Parmele v. State
Parmele v. State
Opinion of the Court
This is a prosecution by indictment brought in the district court for Cass county against Charles C.- Parmele, plaintiff in error hereinafter referred to as defendant. The indictment, in substance, charges that on or about the 8th day of December, 1920, Luke L. Wiles made and delivered his promissory note for $1,500 to defendant or his order by virtue of the relation of principal and agent then existing between Wiles and defendant; that defendant was to negotiate the note and pay the proceeds to one Daisy Douglas for the benefit of Wiles, Daisy Douglas then owning a note for $5,000 signed and delivered to her by Wiles; that defendant unlawfully, fraudulently and feloniously converted and embezzled the note without the assent of Wiles.
Defendant filed a plea in abatement, to which the state answered. Plea was overruled. Defendant then pleaded not guilty; trial was had, and verdict of guilty returned. Motion for a new trial overruled, judgment entered sentencing defendant to the penitentiary for from one to three years. Defendant prosecutes error to this court.
It was afterwards found that Mrs. Douglas had not made the indorsement for $1,500 on the Wiles note. Wiles took the matter up with defendant, who again saw Mrs. Douglas. She said she had not made the indorsement, but would do so. It appears that such indorsement was not had at
It is obvious that such indorsement would not ordinarily be made by Mrs. Douglas until' the $5,000 Latham note and mortgage had been delivered to her, and delivery could not ordinarily be made until the purchase had been had. And purchase could not be had without using the $1,500 note. This was known and so understood by Wiles and defendant at the time. Hence, it is considered by us that the evidence fails to support the state’s contention. Failure to secure the indorsement under the facts disclosed by the evidence did not constitute an embezzlement of the note.
It is elementary that a conviction for embezzlement cannot be had unless the evidence discloses a felonious intent. State v. Culver, 5 Neb. (Unof.) 238; Hamilton v. State, 46 Neb. 284. We cannot perceive from what angle the evidence could be viewed to warrant the conclusion that defendant “ unlawfully, fraudulently and feloniously ” converted the note as charged. . At the time Wiles executed this note it was understood between him and defendant what the latter was to do with it. Defendant used the note pursuant to this understanding and in no other way. Defendant got none of the proceeds of the note. They were applied as defendant promised they would be when he asked Wiles to execute same.
The evidence does not support the contention of the state that defendant was Wiles’ agent, but even if .it did, as above stated, evidence of a felonious intent is entirely lacking.
Reversed and dismissed.
Note — See Embezzlement, 20 C. J. sec. 82.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles C. Parmele v. State of Nebraska
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- 1 case
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- Published