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Billman v. StateBillman v. State

Indiana Supreme Court
Nov 10, 1955
No. 29,303
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Achor
ACHOR, J.

This is an appeal from a conviction for

vehicle taking. At the close of the State’s evidence and again at the ‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‍close of all the evidence, appellant moved the court for a finding of not guilty for the reason that “The State has failed to prove the allegation of this complaint.”

The grounds for a new trial were (1) the overruling of said ‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‍motion for a directed verdict, and (2) “that the finding (verdict) . . . is contrary to law.”

There is evidence that the “1950 Chevrolet convertible” automobile, license number A W 7314, owned by the prosecuting witness, was driven to Marion, Indiana from Indianapolis ‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‍without his consent and was there wrecked. There is also evidence that the appellant drove a “1950 Chevy convertible” to Marion from Indianapolis with which he “was involved in an accident and arrested by the Marion police.” However, there is ‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‍no evidence that these “1950 Chevy convertible (s) ” were the same automobile.

The finding (verdict) is therefore not sustained by sufficient evidence and is contrary to law. Flanagan, Wiltrout & Hamilton’s Indiana Trial and Appellate Practice, § 1812, Comment 6, p. 386.

Judgment reversed with ‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‍instructions to sustain appellant’s motion for new trial.

Emmert, C. J., Arterburn, Bobbitt and Landis, JJ., concur.

Note.—Reported in 129 N. E. 2d 795.

Case Details

Case Name: Billman v. State
Court Name: Indiana Supreme Court
Date Published: Nov 10, 1955
Citations: 129 N.E.2d 795; 234 Ind. 553; 1955 Ind. LEXIS 170; No. 29,303
Docket Number: No. 29,303
Court Abbreviation: Ind.
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