32 Kan. 360 | Kan. | 1884
The opinion of the court was delivered by
On January 24, 1884, the appellant sold George Casebeer, at Louisburg, in Miami county, in this state, a grain check or order for $35.75 —the full amount for which it was drawn — which was in the form, words and figures following, to wit: “Louisburg, Kan., Jan. 24,1883.— M. Reed: Pay L. Johnson, for corn, gross —, tare —,• net —, bu. —, at — cts., $35.75. — M. Reed, per J. H. R., weigher,” of which the following words and figures were in writing: “Jan. 24-3, L. Johnson, for corn, $35.75. — J. H. R.,” and the remainder in print. On being requested to indorse the check or order, the appellant wrote thereon the name of “W. F. Lee,” which, as is shown by the testimony in the record, is his brother’s name.
The principal question is, whether the check or order is a forgeable instrument, within the terms of the statute. Section 129 of the act relating to crimes and punishments reads:
“Every person who, with intent to injure or defraud, shall*363 falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit any instrument or writing, being or purporting to be the act of another, by which any pecuniary demand or obligation shall be or purport to be transferred, created, increased, discharged, conveyed or diminished, or by which any rights or property whatsoever shall be or purport to be transferred, conveyed, discharged, increased, or in any manner affected, the falsely making, altering, forging or counterfeiting of which is not hereinbefore declared to be a forgery in some other degree, shall on conviction be adjudged guilty of forgery in the third degree.”
And § 133 is as follows:
“Every person who shall sell, exchange or deliver, or offer to sell, exchange or deliver, for any consideration, any falsely altered, forged or counterfeited instrument or waiting, the forgery of which is declared punishable (except as in the last section is excepted), knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited or falsely altered, with the intention to have the same uttered or passed, shall on conviction be adjudged guilty of forgery in the fourth degree.”
The check shows upon its face an apparent pecuniary liability, and purports to be the act of M.' Reed, per J. H. R. (J. H. Randolph), weigher. The latter was the agent of M. Reed in weighing grain purchased by him, and was accustomed to give the seller an order or check stating the kind and number of bushels received, and the price and amount thereof. If genuine in the hands of L. Johnson, the order would make M. Reed liable for the amount thereof, to wit, $35.75. Therefore it is of apparent legal validity. It is non-negotiable, but if genuine, L. Johnson could sell and transfer the equitable title thez-eto by delivery, and the pez-son obtaining it from L. Johnson could likewise sell and transfer the same by delivery, and the paz-ty purchasing would obtain the equitable title. Under the provisions .of our code, he could maintain an action thei-eon in his own name, (McCrum v. Corby, 11 Kas. 465; Hadden v. Rodkey, 17 id. 429.)
The paper is in fact an order for the payment of money, and we cannot avoid the conclusion that if the prisoner had forged the paper, be would be liable to punishment under our statute. (Powers v. State, 87 Ind. 97; 1 Wharton’s Crim. Law,
It is contended, however, as the check or order did not purport to have the written signature of M. Reed, that the signature is not such an one as the statute requires to be affixed to an instrument or writing designated in either § 129 or § 133. This proposition is overthrown by § 137 of the chapter relating to crimes and punishments. This reads:
“Every instrument, partly printed and partly written, or wholly printed, with a written signature thereto, and every signature of an individual, firm, or corporate body, or of any officer of such body, and every writing purporting to be such signature, shall be deemed a writing and written instrument, within the meaning of the provisions of this act.”
The instrument was “partly printed and partly written;” so, also, was the signature. The signature was not completed until the blank for the attestation of the weigher was filled in by him with his initials, J. H. R., in writing.
It is further contended that the information was fatally defective, because it did not set forth the name of the person intended to be defrauded. Such an averment, under the provisions of the statute, is not essential. The instrument forged was set out in full in the count under which the appellant was convicted, and such count also contained the statement that the appellant unlawfully and feloniously sold and delivered the same to George Casebeer for the consideration of $35.75, “with the intent then and there unlawfully and feloniously to have the same passed and uttered.” The information states sufficient facts. ( The State v. Foster, 30 Kas. 365.) The law presumes that the forger of the instrument intended to defraud M. Reed, whose signature was attached thereto. The appellant, "under the averments of the information, meant, also, to defraud Casebeer, the person to whom he sold and passed the forged paper for value.
Finally, it is contended that the judgment should be set aside, because the prosecuting attorney, after the evidence was closed and before the jury were instructed, by leave of the
The judgment of the district court must be affirmed.