McKenzie v. State

Conviction for theft of one "cattle," the alleged property of Cochran.

The indictment was obtained in Martin County. The case was by the court, of its own motion, transferred to Mitchell County.

The first count of the indictment alleges that the property (cow) was by appellant stolen in the Territory of New Mexico, and was afterwards brought by him into this State, and that at the time of the presentment of the indictment he was in Martin County.

The second count is the same as the first, except that it charges that the defendant brought the cow into Terry County, and that it was unorganized, and was attached to Martin County.

The fourth count alleges the theft in Andrews County, and that this was an unorganized county, and attached to Martin County.

The first two counts declare upon the same transaction, differing only in regard to matter of venue. The third count declares apparently upon a distinct transaction from those designated in the first and second. The fourth upon its face declares upon a transaction separate and distinct from the first, second, and third.

We have in this indictment three distinct felonies, apparently, charged against appellant. If the animal was in fact stolen in New Mexico, it was not stolen in Terry County; and if stolen in Terry County, it was not taken in Andrews County. This pleading, however, is correct. In the same indictment there can be no such joinder of felonies as includes separate transactions in fact. Bish. Crim. Proc., sec. 448. What relation the accused bears to a certain supposed criminal transaction may frequently be shrouded in doubt. Was he a principal, accomplice, or a receiver in the transaction? Under such a state of case, counts for each are permissible, yea, commendable practice. And if there be doubt as to whether the property was taken beyond this State or in an attached county, the indictment should allege both. When upon the trial distinct transactions are developed, at the request of the defendant the State should be forced to elect upon which count or transaction it will prosecute. Such a request was not made in this case. We have mentioned this subject solely for the purpose of preventing mistakes in the future.

Two counts charge theft of the animal in New Mexico, and that the property was brought by appellant into this State, and that at the time this bill was presented appellant was in Martin County. The other, that the property was brought by him into Terry County, which was unorganized and attached to Martin County for judicial purposes. Either of these counts is sufficient, and if either be proven appellant was properly indicted in Martin County.

Counsel for appellant contend that this State has no authority to try and punish offenses committed beyond its jurisdiction, and that this offense was wholly committed in New Mexico, etc. Let us examine the proposition. This State has no jurisdiction to try and punish a party for theft committed by him beyond its boundaries. But is this the case before us? Articles 798 and 799 define this offense: "If any person shall steal property beyond the boundaries of this State, and the acts and intents constitute theft in the foreign country, State, or Territory under the laws thereof, and said acts and intents constitute theft under the laws of this State, shall bring said property into this State, he is liable to the same punishment as if the theft had been committed wholly within this State."

What are the ingredients of this offense? First, the acts and intents must constitute theft by the law of the country in which the property was taken; second, such acts and intents must constitute theft under the law of this State; third, the thief must bring the stolen property into this State. This State does not propose to punish the party for theft committed beyond its borders, but proposes to punish him for stealing the property beyond its boundaries and bringing his plunder into this State. This is not only authorized by articles 798 and 799, but also by article 205, Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides, "Prosecutions for offenses committed wholly or in part without, and made punishable by law within this State, may be commenced and carried on in any county in which the offender is found." This prosecution was commenced (by indictment) in Martin County, the county in which appellant was found. This was correct practice, because this offense was committed in part without this State, and consummated in this State by the appellant bringing the stolen property into this State; that is, this is the theory of the State, and if in fact appellant did these things, Texas would have the right to try and punish him therefor, and the procedure under the first and second counts is correct. If guilty, appellant could not be punished for theft in New Mexico, but for the theft and the act of bringing the plunder into this State.

By bill of exceptions, it appears that Carrington (witness for the State) testified, that he was in control and that he had the management of a herd of cattle in New Mexico branded with a mallet; that he never gave his consent to the defendant to kill such an animal. Counsel for appellant objected, because the ownership of the cattle could not be proven by an unrecorded brand, ownership not having been proven otherwise. The objection was overruled, the court explaining, "That it is not shown that New Mexico has such a statute as ours, to the effect that a brand is not evidence of ownership unless recorded, and it would be evidence at common law. * * * It was not sought to prove ownership by the brand, but only care, control, and management." The defendant, on the stand as a witness, did not claim to have authority from any one to take or kill any mallet cattle.

Article 4560, Revised Statutes: "It shall be the duty of the clerks of the County Court in the respective counties to keep a well bound book, in which they shall record the marks and brands of each individual who may apply to them for that purpose, noting in every instance the date on which the brand or mark is recorded; which record shall be subject to the examination of every citizen of the county at all reasonable office hours, free of charge for such examination."

Article 4561, Revised Statutes: "No brand except such as is recorded by the officer named in this chapter shall be recognized in law as any evidence of ownership of cattle, horses, or mules upon which the same may be used."

Whether New Mexico has or has not a statute with such provisions as these, matters not, for unless recorded as required by our statutes the brand on the animal shall not be recognized by our law as any evidence that the animal bearing it belongs to any person. The common law has nothing whatever to do with this question, it being settled by our statutes. It is not necessary for us to discuss the question as to whether a brand properly recorded in another State or Territory would in the courts of this State be evidence of ownership.

Second explanation: If an unrecorded brand is not evidence that A owns the animal that bears it, evidently it is no evidence that A has the management and control of the animal. This proposition is self-evident.

Third: That appellant failed to claim from any one authority to kill the animal does not make an unrecorded brand evidence of ownership. The court should have sustained appellant's objection to the testimony of Carrington; and for the same reason, the evidence of J.M. Crowder and A.L. Crowley should have been excluded. Bills of exceptions numbers 16 and 17.

Bill number 18: McLish, an Indian police officer, testified, that about the 17th day of July, 1892, he arrested Henry Harding in the Indian Territory, and in making the arrest he and said Harding exchanged pistol shots. Counsel for appellant objected, because if there had once been a conspiracy between Harding and appellant, it had ended, etc.

Bill number 19: The State also proved by McLish that when he arrested Harding, he (Harding) stated that he did not expect to be caught so soon; that he expected to leave there that night.

Bill number 28: The State introduced in evidence two certified copies of bail bonds of Henry Harding, for his appearance before the examining court of Donley County on the 6th day of July, 1892, and certified copies of judgments declaring forfeitures of said bonds. To this bill the court appends the following explanation: "The evidence was admitted on the hypothesis that the conspiracy was not at an end, the cattle not having been driven to the 'Rocking Chair' pasture or sold." Appellant and Harding were arrested on or about the 3rd day of July, 1892, and neither of these parties was engaged in driving the herd to Rocking Chair pasture when Harding was arrested, or when his bonds were forfeited. What is the rule? "Confessions of others. As to the prisoner's liability to be affected by the confessions ofothers, it may be remarked, in general, that the principle of the law in civil and criminal cases is the same. In civil cases, as we have already seen, when once the fact of agency or partnership is established, every act and declaration of one, in furtherance of the common business, and until its completion, is deemed the act of all. And so on in cases of conspiracy, riot, or other crime perpetrated by several persons, when once the conspiracy or combination is established, the act or declaration of one conspirator or accomplice, in the prosecution of the enterprise, is considered the act of all, and is evidence against all. Each is deemed to assent to or commend what is done by any other in furtherance of the common object. Thus, in an indictment against the owner of a ship for violation of the statutes against the slave trade, testimony of the declaration of the master, being part of the res gestæ, connected with acts in furtherance of the voyage, and within the scope of his authority as an agent of the owner in the conduct of the guilty enterprise, is admissible against the owner. But after the common enterprise is at an end, whether by accomplishment or abandonment is not material, no one is permitted, by any subsequent act or declaration of his own, to affect the others. His confession, therefore, subsequently made, even though by the plea of guilty, is not admissible in evidence, as such, against any but himself. If it were made in the presence of another, and addressed to him, it might, in certain circumstances, be receivable, on the ground of assent or implied admission. In fine, the declarations of a conspirator or accomplice are receivable against his fellows only when they are either in themselves acts, or accompany and explain acts for which the others are responsible; but not when they are in the nature of narratives, descriptions, or subsequent confessions."

If it ever existed, the conspiracy was at an end, though the cattle were taken to Rocking Chair pasture. The members had been arrested, and Harding had forfeited his bond, and was in the Nation, doing nothing whatever in aid of the common design.

What a conspirator does or says may be evidence against his coconspirator, and it may not. This is the case, though the conspiracy may not be at an end. If ended by accomplishment or abandonment, and if the abandonment be voluntary or compelled, the acts and declarations of a conspirator are not evidence against any person but himself. Though the object of the conspiracy be not ended (accomplished), the acts and declarations of a coconspirator are not evidence against another coconspirator, unless they are in furtherance of the common design.

Application: If the exchange of shots between McLish and Harding, or Harding's flight to the Indian Territory, with consequent forfeiture of his appearance bonds, were for the purpose of or tended to move, or aided in moving the cattle to Rocking Chair pasture, then these acts might be evidence against McKenzie, his supposed coconspirator. But how these acts could tend to or have that effect, is beyond our comprehension. The flight of one coconspirator is not evidence of guilt against another. The People v. Stanley, 47 Cal. 112.

The judgment of the court below is reversed and case remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

SIMKINS, J., absent.