230 N.W. 379 | Iowa | 1930
I. The indictment in this case, after reciting the usual allegations of a charge of this kind, further recites that, under Section 13400, Code, 1927, the offense charged is subsequent to two prior convictions for felony, as follows: On 1. CRIMINAL January 26, 1920, defendant was convicted and LAW: sentenced for an indeterminate period not successive exceeding 15 years, in the Webster County offenses and district court, of the crime of uttering a habitual forged instrument; also, on November 19, 1924, criminals: he was convicted in Cerro Gordo County district identity of court of the crime of larceny, and sentenced to persons: the penitentiary for a term not exceeding 5 evidence: years. The court submitted the question of these sufficiency. former convictions to the jury, and, in answer to special interrogatories, the jury found that the defendant was the same person who had been convicted in Webster and Cerro Gordo County district courts, as above set out.
It may be noted, in passing, that, in the certified record from Webster and Cerro Gordo Counties, the defendant is named "Clem McCarthy." We have held such a difference in the spelling of the name "McCarty" and "McCarthy" to be immaterial. State v. Merkin,
In the Smith case, supra, we said:
"The statute provides for the introduction of authenticated copies of the judgments alleged in proof prima-facie thereof. But the State may not stop there. The identity of the defendant as the person who suffered such former convictions remains to be proven. We grant that the identity of names may be some evidence of the identity of persons; but, standing alone, it is not enough. Every fact essential to the infliction of legal punishment upon a human being must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. And it would amount to a travesty to say that a prima-facie case for an increased term of punishment could be made out against John Smith, being tried in Linn County, by showing the isolated facts that a man passing under that name had at some time or other been convicted in the courts of Lee County; likewise in Lyon County. And the almost unbroken voice of authority is against such a conclusion."
Under the record in the case before us, the question at this point is: Was there sufficient identification of the defendant to take the question of former convictions to the jury?
The court, under authority of State v. Smith, supra, rightfully instructed the jury that the burden was upon the State to prove each of the former convictions beyond a reasonable doubt. The State attempted to supply this necessary evidence by the testimony of the sheriff of Webster County. He did not, from his personal knowledge, identify the man now on trial as the Clem McCarty who was convicted in Webster district court on a charge of uttering a forged instrument, but testifies to a conversation with the defendant concerning former convictions, which is as follows:
"Well, as I remember, I asked him [the defendant] something about the time he spent down at Fort Madison on other convictions. I think I asked him something about when he was down there the first time, the other time. I didn't ask him because I seen him there, different times when I would be there. I knew he was there. Well, he told me he was sent from Fort *176 Dodge, from here, the first time. He said it was on a charge of forgery. He said he was sentenced for 15 years."
The indictment charged as one of his former convictions a sentence from Webster County for uttering a forged instrument. If we should give full force to this as an admission, it would not be sufficient to fill the requirements of the statute in this respect. When a charge of a former conviction of this kind is made, the admission of the defendant to a witness that he was convicted at the time and place and for the crime charged in the indictment would be held to make a prima-facie case for the State; but what was admitted by the defendant here to the sheriff in no way measures up to this requirement. This being true, the State failed to make out a prima-facie showing of the former conviction in Webster County, and without that, there could be no rightful conviction under the Habitual Criminal Act.
II. The court in its instructions told the jury that, if it found the defendant guilty, it should fix the value of the property stolen, and also submit a special interrogatory, as follows: "Do you find that the value of the 2. LARCENY: radio set in question was in excess of $20?" The prosecution complaint against these instructions and this and interrogatory is that the term "market value" punishment: should have been used, instead of the simple instruc- word "value." tions: value (?) or Evidence was introduced by the State, however, market value without objection, as to the wholesale and the (?) retail price of the radio set which was stolen. In State v. Lewis,
III. An instruction was given, covering the question of recent possession of stolen property, which instruction is severely assailed. This kind of instruction has been the source of fruitful discussion in various opinions of this 3. LARCENY: court. Suffice it to say, the court cannot tell prosecution the jury, as a matter of law, that the and unexplained possession of recently stolen punishment: property warrants a conviction. The rule, as we possession have announced it, is that this question is left of stolen to the jury, and the jury should be told that property: they may find the unexplained possession of effect. recently stolen property sufficient to warrant a conviction.
IV. Instruction 10 reads as follows:
"You are instructed that, under the law of this state, all persons concerned in or engaged in the commission of a crime, whether they directly commit the act constituting the offense or knowingly aid, abet, or assist or encourage the 4. CRIMINAL same, are deemed to be principals in any crime LAW: so committed, and may be convicted as such. So, parties to in this case, if you find that the State has offenses: established beyond a reasonable doubt that the accessories: defendant aided, abetted, assisted, advised, or knowledge as encouraged any other person to commit the crime essential charged in the indictment, you should return a element. verdict of guilty. If, however, on the whole evidence, and in the light of the law as given you in all of these instructions, when considered and construed together, you have a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused, it is your duty to acquit him."
It is to be noted that, in the first part of the instruction, the court advises the jury as to aiding, abetting, assisting, or encouraging knowingly done; while in the latter part of the instruction, when he advanced the principle laid down in the first part of the instruction, the word "knowingly" is omitted. This was error, in that, in the first place, the instruction conflicts with itself, and in the second place, knowledge is a necessary element to constitute an accessory. State v. Empey,
Some complaint is made as to other instructions, in that they are not broad or comprehensive enough; but, so far as we *178 observe, they accurately state the law. Defendant requested no instructions, and if he objected to them on the grounds above stated, he should have asked for an elaboration thereof.
It is to be remembered that, in cases of this kind, where it is sought to impose a more severe penalty for second or subsequent convictions under a statute so providing, the statutes must, like all criminal statutes, be strictly construed. Rohlf v. Kasemeier,
Some other questions are raised, especially the question of anunc pro tunc judgment; but, as they are not likely to arise on a retrial of the case, we give them no attention.
For the errors heretofore pointed out, the case is — Reversedand remanded.
MORLING, C.J., and STEVENS, FAVILLE, and WAGNER, JJ., concur.