Camp v. State

1939 OK CR 30, 89 P.2d 378, 66 Okla. Crim. 20, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 32
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 7, 1939
DocketNo. A-9424.
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 1939 OK CR 30 (Camp v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Camp v. State, 1939 OK CR 30, 89 P.2d 378, 66 Okla. Crim. 20, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 32 (Okla. Ct. App. 1939).

Opinion

BAREFOOT, J.

The defendant was charged in Oklahoma county with the crime of receiving stolen property; was tried, convicted, and sentenced to pay a fine of $75, and serve six months in the county jail.

The statute under which defendant was charged, Okla. St. 1931, § 2265, 21 Okla. St. Ann. § 1713, is as follows:

“Every person who buys or receives, in any manner, upon any consideration, any personal property of any value *21 whatsoever, that has been stolen from any other, knowing the same to have been stolen, is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding five years, or in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding $250, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

The evidence in this case reveals that Lee G. Yaple was a traveling salesman with Weyeth Hardware Company, and living in Oklahoma City. That he carried with him numerous samples of articles sold by him, and often kept them in his garage at his home. That on the night of April 23, 1937, numerous articles of samples were stolen from his garage, which was locked but broken into. Two young boys, Marion Nasche and Jimmie Dickerson, ages 16 and 17, respectively, who had come to Oklahoma City from Texas a few days prior to this time, and were rooming at the Gladstone Hotel, admitted stealing this property, and selling the same to defendant. They both testified to this effect.

The proof showed that the property was of the reasonable wholesale value of $90.65, and was sold to the defendant for $13. The property as described in the information was as follows:

“One Safe Flex fan of the value of $5.25; one Safe Flex fan of the value of $1.75; one Polar Fan valued at $1.07; three auto tubes valued at $1.06; one light socket value $1; one light socket value 88c; all gloves value $15; Sam Brown belt value $7.50; one pair hair clippers value 66c; one hair clipper value $1; one sewing tray value $2.50; leather of the value of $8; one electric comb value $1; knives of the value of $7; silverware of the value of $6; brushes of the value of $20; the sample cases of the value of $1, all of a total value of $90.65 * *

Practically all of this property was new and much of it had never been removed from the original package. This property, which had been placed in suitcases, was taken by the boys from their room in the Gladstone Hotel, to the second-hand store of defendant which was located at 117 South Harvey street, Oklahoma City. They entered the store and saw defendant personally, and asked him if he *22 wanted to buy some brushes, fans, etc., and he informed them he would have to see the property. They returned to their room and got a portion of the property and brought it to the store of defendant, where he inspected it, and they asked $10 for it, and defendant told them he would give only $8. They finally agreed, but told him they had other property, which at his suggestion they went and got and returned to the store of defendant and asked him $20 for all of the property. It was finally purchased for $13. The defendant had one of the boys, Marion Nasche, sign his books when there the first time. He signed the name “George Doss,” and when he returned and signed the books the second time he signed the name “C. Hammond.”

Defendant, testifying in his own behalf, stated that he was in the second-hand business, and had resided in Oklahoma City since 1919, and had never been arrested or convicted of any crime. He corroborated the state’s witnesses with reference to the purchasing of the property and the price paid. He stated that the price paid was a fair price, and that the goods were bought in the open and placed upon the shelves of his business house in plain view of customers, with the exception of a silver platter and certain knives and forks which he had taken to his residence. That when the officers came to his place of business he turned over to them- all the property which he had purchased, including the property that had been taken to his home. He testified that the boys from whom he purchased the property told him, in answer to his question, that they were salesmen, and were going out of business and were disposing of their samples, which they had a right to do. That he did not examine his books after they were signed, and did not know that two different names were signed thereto.

A clerk, Sam Massey, corroborated defendant’s testimony as to the purchase and sale of the goods to defendant, and stated that they told him they were over 22 years of age.

*23 Other witnesses, testifying for defendant, said that the price paid by defendant for the goods was a fair and reasonable price. Other witnesses testified to his good character and reputation.

On rebuttal, the state offered C. W. Kemp, who was head of the stolen goods department of the city police department. He identified a statement received by his department from defendant on the dates covering the above transaction. This statement was presented by defendant in compliance with' a city ordinance requiring these daily reports. The report and a book offered by defendant when witness signed his name were introduced in evidence, but a copy of neither appears in the case-made.

Under the well-defined principles of law, as outlined by the many decisions of this court, it is necessary in a case of this character, not only for the state to show that the goods have been stolen, but it is necessary to show that the party receiving the property had knowledge at the time the property was received that it had been stolen. By this expression it is not meant that it is necessary for the person receiving the same to have actually seen the theft of the property. It is sufficient if the facts are such as to cause an actual belief that the property was stolen. Price v. State, 9 Okla. Cr. 359, 131 P. 1102; 2 Bishop’s New Criminal Law, sec. 1138. Some cases have held that a conviction should be sustained if the facts were such “that in all probability” would make the accused believe that the property had been stolen. This doctrine is not upheld in this state. Wingfield v. State, 55 Okla. Cr. 374, 30 P. 2d 930; Weaver v. State, 30 Okla. Cr. 309, 235 P. 635; Wilson v. State, 55 Okla. Cr. 22, 24 P. 2d 296.

Other cases have held that where the proof would “put a man of ordinary intelligence and caution on inquiry,” that this was sufficient. This doctrine is not upheld by the decisions of this court. Pickering v. United States, 2 Okla. *24 Cr. 197, 101 P. 123; State v. Denny, 17 N. D. 519, 117 N. W. 869.

The knowledge necessary may be proved by direct or circumstantial evidence, or by both. Within well-defined principles of law each case must rest upon the facts of that individual case. By reason of the nature of the crime it is generally necessary for the state to rely upon circumstantial evidence in cases of this character.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1939 OK CR 30, 89 P.2d 378, 66 Okla. Crim. 20, 1939 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 32, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/camp-v-state-oklacrimapp-1939.