Lead Opinion
Defendant appeals from a judgment of the Appellate Division unanimously affirming, without opinion, a judgment of the Erie County Court. Defendant stands convicted of burglary in the third degree and petit larceny, following a nonjury trial in the County Cоurt, with a sentence to Elmira Reformatory.
The sole question is whether the circumstantial case against defendant was sufficient, as a matter of law, to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Viewed most favorably to the Peo
Defendant Allen Cleague was jointly indicted with one Henry Brown for burglary in the third degree and petit larceny. The charges against Brown were “ Disposed of ” prior to trial. The proof against defendant consisted of testimony by the arresting officer, Michael Chernetsky, and a stipulation of fact. Defendant testified in his own behalf.
Police Officer Chernetsky testified thаt, while on motor patrol at 1:30 a.m. on the night of March 3,1965, he noticed defendant Cleague walking up and down a used car lot, looking at the automobiles. The lot was owned by Brest Motors, which also maintained an office in a small wooden building halfway to the rear of the lot. Officer Chernetsky stopped the patrol car and for several minutes observed defendant, who was looking up and down the street. On two occasions defendant walkеd toward the rear of the office building. Thereafter, the officer stopped and questioned defendant, who stated that he was looking at the cars. During the conversation, the officer noticed a “ shadow ” in the offiсe. He and his partner entered the rear of the office and there apprehended Henry Brown, who was carrying clothing and other articles from a window.
The arresting officer’s testimony and the facts stipulated to by dеfendant established that the office had indeed been burglarized on the evening in question. The evidence also established that Brown was guilty of burglary and petit larceny. However, there was no competent evidence tying the defendant in any way to Brown
The well-settled rule in criminal cases with respect to those which depend exclusively upon circumstantial evidence is that “ the facts from which the inference of the defendant’s guilt
Consequently, in order for the conviction to stand, the facts in this case, viewing them most favorably to the People, must be inconsistent with defendant’s innocence and must also exclude to a moral certainty every other reasonable hypothesis.
When questioned by Offiсer Chernetsky. at the scene, defendant stated that he was merely looking at the automobiles on the lot. At. trial defendant took the stand to repeat this story, explaining that he had stopped at the lot while on his way tо a restaurant for dinner. This explanation was not contradicted, nor was it inherently incredible, even though many would regard it as unlikely. In light of this explanation for defendant’s behavior, the suspicious circumstances prior to his аrrest do not compel the inference that he was an accomplice or a “ lookout,” or exclude to a moral certainty his guiltless behavior.
While it is unusual at that hour for a man to look over the assembled automobiles in a used car lot not open for business, either out of curiosity or in considering them for possible purchase, it is not an implausible circumstance. Otherwise, it would suggest that Sunday and night window-shoppers are engаged in conduct pointing to some criminal scheme, present or prospective, and would regard as suspicious one of the most common of human activities. The only other circumstance in the case is the сoincidence of the burglarious activities of Brown, a person who, so far as this record is concerned, was not known to defendant. But this is not a circumstance which by itself is connected with defendant, and hence never rises above the merest coincidence, any more than would the circumstance that a place at which a pedestrian happens to be window-shopping should then be the site of a burglary.
Very close to this case is People v. Kohn (
In reversing as to defendant Wriede, this court held: “ As to the defendant John Wriede, we think that the proof gave rise to a bare suspicion that he was engaged with the defendant Sol Kohn in an attempt to commit the crime of burglary. Surely, the mere wave of a hand by a felon, who is leaving the scene of his crime, and a return wave by the person saluted, cаn have no force to establish that the two have been confederates in the offense committed. We are clear that the evidence was wholly lacking to establish the guilt of the defendant John Wriede ” (251 N. Y., supra, p. 378).
In the instant case, the inference of defendant’s guilty participation is no more compelling. Indeed, there is no proof here of any prior relationship between the “lookout” (defendant Cleague) and the burglar (Brown).
Neither the classic rule nor its application here stems from any distrust of circumstantial evidence or any vaunted favoring of direct evidence. The myth of innate superiority of direct testimonial evidence was exрloded long ago (e.g., 1 Wigmore, Evidence [3d ed.], § 26). Indeed, circumstantial evidence is generally stronger, at least when it depends, as it often does, upon undisputed evidentiary facts about which human observers are less likely tо err as a matter of accuracy or to distort as a matter of motivation, emotional shock, or external suggestion. On the other hand, direct evidence almost always, even in the instance of bystanders, is subject to one or more of these psychological infirmities. Hence, the occasional superior reliability of the evidentiary circumstances, even as in this case {ibid.). But circumstantial evidence is as nothing unless the inferеnces to be drawn from the circumstances are logically compelling. The danger, therefore, with the use of circumstantial evidence is that of logical gaps — that is, subjective inferential links based on probabilities of low grade or insufficient degree — which, if undetected, elevate coincidence and, therefore, suspicion into permissible inference.
Accordingly, the judgment should be reversed and the indictment dismissed.
Notes
At one point Officer Chеrnetsky testified that he was “informed that they were caught once.” This hearsay statement is not relied upon by the People.
Dissenting Opinion
I would affirm the judgment of conviction.
The question presented here is whether the circumstantial proof points logically to the dеfendant’s gui]t and excludes to a moral certainty every other reasonable hypothesis.
I believe that the defendants conduct on the night in question raises the indisputable inference that he acted as a “ lookоut ” and, as such, became a principal in the crime of burglary being committed at the time on the premises by one Ifenry Brown, a codefendant.
The acts ip question occurred at 1:30 in the morning and in an area that was virtuаlly deserted. The record discloses fhat this defendant was ‘ ‘ walking up and down in front of the car lot and amongst the cars. And he. would come out and look up and down the street. And on two occasions he went fo the rear оf this wooden office [the place burglarized] ”. The defendant circled the lot and building from one end to the other, fie walked between the cars and was looking up and down the deserted street when the police approached. While be was so “ shopping ” for a used car, a burglary was perpetrated in the small office structure that defendant twice circled.
While the proof presented by the People was sufficiеnt to sustain the conviction, a reading of the entire record which includes defendant’s own testimony adds weight to the propriety of the verdict. The trial court properly weighed the relative credibility of the defendant and the arresting officer.
The question is whether the proven facts of defendant’s conduct are consistent with and point to defendant’s guilt and are inconsistent with his innocence. (People v. Harris,
Frоm that inference it can be determined that, as a matter of law, a lookout acts with another in the pursuit of a common purpose since he is in a position to insure the success of the common illegal entеrprise. As such, the lookout is a principal, equally chargeable with the actual perpetration of the crime of burglary which was clearly established here. (People v. Walsh,
I cannot say that the conduct of the defendant, аs disclosed by the record, raises, as a matter of law, a reasonable hypothesis of his innocence.
Chief Judge Fuld and Judges Burke and Keating concur with Judge Breitel; Judge Jasen dissents and votes to affirm in an opinion in which Judges Scileppi and Bergan concur.
Judgment reversed, etc.