State v. Tidwell

139 P. 863 | Utah | 1914

STKAUP, J.

The defendant was convicted of larceny, stealing a cow. He appeals. He urges the evidence is insufficient to sustain .the verdict, to connect him with the commission of the offense. Without setting forth even a substance of the evidence, let it suffice by saying that, a review of the record shows ample evidence to support the verdict. We shall refer only to such portions of the evidence as will illustrate other assignments.

1 The cow was on the range. Circumstances are shown tending to show that the defendant drove her from the range, slaughtered her, and sold the beef to a butcher. The hide and head of the cow were found in a well about ninety feet deep some distance from the defendant’s premises. Wagon tracks led from his premises to the well. He took the beef of a cow in a wagon to the butcher and sold it to him. Learning he was suspected of the larceny, he tried to induce the butcher to falsely say, if inquiry was made of him, -that he had not purchased or received any beef from him. Failing in that, he tried to get another to falsely say that he had slaughtered a cow and gave the beef to the defendant to deliver to the butcher. Ostler, the owner, and one Hayworth, together with two others, found the hide and head in the well. One of them was lowered to the bottom, and the hide and head brought to the surface, where they were identified as the hide and head of the subject of the larceny. The hide was produced at the trial and put in evidence. Ostler and two others testified as to the circumstances of finding it and drawing it from the well. They testified that Hayworth was let down, who brought the hide and head to the surface. Hayworth was not produced as a witness. Ostler, on cross-examination, testified that at the preliminary hearing he stated that he went down the well and brought up the head and hide. At the trial he testified that he did not personally go down, but that Hayworth, one of their party, did. Then counsel for the defendant demanded that Hayworth be produced as a witness. Counsel for the prosecution stated in open court, and his statement was not disputed nor questioned, that Hayworth was in a foreign country, beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and could not be produced. Counsel for defendant did not ask for a continuance to produce him, or take his deposition. They merely insisted that the state then and there produce him. Now they say they were harmed because Hayworth was not produced. This on the theory, as claimed by them, that it was material whether or not there was snow on the hide and head when found in the bottom of the well, and that no one but Hayworth had • knowledge of that fact. There is nothing to this. The witness was beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and could not be produced by the state. Had he been within the jurisdiction and subject to process, still the state was not required to produce him. If he had knowledge of anything material to the cause, and had been subject to process, the defendant, as well as the state could have caused his attendance. If he was beyond the jurisdiction of the court, the defendant, but not the state could have taken his deposition. No effort was made by the defendant to procure his attendance, or to take his deposition. Counsel say they did not do that because they did not know, until they heard Ostler’s testimony at the trial, that it was Hayworth, and not Ostler, who went down the well. Such matter was not even ground for a continuance bad tbe defendant asked for it. But be asked for nothing,, except tbat tbe state forthwith produce tbe witness, which could not be done. Further than tbat be in no manner invoked any action or ruling of tbe court.

2, It is ‘also claimed tbat evidence with respect to tbe defendant’s sale and delivery of tbe beef to tbe butcher was improperly received. This on tbe ground tbat it was not sufficiently identified as tbe beef of tbe cow in question. Tbe only description of tbe beef was tbat of tbe butcher, who testified tbat it was tbe beef of a cow,, and testified as to its size and weight. Of course tbe fact tbat tbe defendant sold tbe beef of a cow to tbe butcher, and tbe description of it as testified to by him, did not by themselves show tbat tbe beef so sold and delivered was tbe beef of tbe stolen cow, or tbat tbe defendant committed tbe larceny. Still it was relevant and proper to show tbat the defendant bad tbe beef of a cow in bis possession and sold it about tbe time of tbe larceny — -recently thereafter — and all tbe circumstances of such possession and sale. To be relevant and admissible, it is not essential tbat proffered evidence be by itself sufficient to establish a disputed point or fact in issue, nor is it required to be addressed with positive - directness to such point or fact. It is receivable if it by itself, or in connection with other evidence, renders probable or improbable, or logically tends to prove or disprove, a disputed point or fact in issue. We think this evidence bad a direct relation between and connection with other facts-shown, and tbat it, together with such other evidence, tended to show tbat tbe beef sold and delivered to tbe butcher was tbe beef of tbe stolen cow.

3 During tbe trial all witnesses except tbe one testifying were excluded from tbe courtroom and court proceedings. Ostler, tbe owner of tbe cow, when first on tbe stand testified tbat there was but one brand on tbe.bide, described it, and stated tbat it was bis brand. Another witness thereafter testified tbat there were two brands, one Ostler’s as described by him, and another, which be also described. Ostler was then recalled and asked if be bad made a further examination of the hide, and if he had found more than one brand. He answered that he had, and testified to another similar to that testified to by the other witness, and stated that it was the brand of one of whom he had purchased the cow when a calf. On cross-examination he was asked who first called his attention to the fact that the hide had two brands. He answered that counsel,for the prosecution, after he had first been on the stand. Counsel for defendant then argued to the court that was in violation of the caution and admonition which the court had given the witnesses not to communicate or talk with each other with respect to testimony given or to be given by them. Further argument followed between counsel for the prosecution and the defendant; the former contending that they had the right to talk with their witnesses, and the latter that counsel for the state had given Ostler information as what had been testified to by the other witness. The court heard them with patience, and then told them to proceed. They proceeded. That is all there is to this. We do not think anything improper was shown, and, though there had, counsel for defendant again asked for no relief nor for any ruling, nor in •any manner invoked any action or ruling of the court. After eliciting the information that counsel for the prosecution had told Ostler that there were two brands on the hide, counsel for defendant but argued that that was improper, but in no manner invoked any action or ruling of the court with respect to it.

In their brief counsel say “there are other errors assigned, but they are of minor importance.” Nothing more is said about them. There does not seem to be much to this appeal.

Let the judgment be reaffirmed. Such is the order.

McCABTY, C. J., and FRICK, J., concur.