State v. Creed
State v. Creed
Opinion of the Court
In a trial to the court, the defendant was convicted of kindling a fire without a permit in violation of an ordinance (§ 2-9) of the town of Berlin. In his appeal, he assigns error in the court’s
In considering errors claimed in the admission of certain evidence, we reiterate that when error is directed to the admission of evidence, § 989 (4) of the 1963 Practice Book must be followed. The defendant has failed to follow this rule and has improperly treated the transcript as an exhibit and then referred to pages therein where such errors are claimed to appear. However, since both in argument and brief the defendant has placed great stress on the admission of certain evidence, we will consider his claim as it relates to this evidence, although such consideration is not to be construed as a relaxation of the rules.
The Berlin ordinance (§ 2-9), entitled “Ordinance concerning the Kindling of Fires,” provides in general that “ [n] o fire shall be made or maintained within the limits of the town . . . [unless certain requirements are met] without obtaining a permit from the proper authority.” The ordinance then continues (subsection [8]): “Any person who shall malee or maintain or who shall authorize another to make or maintain a fire in violation of this ordinance shall be fined . . . .”
The facts, with such additions to the finding as are warranted, are as follows: The defendant was president of a corporation operating a car sales showroom in the town of Berlin. On April 8, 1963,
The defendant contends that the evidence does not support the conclusion of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He argues that since he was absent at the time he could only be found to have violated the ordinance upon adequate proof that he authorized an agent or employee of the corporation to make or maintain the fire. The state does not disagree with this contention but argues that there was adequate proof of such agency, that is, that an agent or agents of the defendant were authorized by him to make or maintain the fire. Both the state and the defendant are in general agreement that the only material evidence of such agency and authority could be found in an alleged conversation between a police officer and the service manager of the corporation. An officer of the Berlin police department assigned to investigate the fire went to the showroom of the corporation and, having observed the fire, consulted the corporation’s service manager. The officer testified that he asked the service manager, “Who would start a fire in a case like this?” and the service manager answered, “Anyone has orders from Dan Creed to start a fire to keep rubbish burn-” At this point the defendant objected, claiming such evidence
“It is well established that admissions, statements and declarations of an agent, other than his testimony in the case in which the issue arises, are not admissible to prove agency. Indeed, there must be prima facie proof of agency before such declarations or statements are admissible for any purpose. The general ground of exclusion is that such statements are hearsay . . . .” 2 Am. Jur. 352, Agency, § 445 and cases cited; Baptist v. Shanen, 145 Conn. 605, 609; Milne v. MacWhirter, 128 Conn. 683, 687; Metropolitan Cleaners & Dyers, Inc. v. Tondola, 114 Conn. 244, 246; 2 Wharton, Criminal Evidence (12th Ed.) § 414, p. 173. Nor are such extrajudicial
There is error, the judgment is set aside and the case is remanded with direction to render judgment that the defendant is not guilty and ordering that he be discharged.
In this opinion Kinmonth and Kosicki, Js., concurred.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.