts . which we think fully justified the conclusion embodied in the verdict. It may be conceded that the mare was for sale, and that Mr. Hickey stated a price that he would accept for
As to the instructions, it is contended that the jury.were not instructed that, to constitute the crime, they must find that the defendant “feloniously” intended to appropriate the mare. It is not necessary to consider whether the omission of that word in the instructions requested by the prosecution constituted an error, since the jury were instructed at de
It is also contended that the reading of section 506 of the Penal Code as an instruction constituted prejudicial error. That section, it is true, relates to trustees and others intrusted with property for the use of other persons; but we see nothing in it that could mislead the jury, who were fully and accurately instructed as to embezzlement by a bailee.
So, defendant excepted to an instruction substantially in the language of section 1572 of the Civil Code, defining “fraud.” That section, it is true, defines “fraud” within the meaning of the chapter of the code relating to contracts, and had no special application to the case, but did not prejudice the defendant; and following that instruction, which was given at the request of the prosecution, the jury were instructed, at defendant’s request, that “the test of the law to be applied to the circumstances of this case for the purpose of determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant is, did he intend to permanently deprive the owner of his property ? ’ ’
Three instructions requested by defendant were refused. We see no error in refusing them, as every matter contained in the first two had been given, and the last was properly refused. That request was based upon section 512 of the Penal Code. There was no evidence that the defendant restored the property before an information was laid before 'the committing magistrate, nor any evidence as to the date at which such information was laid.-
Finding no error to the prejudice of defendant, I advise that the judgment and order appealed from be affirmed.
We concur: Cooper, C.; Gray, C.
For the reasons given in the foregoing opinion the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.
Reference
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- PEOPLE v. KLEE
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- Embezzlement by Bailee—Evidence.—Penal Code, Section 507, makes it embezzlement for one to convert property intrusted to him as bailee. Section 511 provides that, on any indictment for embezzlement, it is a sufficient defense that the property was appropriated openly and under a bona fide claim of title, though such claim is untenable. On a prosecution for the embezzlement of a mare sold by defendant while in his possession, prosecutor testified that he intrusted her to defendant to have her for her keep until demanded; that prosecutor stated a price that he would sell the mare for, but that, in answer to a statement by defendant that he might buy the mare, prosecutor said that that would be “an after-consideration.” Defendant testified that prosecutor stated that he might buy the mare at any time for $55. Defendant did not inform prosecutor of the sale of the mare, or remit any of the alleged price. Held, that the evidence was sufficient to sustain a conviction. Embezzlement by Bailee — Intent. — On a Prosecution under Penal Code, section 507, making it embezzlement for one to convert property intrusted to him as a bailee, the question whether it was error to fail to instruct that defendant must have “feloniously” intended to appropriate the property was immaterial on appeal; the jury having been instructed that the test to be applied for determining the guilt or innocence of defendant was whether he intended to permanently deprive prosecutor of his property. Embezzlement by Bailee—Instruction.—On a Prosecution under Penal Code, section 507, for the embezzlement of property by a bailee, the court instructed substantially in the language of Civil Code, section 1572, which defines “fraud.” Held, that though the section defines “fraud” within the meaning of the chapter relative to contracts, and had no application, there was no prejudice to defendant, the instruction being followed by one stating that the question was whether, defendant intended permanently to deprive the owner of his property.