Sellers v. State

PECK, C. J.

— The indictment in this case was found under § 3710 R. C., which is in the following words: “ Any person who buys, receives, conceals, or aids in concealing any personal property whatever, knowing that it has been stolen, and not having the intent to restore it to the owner, must, on conviction, be punished as if he had stolen it.” This section creates a new offence, and describes its constituents. In such a case, all that is required is, that the offence be- charged in the language of the statute. See Shepherd’s Digest, p. 77, § 90.

The indictment is in the following words, omitting the caption: “ The grand jury of said county charge that, before the finding of this indictment, Robert D. Sellers received or concealed cotton, of the value of about forty dollars, the personal property of John D. Adair, knowing it had been stolen, and not having the intent to restore it to said John D. Adair, against the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama.” Without making any objection to the indictment, the defendant pleaded not guilty, was tried, convicted, and fined fifteen dollars. He appeals to this court, and his counsel now objects that the indictment is defective, because : 1st, it does not describe with sufficient certainty the property alleged to have been received or concealed; and, 2d, that it does not charge that the cotton was actually stolen. Cotton is personal property ; and to receive or conceal any personal property whatever, knowing it has been stolen, &c., is the offence described in the statute. Under our short and simplified forms of indictments, it was unnecessary to state any more specific description of the cotton, as that it was either cotton in the seed, or ginned cotton ; a general description of the property as cotton, the value being stated, is sufficient. The second objection is, that it is not charged that the cotton was actually stolen. The charge is, that the defendant received or concealed the cotton, “ knowing it had been stolen,” &c. We think this sufficient, without stating as a distinct fact that the cotton had been stolen. The defendant could not know it had been stolen, unless a larceny of the cotton had been actually committed. The offence consists in receiving or concealing personal property, knowing it has been stolen, &c. This is distinctly so stated in the indictment, and this is enough, at least after verdict.

2. Where an indictment charges the offence in such manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended, this is sufficient. R. C. § 4112.

An objection is also made to the charge of the court below. The court, at defendant’s request, gave its charge to the jury in writing, and, as no exception was taken, it will be presumed he was then satisfied with it, and it is too late to object for the first time in this .court.

The judgment is affirmed, at appellant’s cost.

PETERS, C. J.

— The appellant moves this court for a rehearing in this prosecution. One of the grounds relied on is, that the indictment set out in the record fails to charge any offence. The description of the offence omits the allegation, “ not having the intent to restore ” the goods stolen and concealed to the owner, and has in lieu thereof, “ not knowing the intent to restore it to said John D. Adair ” (the owner). This indictment is found under section 3710 of the Revised Code. It is insufficient. It omits one of the ingredients of the ofence. The indictment is a part of the record, and such a defect is available on motion in arrest of judgment, or on error. 1 Bish. Cr. Proc. §§ 851, 852; Rachel Williams v. The State, 47 Ala. 1.

The objection to what is inserted in the transcript as the charge of the court cannot be considered. The clerk is not authorized to incorporate into the transcript any charge of the court not made a part of the record by bill of exceptions, “ duly taken and signed by the presiding judge as in civil cases.” Rev. Code, §§ 2754, 2755, 4302. When this is done, the bill of exceptions makes the charge á part of the record, and errors may be assigned upon it; and this court will then look to it as a part of the proceedings which makes up the record, to which the court looks'to see whether the demands of the law have been observed by the eourt below. Rev. Code, § 4314. In the case of Rachel Williams v. The State (47 Ala. supra), there was a bill of exceptions, and what is said in that case does not justify the inference of the learned counsel for, the appellant, that there is any conflict between the decision there found and the original judgment in this case.

A rehearing is granted in this case, and the judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial. In the mean time, the accused, the said Robert D. Sellers, the appellant in this court, will be held in custody until discharged by due course of law. Rev. Code, § 4146.