Appellant, Betty Johnson, was convicted in the Circuit Court of Harrison County of the possession of burglar’s tools, and was sentenced to one year in jail. The relevant statute, Miss. Code 1942, Rec., Sec. 2044, provides: “It is unlawful for any person to have in his possession implements, tools, or instruments designed to aid in the commission of burglary, larceny or robbery; and on the conviction of any person thereof, he shall be punished by imprisonment. . . . The carrying concealed about one’s baggag'e, implements, tools, or instruments peculiarly adapted to aid in the commission of burglary,
This is a companion case to George Fuqua v. State, No. 42,145, decided this day. The State’s evidence was presented by Highway Patrolman Anderson; defendant offered none. On January 16, 1961, Anderson was patrolling Highway 90 on the beach in Harrison County and saw in a passing car George Fuque. Previously he had been advised by police radio that there was a warrant outstanding for him on a perjury charge. The patrolman turned his car around and caught up with Fuqua’s car just as it pulled in front of a restaurant. James Dolan and defendant Betty Johnson were also on the front seat. Anderson drove up by the side of the car, when the three occupants were in the process of getting out of it. He placed Fuqua and the others under arrest. Anderson directed Johnson to drive Fuqua’s car to patrol headquarters about five miles away. Fuqua came in with Anderson, and Dolan rode in another patrol car. The Fuqua car had a Georgia tag and was registered in the name of R. K. Head. The back seat was covered with clothes. Before driving to the patrol station, Anderson saw the clothes. Defendant admitted some of them were hers. Upon arriving at the police station, defendant, Fuqua and Dolan were interrogated from one to two hours. The officer did not see Johnson violate any law in his presence, and had no search warrant for the automobile.
After arrival at the patrol station, Fuqua’s automobile was searched. In it were found a large amount of male and female wearing apparel; a large red blinker light; a large seal-beam light equipped with a red light on its opposite end; another large light; a small keyhole flashlight; about twenty-five extra rounds of .38 caliber
The officers also found a brown leather hag, which contained a police sergeant’s badge, and two fully loaded .38 caliber pistols. Defendant admitted the bag belonged to her. The record reflects the ownership of this bag was unknown to the officers, until after the search, when it was claimed by appellant.
The indictment against Betty Johnson did not allege that the badge and two pistols found in the brown leather bag were instruments designed to aid in the commission of burglary and larceny. It was directed toward the other stated instruments. The opinion in Fuqua v. State discusses the adequacy of the evidence there (and here) to show that possession of the stated implements and tools could be classified as possession of burglar ’s tools. 9 Am. Jur., Burglary, Sec. 89; 12 C. J. S., Burglary, Sec. 69.
(Hn 1) There are three elements of the offense of the possession of burglar’s tools: Adaptation and design of the tools or implements for breaking and entering; possession of them by one with knowledge of its character; and a general intent to use or employ them in breaking and entering. The evidence was ample on the first issue, adaptation and design for the stated purpose. Fuqua v. State, supra.
(Hn 2) As to the character of possession, it may be actual or constructive. The State need not prove an actual possession, or that the tools were taken from the person of defendant. (Hn 3) Possession may be joint or individual, and two or more may be in possession of burglar tools where they have the joint power of control and an inferable intent to control jointly. Commonwealth v. Segers,
(Hn 5) In the instant case the jury was warranted in finding that Johnson was in constructive joint possession of the burglar’s tools with her companions. She was riding* in the car with Fuqua and Dolan. She admitted that the female wearing apparel on the back seat Avas hers. And after the search was made by the officers, she admitted that the brown leather bag in the back seat, containing the policeman’s badge and two loaded pistols, belonged to her. These facts and Johnson’s admissions were all circumstances for the jury to consider in determining whether she was in constructive possession of the tools and implements alleged to be burglar’s tools. Admitted ownership by her of the bag with the badge and two pistols is a circumstance of considerable probative value on the intent and purpose of her presence in the car, and on her intent with reference to the burglar’s tools.
Newton v. State,
Smith v. State,
(Hn 6) Appellant is confined to the claim that the search of her brown leather bag (containing a badge and two loaded pistols) was illegal, and evidence as to its contents was improperly admitted. The trial court held that search of the bag was an incident of Fuqua’s arrest, and its contents were of probative value on the issues of Johnson’s constructive possession and intent. We think this ruling was correct. Appellant concedes that search of the car was properly incident to his (Fuqua’s) arrest, which was lawful. Fuqua v. State,
supra.
Johnson’s arrest at that time was illegal because without probable cause or warrant. However, the search
The exclusion of unlawfully seized evidence is justified as necessary to deter police misconduct by illegal searches and seizures, and for the protection of rights of privacy. Anno.,
Exclusion of that evidence would not tend to prevent future unauthorized searches. The instant one was authorized. An officer lawfully searching an automobile possessed by one person does not make the search subject to later partial invalidity by a declaration after the search by another than an object in the car belonged to her. Neither the reason nor purpose of the exclusionary rule warrants that restrictive interpretation. See Comment, Judicial Control of Illegal Search and Seizure, 58 Yale L. J. 144 (1948); Allen, The Exclusionary Rule in the American Law of Search and Seizure, 52 J. of Cr. Law, Criminology and Pol. Sc. 246 (1961); Anno., 50 A. L. R. 2d 533 (1956); Mapp v. Ohio,
Affirmed.
