People v. Biossat

172 N.W. 933, 206 Mich. 334, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 661
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMay 29, 1919
DocketDocket No. 109
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 172 N.W. 933 (People v. Biossat) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Biossat, 172 N.W. 933, 206 Mich. 334, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 661 (Mich. 1919).

Opinion

Moore, J.

This caséis here upon exceptions before sentence. We quote from the information which was filed in the case as follows:

“That heretofore to wit on the tenth day of March, A. D. 1917, at the city of Charlevoix and in the county aforesaid, one Cora E. Biossat, late of the city of Charlevoix, in the county aforesaid, feloniously, unlawfully and wilfully did cause or procure the setting fire to and burning of a certain hotel known as the Hotel Michigan of the property,” etc., etc.

The respondent was convicted. We quote from the brief of her counsel:

We classify the assignments of error as follows:

[336]*336“1. The discrepancy between the information and the statute, 3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 15289.
“2. Admission of the insurance policy in evidence.
“3. The admission of the claimed confession in evidence and leaving it to the jury to determine whether the confession was voluntary or not.”

We consider these assignments in the same order:

1. We again quote from the brief of counsel:

“The statute reads:
"‘Every person who shall wilfully burn any building or any goods, wares, merchandise, or other chattels, which shall be at the time insured’ * * *
“The objection is that a description of Hotel Michigan does not describe any building within the terms of the statute and neither does it describe any goods, wares, merchandise or other chattels, and if it does it does not point out whether the accused is charged with procuring the burning of personal property or real property.”

We think that when the information describes the property burned as a certain hotel known as the Hotel Michigan that is the description of a building and is sufficient.

2. It is said that the admission of the insurance policy in evidence was error, first, that it was not proven the policy was signed by an authorized agent, and second, that no revenue stamps were affixed.

Under the first head counsel for respondent say the agent was doing business under the fictitious name of Myrtie Young & Son; that Earl A. Young claims to have continued to do business as Myrtie Young & Son, and that they filed no certificate of fictitious name as required by the statute (2 Comp. Laws 1915, § 6349 et seq.). We think there is nothing in this point. See Axe v. Tolbert, 179 Mich. 566; Cross v. Leonard, 181 Mich. 24; Sauer v. Construction Co., 179 Mich. 624; Zemon v. Trim,, 181 Mich. 130; Hager v. Schliess, 184 Mich. 472.

[337]*337It is also said there was a failure to prove the authority of the agent to countersign the policy. The agent testified that a certificate of authority had been issued to him, but that he was unable to find it. It was then shown by a representative of the insurance department of the State that a certificate of authority had been issued to him. In this connection it is well to say that the policy received in evidence is the same one that was on the building when a fire occurred in the previous November for which the loss then sustained was adjusted. See People v. Jones, 24 Mich. 224. But it is said that as the policy had no revenue stamps it should not have been received. The insurance company could take no advantage of its failure to affix stamps where it was its duty to do so. We think the policy was properly admitted.

3. Did the court err in its rulings in relation to the admission of the so-called confession? The testimony was very conflicting as to what occurred when the paper was procured.

The circuit judge charged the jury in part as follows:

“There has been some testimony introduced in this case from which it is claimed that this respondent has confessed in writing and admitted orally that she procured the firing of this building. As to this branch of the testimony it is necessary for you to inquire and determine before you can consider it with reference to the guilt of respondent; first, whether or not such confession and statements, if you find any were made, were the free and voluntary confessions of the respondent. Also whether or not "there was such a loss of memory or disorder of memory or mental confusion that she did not realize that she confessed to committing a crime. If you find they were made and you find they were not her free and voluntary statements, then they cannot be considered by you; or if you find they were made and that they were not intelligently made — that is, that her memory or mind [338]*338was so disordered and confused that she did not realize what she said, then they cannot be considered by you.
“I have said you must find whether or not they were free and voluntary. If you find that the claimed confessions were made and were made under fear, compulsion, deceit, threat or duress, or if they were made upon and inducement, promises, hope or expectation that it would be better for her to make them then they would not be the voluntary confessions of the respondent and should not be considered by you.
“I have said you' must find whether they were intelligently made — that is, whether or not she knew and understood what she was saying. If the condition of her mind was such because of loss of memory or disorder of memory, or mental confusion, and such impairment of memory had extended to that degree that she did not realize what she said, then it was not her intelligent statement, and could not be considered by you. But if she did mentally appreciate and realize what she said there, then it would be her intelligent statement, and, so far as the question of her mind was concerned, it could be considered by you.
“I have defined to you what is meant by voluntary confessions and also under what state of mental condition she would or would not be held for her statement.
“Then, gentlemen of the jury, if you find these confessions and statements were not the free and voluntary confession of the respondent, or that she didn’t know or understand what she was saying, under the instructions I have given you as to these confessions and statements, then they cannot be considered against her. But if they were her intelligent statements— that is, she knew, understood, appreciated and realized what she said, and they were voluntarily made, and made of her own free act without fear, compulsion, deceit, threat or duress, and without any inducement or promises, hopes or expectations of favor, or that it would be better for her to do so — then they may be considered by you, under all the instructions I give you as to confessions, and upon which you are instructed that voluntary and intelligent confessions of a prisoner are received in evidence of guilt upon the presumption that a person will not make an untrue [339]*339statement against his or her own interest.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
172 N.W. 933, 206 Mich. 334, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 661, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-biossat-mich-1919.