State v. Schingen , 20 Wis. 74 ( 1865 )

Cole, J.

The first instruction asked for on the trial by the defendant, however true as an abstract proposition of law, yet, without some explanation, was calculated to mislead the jury. The evidence shows most clearly that the defendant was in the employ of Buhler, and had been sent from Berlin with the team to take some beer to Omro and Waukau, with instructions to bring back the kegs and money, returning by the way of Eureka the same day. It appears that, after disposing of most of the beer at Omro, the defendant threw the empty kegs and two full ones remaining unsold over the fence into a field at that place, and instead of returning to Berlin, drove off with the wagon and horses to Oshkosh, where he offered the horses for sale, and did actually sell the harness. By the instruction above referred to, the court was asked to charge the jury that without the commission of a trespass there could be no larceny, and that there could be no trespass unless the goods were taken by the accused while in the possession of the owner. The court gave this instruction with the additional remark, that if the accused was at work for the owner of the property, and the property -was put into the prisoner’s hands to go to Omro and other places, it remained ifi the owner’s possession; and if the prisoner took it beyond- the places he was to go to, for the purpose of converting it to his own use, this was a trespass. Now we think the explanatory remarks were very proper, in view of the facts of the case. For the evidence was' most distinct and positive upon the point, that the defendant was in the employ of Bukler, and had been sent away by him with the wagon, horses, harness, beer &c., for the purpose just stated. He was therefore the servant of Bukler, having only a bare charge or custody of the property, while the legal possession was in the owner. The relation of master and servant thus existing between the parties when the property was entrusted to the care of the defendant for a special purpose, in contemplation of law the possession was in the master, and the defendant might be guilty of a trespass and larceny in fraudulently converting it to his own usa| This principle is fully established by the authorities to whicK the attorney general referred on the argument. Hence it was very proper for the court to accompany the instruction with the remarks he made upon it, and tell the jury that if the defendant was at work for the owner of the property, and the property was put under Ms custody to go to Omro and other places, his possession was for the time being the possession of the master, and if the defendant took it beyond the places he was to go to, with the intent to convert it to bis own use, be was guilty of trespass. Otherwise tbe jury might have possibly supposed, because tbe defendant bad the property under bis care and custody, be must likewise necessarily baye tbe possession, and could not therefore be said to take it from tbe possession of tbe owner.

Tbe court was further asked to charge tbe jury, that if they should find from tbe evidence that tbe defendant bad tbe property for tbe purpose of going to Omro and other places to carry tbe beer, and that at tbe time be took tbe property from tbe owner be really intended to use it for that purpose, and bad no intention, at tbe time be took possession of it, to steal, but, finding himself in tbe possession, be afterwards formed tbe intention of converting it to bis own use instead of usmg it for tbe purpose originally designed, then tbe taking would not amount to a felony, nor would it constitute larceny. This mstruction is obviously incorrect, since it assumes that to constitute larceny tbe felonious intent must have existed when tbe defendant was first intrusted with tbe custody of tbe property. It was not necessary that tbe jury should find that tbe animus furancli existed at tbe time tbe defendant left Berlin for Omro. It was enough that tbe intention existed! while be bad charge 'of tbe property as servant to tbe owner, and that it was carried into' effect by converting tbe property to bis own use. The People v. Call, 1 Denio, 120; 2 Russell on Crimes, 157-8.

Tbe court was further reqrrested to charge tbe jury that there must be an actual conversion of tbe property to constitute larceny ; that conceding that tbe defendant procured tbe possession of tbe property-for tbe purpose of stealing it, and that be offered to sell it or a portion of it, but did not perfect tbe bargain and no sale was made, in that case tbe offense of larceny would not be complete. Tbe difficulty with this instruction is, that it assumes that there could be no conversion of tbe property unless tbe defendant bad actually sold it. As a matter of fact be did sell tbe harness. He likewise offered to sell tbe horses, but failed to find a purchaser. But it is manifest that if the defendant took charge of the properly originally with the felonious intent of converting it to his own use, and of making it his own without the consent of the owner, and did thus appropriate it, he was guilty of larceny, although he had not sold it. Otherwise it would follow that if he retained possession of and used the horses until they died, and the wagon and harness until they were worn out, still he could not be convicted of larceny, because he had not sold and parted with the possession. Or if, having received the property with the same felonious intent, he had taken it off out of the state and country, yet because he kept it the offense would not be complete. Undoubtedly the defendant, by receiving the property with the felonious intent of stealing it, might fraudulently convert it to his own use without actually selling it. Our statute makes it larceny for a servant, having property under his care by virtue of his employment, to take and secrete it with intent to embezzle and convert it to his own use without the consent of the owner and employer. Sec. 27, chap. 165, R. S.

There was some evidence which tended to show that the defendant was intoxicated at Oshkosh, where he offered the property for sale. And the court was asked to charge the jury, if they found that he was sober at the time the property was delivered to him, and that he then had no intention to convert it to his own use, but afterwards became so iptoxicated that he did not know the consequences t>f his acts, and while in this condition disposed of, or offered to disjDose of, the property, that then they should find him not guilty. The court refused to give this instruction, but charged the jury that the intention of the defendant in the commission of the act was the gist of the crime of larceny, and that a person who, from drunkenness or other cause, may have lost his understanding, cannot in contemplation of law be accountable for his intention; that although drunkenness was no excuse for the commission of many crimes, yet it was of great importance as affecting the question of intention, and therefore, if they should find that the defendant •was so drunk as to be unable to form any intention at the time he offered to dispose of the property, he should be acquitted, unless they were satisfied of the further fact that he had formed the intention to steal while in the possession of his reasoning powers.

We are satisfied that the circuit court charged the jury upon the point of drunkenness quite as favorably to the defendant as the law would allow. The jury were told that if the defendant, at the tune he offered the property for sale, was so drunk as to be unable to form any intention, that is that he was so drank as not to know what he was doing, then he should be acquitted, unless the evidence showed that the felonious intent existed when he was in the full and undisturbed possession of his mental faculties. We certainly think there was nothing in all this of which the defendant can complain.

By the Court. — The exceptions in this case are overruled, and the judgment of the circuit court affirmed.