State v. Clark
State v. Clark
Opinion of the Court
The.opinion of the Court was delivered by
The indictment upon- which the defendant was convicted contained three counts: 1. For breaking and entering the storehouse of M. E. Rutland, with intent to steal. 2. For burglary. 3. For petit larceny.
The finding of the grand jury was: “True bill, housebreaking and larceny. As to burglary, no bill.”
The verdict of the petit jury was: “We find him guilty of housebreaking.” From sentence upon this verdict, defendant appeals.
*275
The foregoing charge is excepted to on the ground that it is a charge on the facts, in violation of section 26, article V, of the Constitution, which says that “Judges shall not charge juries in respect to matters of fact, but shall declare the law.”
The solicitor in his argument admits that, in his opinion, the charge was upon the facts, but contends that, as it was in favor of appellant, he cannot complain.
On the other hand, appellant’s attorneys contend that it was not beneficial, but prejudicial. They argue that when the Judge told the jury that, while it was. unsafe to convict on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice, still, if the jury see fit to believe him, and render á verdict of guilty, and the trial Judge does not set it aside, the Supreme Court will let it stand, he charged the jury as to the weight and sufficiency of the testimony of an accomplice.
How could a jury be more strongly impressed as to the sufficiency of the testimony of an accomplice or the weight which they are authorized by law to give to it, than by telling them, if they see fit to convict upon it, and the trial Judge does not set aside their verdict, the Supreme Court *277 will let it stand? It is plainly expressing to them the opinion that such testimony is legally sufficient to warrant a conviction. Again, when the trial Judge charged, “a most outrageous crime may be committed, and if it were not for the fact that an accomplice could be used, criminals would sometimes be allowed to go scot free,” he expressed the opinion that it is sometimes necessary for the protection of society, and to bring the guilty to justice, to convict upon the testimony of an accomplice.
It seems to us that the conclusion is logical and inevitable that such a charge is upon the facts. If the appellant had waived his right to have the Judge only declare the law, by requesting such a charge, he could not complain; but no such request was made. And, as we have seen in one view of the charge, it may have been construed to the prejudice of appellant.
We have recently held in State v. Sowell, infra, 278, that the Judge has no right to charge the jury as to the sufficiency or the weight to be given to the testimony of an accomplice.
Under this statute the mere breaking of a house is not a crime, nor is the mere breaking and entering of a house, or mere breaking with intent to enter a house any crime. It is only when there is a breaking and entering, or a breaking with intent to enter, uwith intent to commit a *278 felony, or other crime of a lesser grade,” that the crime denounced by the statute is complete.
It follows that the finding of the grand jury, as to the first count of the indictment was not sufficient, and it follows also that the defendant could not have been legally sentenced on the verdict of the petit jury, as it did not find him guilty of a crime.
The other exceptions will not be considered, because the record does not show that any such points were made or decided in the Court below.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State v. Clark.
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Evidence. — Under the showing here made it is held not error to rule out questions asked the prosecutor to the effect that the man who had access to your barn was the man the chief of police shot at in his barn, and you are being sued in this Court now. 2. Ibid. — A witness may state a search warrant was issued against a certain dwelling without producing it. 3. Ibid. — Burglary.—-In prosecution for burglary it is competent to show defendant had a number of skeleton keys which would open many houses in the town. 4. Charge — Accomplice.—An instruction as to the weight or sufficiency of the evidence of an accomplice is within the constitutional inhibition as to charging on the facts. 5. Housebreaking — Burglary.—The mere breaking and entering a house is not a crime under section 145 of Criminal Code. A verdict of “housebreaking” under a finding of “housebreaking and larceny” on an indictment charging: (1) breaking and entering a storehouse with intent to steal, (2) burglary, (3) petit larceny, does not find defendant guilty of a crime.