State v. Morledge , 164 Mo. 522 ( 1901 )

BURGESS, J.

— Defendant was convicted in the criminal court of Jackson county of robbery in the first degree and his punishment fixed at twenty-five years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary. He appeals.

It appears from the record that on the night of the twenty-first of January, 1900, one John Resmussen was in charge as night bartender of a saloon on West Twelfth street, Kansas City, Missouri, which belonged to Schattnef Brothers, and that about half past four o’clock a. m. defendant entered the saloon, having on a short white coat, a soft white hat, and a handkerchief tied over his face, and a pistol in each hand. He commanded Resmussen, and another man who was then in the saloon, and the porter, to throw up their hands, and they having complied with his command, he went behind the bar, opened the drawer of the cash register and took the money amounting to over twenty dollars therefrom. Immediately thereafter a policeman was informed of the robbery, and apprehended defendant about two and one-half blocks from where it occurred. .When the officer stopped him, defendant had his hands in his overcoat pockets and a revolver in each hand.- He took defendant back to the saloon. At first he was not recognized, but when the officers pulled the white hat from the prisoner’s pocket, together with the money taken and Resmussen’s revolver, and found that he had three handkerchiefs around his neck, he said he committed the robbery because he needed the money. On being taken to the station, the defendant first gave the name of Morley, but later, on being recognized by some officer, he gave his right name. While at the'station he sent’for James A. Einley, who at the trial testified as a witness for-defendant. On his cross-examination he said that the prisoner told him in the conversation he had at the station that he robbed Schattner’s, McClintock’s and a little restaurant between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets; that he got one hundred and forty-five dollars from McOlintock’s, twenty odd dollars from Schattner’s, and six dollars and sixty-five cents from the other place, and that he robbed these places one right after the other.

The indictment charges that the money and pistol taken by defendant were the property of John Eesmussen, while the evidence showed that the money belonged to Schattner Brothers.

Over the objection and exception of defendant the court, at the instance of the State, instructed’the jury as follows:

“1. The court instructs the jury that if they find and believe from the evidence that the defendant, O. E. Morledge, did, at the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, at any time within three years next before the twenty-fifth day of January, 1900, unlawfully and feloniously make an assault upon the witness, John Eesmussen, and did, in his presence and against the will of the witness, John Eesmussen, and without any honest claim to the same, with the felonious intent to deprive the owner of his property therein and by putting him in fear of immediate injury to his person, unlawfully and feloniously take from the presence and custody of the witness, John Eesmussen, and of the property mentioned in the indictment, the property of the witness John Eesmussen, and that said property was of any value whatever, you will find the defendant guilty and assess his punishment in the State penitentiary for any term of years not less than five years. Feloniously as used in these instructions means wickedly and against the admonition of the law — unlawfully.

“2. The court instructs the jury that the ownership of the property mentioned in the indictment, for the purpose of this trial, is properly laid in the witness John Resmussen.”

Defendant asked the following instruction which was refused, and he duly excepted:

“If the jury believe from the evidence that the money and revolver described in the indictment were the property of the Schattner Brothers and not the property of Resmussen, the person described as the owner in the indictment, and that said John Resmussen was simply the bartender, employee and servant of said Schattner Brothers, then their verdict must be for the defendant, and you will find him not guilty as charged in the indictment. In order to hold the defendant under the indictment the jury must find that the witness Resmussen owned the property alleged to have been stolen or had an interest in it.”

It is insisted by defendant that as the offense charged is robbery in the first degree, the proof must show that the money or property was taken from the possession or in the presence of the real owner, and as it appears from the evidence in this case that Resmussen was not the owner but only a servant or employee left temporarily in the possession of the property, that he could not be convicted under this indictment.

.The question here presented underwent thorough consideration in the recent case of the State v. Lawler, 130 Mo. 366, and in an able review of the authorities by Sherwood, J., the rule was announced that the test is that if the party alleged in the indictment to be the owner of the property have such a special interest in it by lien or otherwise that would enable him to maintain an action for its possession or injury thereto against any person other than the true owner, prosecution will lie in the name of such alleged owner; otherwise not. [Citing Com. v. Moore, 14 Mass. 217; Ludden v. Leavitt, 9 Mass. 104; Warren v. Leland, Ib. 265; Dillenbeck v. Jerome, 7 Cow. 294; 2 Bishop, Crim. Proc., see. 722.]

Now, it is perfectly clear that Resmussen was the mere servant of Sehattner Brothers and had the money in his possession as such, and wholly without any personal interest in it which would have enabled him to maintain an action therefor, or for any injury to it. Its possession was that of his employers, Sehattner Brothers, and the indictment should have so shown. The State cites many authorities which seem to hold to a contrary view, but we are entirely satisfied with our own ruling, believing it to be sustained by both reason and authority, and must decline to review those relied upon by defendant. It follows that the court erred in giving the instructions on the part of the State, 4and in refusing to give the instructions asked for by defendant.

There was no error in withdrawing from the consideration of the jury the evidence of defendant’s insanity, even if it be entitled to be called such, because it was entirely inadequate to establish such defense.

Eor these considerations we reverse the judgment and remand the cause, in order that the prosecuting attorney of the county may take such steps in the case as he may think comports with the best interest of the public.

All concur.