People v. Coyne

116 Cal. 295 | Cal. | 1897

Garoutte, J.

Defendant was convicted of a felony, and prosecutes this appeal from the judgment and order denying a motion for a new trial.

1. The jury were selected to try the defendant at the morning session of court, and an adjournment was then taken until 2 o’clock p. m. of the same day, at which, time the introduction of evidence was begun. During the time of adjournment the jurors were not in the custody of the officer, neither had they been admonished by the court upon their duty, as demanded by section 3122 of the Penal Code. Complaint is now made that the course practiced at the trial constituted substantial and material error. The fact that the jurors separated during this period of time furnishes no ground for complaint; for section 1121 of the Penal Code leaves that matter to the discretion of the court. But a failure of the court to admonish the jurors as to their duty during the hours of separation is certainly an objectionable practice, and not countenanced by the statute. It seems that such omission upon the part of the court occurred but once during the progress of the trial, and at such time the introduction of evidence had not commenced. In the trial of criminal casés the court cannot be too careful in planting itself firmly upon the statute, and a strict compliance with its provisions is always time and labor well spent. But the error in this regard is technical, and not of that importance to demand a reversal of the judgment and a new trial.

2. The information charges the building injured to be the property of T. D. Stimpson. Upon the trial it -was developed that the legal title to the property stood in the name of Mrs. T. D. Stimpson (the wife). It appeared that T. D. Stimpson paid the taxes upon the property, and was residing with his wife and other members of the family in the building, at the time the offense is charged to have been committed. Under such circumstances his possession of the premises -was entirely sufficient to support the allegation of the information as to ownership.

There is no merit in the remaining assignment of •errors.

For the foregoing reasons the judgment and order are affirmed.

Harrison, J., Van Fleet, J., and McFarland, J., concurred.

Henshaw, J., dissented.

Rehearing denied.

Beatty, C. J., dissented from the order denying a rehearing.