Kralovetz v. State
Kralovetz v. State
Opinion of the Court
The case presents the same issues of law that were considered in Weber v. State, 190 Wis. 257, 208
Rarely are two cases presented to the court which are so nearly parallel with reference to all questions of fact or of law as are these two cases. This case comes squarely within the rule of the Weber Case and is controlled by it.
By the Court. — The judgment and sentence is reversed, and the cause remanded with instructions to discharge the defendant.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I dissented in the case of Weber v. State, 190 Wis. 257, 208 N. W. 923, which is held to rule this case. I did not then state the grounds of my dissent. They were then and are now that the statute, sec. 343.20, in express terms declares it an offense to embezzle money for the benefit of a third party. So far as applied to the facts in the Kralovetz Case I construe the
Neither opinion is based upon the ground that there was not sufficient evidence to sustain the verdict, but upon the grounds that each defendant, though an officer, was in fact but an employee; that he had but a slight interest in the company and did not profit by the fraudulent transaction, all of which grounds seem to me to be beyond the inquiry as to guilt. When one knowingly and with a criminal intent-commits or aids in the commission of an offense, it is immaterial what his profits therefrom were, or what was the grade of his employment or his interest in his employer’s business. Nor will the fact that if he had not joined in the commission of the offense he would have been discharged from his office or employment affect his guilt. Business reasons cannot justify crimes.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I concurred in the opinion of the court in Weber v. State, 190 Wis. 257, 208 N. W. 923, and accept full responsibility for such concurrence. It is there .said (p. 266) :
“Aside from what has been heretofore said, even assuming that the act charged and complained of could in law constitute an embezzlement, nevertheless the agreement above set forth and -the testimony of Prescott are so involved in entanglements and uncertainties as to create in our minds more than a robust, reasonable doubt of the guilt of the defendant.”
If such is the holding in the Weber Case, it is my present conviction that it is erroneous and that the proper construction of the statute is that placed upon it by the Chief Justice in his dissenting opinion herewith.
I am authorized to say that Mr. Justice Cuownhart concurs in this dissent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kralovetz, in error v. The State, in error
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published