State v. Lyons
State v. Lyons
Opinion of the Court
Appellant, Simon B. Lyons, indicted jointly with Patrick Costello and Edward C. Corcoran, was convicted of the crime of grand larceny in the first degree, and appeals from the judgment and also from the order denying him a new trial.
The indictment charged that the three persons named, feloniously, with'intent to deprive and defraud the true owner of her property, ob
The fault with the indictment is found in that it contains no direct ■allegation that the property obtained was a check or bill of exchange, or that the words between the quotation marks in the indictment are a copy of the check. While it might have been better form to have followed the practice suggested as proper by appellant, we think a reasonable construction of the indictment leads to the conclusion that the subject of the larceny is stated to be a cheek, a copy of which is set out. The description of the property appropriated unmistakably designates a check, and the words within the quotation marks as clearly indicate a copy of the check as if it were specifically so alleged.
Costello was a clerk in the county auditor’s office in Ramsey county and Corcoran was the desk clerk in the county treasurer’s office, having charge of the clerks. In the spring of 1919, Costello suggested to Lyons that if he. or his friends had taxes to pay a reduction could be had. Lyons was a tenant of Mrs. Macklett, known to her as Thomas Russell, and early in June, 1919, when he was paying rent, she, according to her testimony, made the remark that the money came in handy for the taxes. Lyons thereupon said he thought he could get them reduced, and she replied that she did not believe it, for she had tried without success. He replied that he would see; he thought he could. In a few days he came back, stating that he could get them reduced almost one-half. . He got the descriptions of the properties from her and returned saying he could get them reduced to $600. She told him she did not believe it until she saw the receipts. He responded that he would bring. •the receipts, and in a few days he did bring tax receipts purporting to be issued by the county treasurer. These receipts were stamped with a fictitious stamp much resembling the one used in the county treasurer’s office. By the stamp, payment was acknowledged as of May 31,1919. He assured her they were genuine receipts. The total amount of taxes receipted for as paid was $1,008.43. She undertook to pay him the $600 with a check, and he requested that it be made payable to the order of cash, which she did. Later, the authorities discovered the irregularities in the county treasurer’s office and began to check up the books. It was then
That, under our statute, a larceny was committed, in obtaining this check from Mrs. Maeklett, is admitted by the learnéd counsel for appellant. That his client participated in the execution of the crime must also be conceded. The only question open to debate is whether Lyons knew what was being done so that the jury were .justified in finding that he intended to aid in the commission of the crime. Even if it be true that neither he nor Costello received anything from the proceeds of the check, or other remuneration for the part they took in the transaction, still if, knowing that Corcoran’s scheme went to deprive Mrs. Maeklett of her property, they aided therein, it evinces a felonious intent. A person’s knowledge and intent is his own secret, except as revealed to others by his words and conduct. The latter must therefore constitute the evidence from which intent must be determined. It is submitted that the purport of the testimony above alluded to reveals guilty knowledge, especially when considered in the light of surrounding circumstances. Lyons was not an intimate or near friend of Mrs. Maeklett. She did not even know his true name. It does not appear that Lyons thought he conferred any particular favor upon Costello by
The judgment and order are affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE v. SIMON B. LYONS
- Status
- Published