Bush v. State
Bush v. State
Opinion of the Court
Appellant was charged by affidavit with uttering forged instrument. After a trial by the court without the intervention of a jury, appellant was found guilty and fined in the sum of $1.00 and costs and sentenced for a term of two to fourteen years.
“Q. And what name is that ?
“A. I can’t remember.
“Q. Well, would you read it, sir?
“A. Harold Graves.
“Q. L. Graves?
“A. L. Graves.
“Q. And is the name that appeared on the driver’s license...
“A. Yes.
“Q. ...L. Graves?
“A. That’s right.” (Tr. p. 40,1. 7 to 16.) and
“Q. Was there a name on that check before your endorsement, Mr. Talesnick?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Is that your name Mr. Talesnick?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Whose name is that?
“A. The man that gave me the check.
“Q. And whose name is it?
“A. L. Graves. He signed it. L. Graves.
“Q. Who signed the check, Mr. Talesnick?
“A. The gentleman sitting there.
“Q. What name appears on the check?
“A. L. Graves.” (Tr. p. 43,1.13 to 25.)
In the first place appellant was found guilty by the trial court on April 17, 1963, and his motion for new trial was not filed until June 7, 1963, which is more than 30 days after the finding contrary to the requirements of Burns’ §9-1903 (1956 Repl.).
Secondly, irrespective of the procedural defects in appellant’s case, there is no merit to appellant’s contention that a fatal variance exists between the endorsement name alleged in the affidavit and the evidence introduced to prove the name of such endorser.
As heretofore stated the affidavit alleged the name on the endorsement of the check in question was that of “Harlan Graves” whereas appellant contends oral proof shows the endorsement was in the name of Harold Graves or L. Graves. Without considering the materiality of such variance, other evidence was to the contrary as State’s exhibit No. 1, which was the identical check as described in the affidavit, was itself introduced into evidence without objection and showed the endorsement by “Harlan Graves.” The check itself was the best evidence of its contents under the best evidence rule. Edmondsen, Rec., v. Friedell (1928), 200 Ind. 298, 301, 163 N. E. 89, 90; The Ohio Insurance Company v. Nunemacher (1858), 10 Ind. 234, 237; 12 I.L.E., Evidence, §85, p. 524. In considering on appeal the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the decision of the lower court, we look only to the evidence favorable to the appellee, and do not attempt to weigh conflicting evi
Judgment affirmed.
Myers, Achor and Arterburn, JJ., concur; Jackson, C. J., concurs in result.
Note. — Reported in 207 N. E. 2d 625.
. Acts 1905, ch. 169, §282, p. 584.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Bush v. State of Indiana
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- Published