People v. Decker

317 P.2d 135, 155 Cal. App. 2d 165, 1957 Cal. App. LEXIS 1261
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 12, 1957
DocketCrim. 5991
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 317 P.2d 135 (People v. Decker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Decker, 317 P.2d 135, 155 Cal. App. 2d 165, 1957 Cal. App. LEXIS 1261 (Cal. Ct. App. 1957).

Opinion

FOURT, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction on two counts under the bookmaking statutes.

In an information in Los Angeles County, appellant was charged in count I with a violation of subdivision 1, section 337a, Penal Code (engaging in bookmaking upon the result of a horse race), and in another count with a violation of subdivision 6 of the same section (lay, make, offer and accept bets upon the result of a horse race). He was also charged with two prior felony convictions in New York with service of prison terms therefor. Appellant pleaded not guilty and denied the prior convictions. At the trial a jury was waived and the cause was submitted on the transcript of the preliminary hearing and the testimony of a police officer for the plaintiff. Appellant did not testify.

Appellant was found guilty of the charges. No evidence was introduced with reference to the prior convictions and the court struck the same. Proceedings were suspended and appellant was placed on probation for two years upon condition that he spend 60 days in jail and refrain from like activities in the future. Appellant was admitted to bail pending the appeal.

A substantial résumé of the pertinent facts is as follows: On January 24, 1957, Officer Deiro of the Los Angeles Police Department dialed a telephone call to the telephone numbered Capitol 5-2639 from the telephone numbered Madison 9-2098. The officer had previously received information from an informant that the Capitol 5-2639 number was being used for bookmaking purposes. The informant had given the officer information in the past which had resulted in arrests of suspects being held to answer in court. The officer ascertained from the telephone company that the telephone with the number Capitol 5-2639 was located at 3608 Griffin Avenue, Los Angeles.

The person answering the officer’s call had a male voice. Deiro stated over the telephone, “This is Eddy for Vac, Madison 9-2098.’’ The male voice repeated the telephone *167 number. Deiro inquired, “Do you have the results of the Fifth?” The male voice stated, “No, I don’t have the results. I will have them call you.” The officer then hung up. Until the telephone talk the officer had never heard the answering male voice, but he did hear the appellant’s voice after the arrest and recognized appellant’s voice as being the voice he had heard in the telephone conversation. About three minutes after the officer hung up, the telephone numbered Madison 9-2098 rang and Deiro answered. An unknown male voice said, “Hello,” and Deiro said, “This is Eddy for Vac.” The male voice said, “Is this Vac?” and the officer replied, “No, this is Eddy; I am calling for Vac.” The male voice then said, “Did he give you the number?” and the officer replied, “Yes.” The male voice then stated, “O.K., what do you have?” Officer Deiro replied, “In the 6th Nearly, 2 to win.” The male voice said, “That is scratched.” The officer then stated, “OK, then in the 7th give me Spike; in the 8th Wire-line ; make that a $2 win parley. ’ ’ The voice repeated' the officer’s statement and then said, “Thank you,” and hung up. The officer had learned that there was a horse named “Nearly” which was to have run in the sixth race at Santa Anita but was scratched, a horse named “Spike” running in the seventh race, and a horse named “Wireline” running in the eighth race.

Deiro dialed the telephone numbered Capitol 5-2639 a second time. The same male voice as before answered the telephone. Deiro said, “This is Eddy for Vac again. My horse in the 6th was scratched. I have got another one I want to bet. Have them call me right back.” The male voice stated, “I gave them your number; haven’t they called you yet?” The officer replied, “Yes, but the horse I wanted was scratched and I want them to call me back at the same number.” The male voice answered, “O.K.” About four minutes later the telephone numbered Madison 9-2098 rang and the officer answered it. Deiro said, “This is Eddy for Vac again. In the 6th give me Sudden Shock, 2 to win.” The male voice repeated the offer or wager and said, “O.K.” Deiro had ascertained that there was a horse named Sudden Shock” running in the sixth race at Santa Anita. Deiro further testified that he was familiar with the ways and means of bookmaking in Los Angeles County, and he described what the terms and words used in the telephone talks meant. He also stated that one means of bookmaking is through an operation known as a “call back” in which system the bettor telephones a given *168 telephone number, known as a “call back spot.” The bettor gives his own telephone number and identification to the person at the “call back spot.” There is an office where records are kept, and this office then telephones the “call back spot” and receives the telephone numbers and identification left there. This office then telephones the bettors and accepts their wagers.

Officer Hand of the same police department was in the vicinity of 3608 South Griffin Street. Deiro contacted Hand by the police radio system, and in response to that call Hand and two other officers went to the front door of 3608 South Griffin. Hand knocked on the front door and stated, “Police officers, you are under arrest for bookmaking.” There was no response at the door, and having waited a short time and having heard the sounds of running in the house and of a toilet flushing, Officers Hand and Jordan kicked open the back door and' entered. Appellant was found in the bathroom and.was asked what he was hiding there, and he replied, “I just got here. I just walked in the door, just two or three minutes before you knocked. ’ ’ Officer Hand informed appellant that he had been stationed outside of the house on the street for about 30 minutes and that he had not seen anyone enter or leave the place, and therefore it was impossible for appellant to have arrived just five minutes before. The officer again asked appellant what time he had arrived, and appellant did not answer. At about this time the telephone rang and Hand answered it. A male voice stated, “This is Dock for Larry, Capitol 2-0057,” and the phone was then hung up. Hand called Deiro and Deiro then called the number Capitol 2-0057. An unknown male voice answered and stated, “This is Dock, in the 6th give me Wireline 2 to win and 2 to place.” Other wagers similar in type were given. Hand found a magazine near the telephone in the house with the numbers 9-2098 written on it. The appellant was searched and two keys were found on his person. Hand tried one of the keys and found that it worked the front door, and the appellant stated the other key fitted the back door.

Appellant contends that (1) the trial court considered hearsay evidence which was admitted to show probable cause for the entry and the arrest, although the appellant raised no issue as to probable cause; (2) the trial court considered hearsay evidence upon the issue in chief, over objection, and (3) the evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdict.

Apparently it is appellant’s belief that the testimony *169 of the officer concerning probable cause for the arrest of appellant should not have been received because at the preliminary hearing the appellant failed to contend that there was no probable cause for his arrest. In other words, it is appellant’s contention that only when the defendant raises the issue of probable cause may a committing magistrate receive such evidence.

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Bluebook (online)
317 P.2d 135, 155 Cal. App. 2d 165, 1957 Cal. App. LEXIS 1261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-decker-calctapp-1957.