State v. Neitzel

155 Iowa 485 | Iowa | 1912

Weaver, J.

The indictment charges that the defendant feloniously and in the nighttime broke -and entered a certain building belonging to one Hendricks and, in the possession and control of George Texlor in which building goods, merchandise, and other things of value were bept for sale and -deposit, and that such breaking .and entering were done and committed with the intent to steal and carry away the goods and property kept in said building. But two points for reversal of the judgment of conviction upon this indictment are urged by counsel.

i. Criminal law : burglary: offense^ As we have already 'stated, the indictment contains ■the -allegation that the burglary was committed in the nighttime. The court instructed the jury that the Charge as stated in the indictment included the „ , , , , , oftense of burglary m the daytime, and that, ™ey the defendant guilty of the felonious breaking 'and entering and had any doubt upon the question whether it was committed in the nighttime, then they should find him guilty of burglary in the daytime.

The evidence tended strongly to show that the crime was committed in the nighttime,- and that defendant was implicated therein. He offered no evidence in his behalf, and the jury returned <& verdict finding him “guilty as charged .in the indictment.” His counsel here contend that the court erred in instructing the jury that the offense of breaking and entering a store in the daytime is included in the Charge made in the indictment. Conceding this to be true, as we must, we are wholly unable to comprehend how the error could have prejudiced the defense. Having found him guilty as charged, of burglary in the nighttime, the jury never had any occasion to consider the question of any included offense, and therefore could not have been misled by any error in the instructions with respect thereto. Had the jury found the defendant guilty of burglary in the daytime on the theory that it was a different but included offense in the crime changed in the indictment, a more serious question would be presented. But the record doe.s not require us to consider or determine it at this time. It is proper, however, that we call attention to the statute under which defendant was convicted. Code, section 4791, reads as follows: “If any person with intent to commit any public offense in the daytime break and enter, or in the nighttime enter without breaking, any dwelling house; or at any time break and enter any office, shop, store, warehouse, railroad car, boat or vessel or any building in which any goods, merchandise, or valuable things are kept for use, sale or deposit, he shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than ten years, or be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars an'd imprisoned in the county jail not miore than one year.”

It will be observed that the distinction between a felonious breaking and entering in tbe nighttime and in the daytime has application only where the -alleged burglary is of a 'dwelling house, and that burglary of the other buildings named has reference to such breaking and entering “at any time” without respect to whether the act be done in the daytime or nighttime. It follows, we think, that the words “in the nighttime” found in this indictment are to he treated as surplusage -and that, even if there was an entire failure to prove this fact, i't would not prevent a valid conviction if the breaking and entering with intent to steal were otherwise' established. The assignment of error based upon the instruction referred to must he overruled.

refusal of requested instructions. The appellant .asked the court to instruct the jury that his plea of not guilty was a denial of every material •allegation -of the indictment. This request was refused. If counsel were correct in .their statement ■that the tidal court nowhere gave the jury any instruction covering the principle of law contained in this request, then a reversal would have to he ordered. But the court did cover this ground fairly and fully in the seventh paragraph of its charge, and there was no error in failing to restate it in the language of counsel.

The defendant had a fair trial, and his guilt was too clearly established to admit of reasonable douh't of the justice of his conviction.

There is no reversible error in the record, and the judgment appealed from is affirmed.