midpage

People v. HarrisPeople v. Harris

Michigan Supreme Court
Feb 25, 1960
Docket No. 65, Calendar No. 48,310
Reporters:
,
Before:
Kelly
Kelly, J.

The trial court found defendant guilty of illegal possession of marijuana. PA 1952, No 266, ‍​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‍§.3 (CLS 1956, § 335.153 [Stat Ann 1957 Rev § 18-.1123]).

*647A sack containing the marijuana was found by members of the Detroit police department in an apartment in the city of Detroit.

The evidence disclosed ‍​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‍that defendant did not live in the apartment, and the court so found.

The only evidence that could possibly justify a finding of guilt was a fingerprint upon the sack containing the marijuana ‍​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‍cigarettes, which fingerprint waa identified as that of defendant. ’

The evidence was not sufficient to sustain a conviction of possession, and that fact was admitted by counsel for the People of ‍​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‍the State of Michigan during oral argument before this Court.

The judgment entered and the sentence imposed are reversed, and the cause remanded to the trial court to enter an order in accordance ‍​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‍herewith and discharge defendant.

Dethmers, C. J., and Carr, Smith, Black, Edwards, Kavanagh, and Souris, JJ., concurred.

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Harris
Court Name: Michigan Supreme Court
Date Published: Feb 25, 1960
Citations: 101 N.W.2d 242; 358 Mich. 646; Docket No. 65, Calendar No. 48,310
Docket Number: Docket No. 65, Calendar No. 48,310
Court Abbreviation: Mich.
Log In