Canellos v. State

The conviction in this case is based upon section 6841 of the Code of 1907, which is similar to the crime condemned by section 7329 of the Code of 1907 in so far as section 7329 requires knowledge on the part of the defendant, and authorities construing that section are applicable to the section under which this prosecution is brought.

The evidence discloses that in November, 1918, the defendant purchased a case of Magnolia milk from a negro truck driver by the name of Pickens and paid therefor $6.25; that amount being about $2 under the market value of the milk. It was shown that Pickens was the agent of James McDonnel Grocery Company; that on, to wit, the 12th of November one J.W. Taggert purchased from McDonnel a bill of groceries consisting of numerous articles and including the case of milk, the basis of this prosecution. According to the terms of purchase, these goods were to be delivered by the McDonnel Company to Taggert at his place of business. They were loaded on the McDonnel truck, put in charge of Pickens, and started for Taggert's place. All of these goods were delivered to Taggert except the case of milk, and that was taken by Pickens, in the daytime, and sold to the defendant at the place of business where defendant was clerking. The defendant paid for the milk with money belonging to his employer, and put the milk in the stock room of his employer, attached to the place of business. It was shown that the defendant's employers were customers of the McDonnel Company, and frequently bought goods from it, paying for same upon delivery.

Until the milk was delivered to Taggert the title thereto remained in the James McDonnel Grocery Company, as alleged in the indictment, and therefore the title was properly laid in it.

Pickens was the agent of the McDonnel Company, and a fraudulent disposition of the milk by him was embezzlement.

The defendant claims that the milk was delivered to him for his employer upon a statement by Pickens that it had been purchased by defendant's employer, and that, believing this to be true, he paid the purchase price demanded by Pickens, not knowing that it was greatly disproportionate to the market value of the milk, and that he received it without a knowledge of the fact that the milk had been embezzled or that there was any fraud connected with the transaction.

In a prosecution under this section it is not enough for the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the goods were embezzled, and that the defendant bought or received the property. It must also be shown by the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant at the time knew that the goods had been so embezzled and had the intent to prevent the recovery thereof, or to defraud the rightful owner, and any evidence tending to explain the possession of the goods by the defendant consistent with his innocence is admissible. It is a rule so well settled as not to require citation of authority that, before a defendant can be legally convicted of crime, the state must prove every material ingredient of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt, and, before a jury would be warranted in returning a verdict of guilty, there must be such proof as to convince them beyond a reasonable doubt as to every material ingredient of the offense charged. In this case a guilty scienter is one of the material ingredients. Cohen v. State, 16 Ala. App. 522, 79 So. 621

In line with the foregoing the defendant requested the court, in writing, to give charges Nos. 13, 12, and 16 as follows:

"(13) The court charges the jury that, before you can convict defendant under the second count of the indictment, you must not only believe beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant did buy or receive a case of condensed milk which was the property of James McDonnel Company, but you must further believe beyond reasonable doubt that he bought or received it actually knowing that it had been embezzled, or fraudulently converted or fraudulently secreted."

"(12) The court charges the jury that, before you can convict the defendant under the second count of the indictment, you must not only believe beyond reasonable doubt that defendant did buy, or receive a case of condensed milk which was the property of James McDonnel Grocery Company, but you must further believe beyond reasonable doubt that he bought or received it, actually knowing that it had been embezzled, or fraudulently converted or fraudulently secreted."

"(16) The court charges the jury that if, after considering all of the evidence in this case, there is in your minds a probability that defendant did not actually know that the goods were stolen, embezzled, or fraudulently converted or fraudulently secreted, you should find defendant not guilty."

Charges 13 and 12 should have been given, and refusal is reversible error.

Charge 16 is properly refused. Buckhanon v. State, 12 Ala. App. 36,67 So. 718.

Charge 17 has misleading tendencies, and therefore was properly refused.

Charge 15 is an argument and was properly refused.

It is unnecessary to pass upon the many exceptions to testimony appearing in the record, for the reason that the general rules as hereinabove set out will, in our opinion, be sufficient to guide the trial court in another trial of this case.

For the errors pointed out, the judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.