People v. Gonzales

124 P.2d 44, 20 Cal. 2d 165, 1942 Cal. LEXIS 258

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: April 2, 1942
• Docket: Crim. 4382
• Status: Published

Opinions

TRAYNOR, J.

On June 17, 1940, an indictment was filed charging defendants Gonzales and Chierotti with having conspired together on May 25, 1940, to commit grand theft by fraudulent representations to Secundo Yalenzano regarding a machine that purportedly could reproduce United States currency with the use of certain chemicals. The evidence showed that defendant Gonzales, after striking up an acquaintance with Secundo Yalenzano, told Yalenzano that a rich man had the machine, that real currency was necessary in making the reproductions, and that he would surreptitiously get possession of the machine and bring it to Yalenzano’s saloon. He brought the machine there, put some real bills into it, used the chemicals, and when the machine was opened, there were two bills for each one originally inserted. Thereupon Gonzales told Yalenzano that if he could get several thousand dollars in new bills, equal to an amount to be furnished by Gonzales, each could double his money by using the machine. Yalenzano put up no money but notified the police who arrested both Gonzales and Chierotti.

Yalenzano was the only witness who testified to the foregoing events. Police Officer Iredale testified that on June 6, 1940, he and Police Officer Linss, -without any warrant, authority, or permission, entered the apartment of defendant Ghierotti in the latter’s absence and took therefrom a black case containing not only bottles of liquid but a machine, subsequently identified by Valenzano as that used by Gonzales. Ghierotti and Gonzales objected to any testimony by Officer Iredale regarding the entry and search of Ghierotti’s apartment and the seizure of the case and contents, as well as to the introdnction and use of the latter as evidence, on the ground that the entry, search, seizure, and use of the property violated the rights guaranteed to Ghierotti by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and the search and seizure and due process clauses of the Constitution of California. (Cal. Const., art. I, secs. 19, 13.)

Before the commencement of the trial Ghierotti sought an injunction in an independent proceeding against the San Francisco Police Department and Officer Iredale to enjoin the use of the ease and contents at the trial and to restrain Officer Iredale from testifying to anything he saw, did or heard while engaged in his search and seizure. The court denied the injunction and Ghierotti appealed to this court. Pending determination of the appeal, the lower court granted a temporary injunction restraining Officer Iredale from testifying with regard to the entry into Ghierotti’s apartment. Many months before the trial Ghierotti filed a written motion for an order directing the return to him of the case and contents, and the exclusion from evidence, not only of this property, but of any testimony of the officers regarding the search and seizure or based on information acquired as a result thereof. The motion was denied. At the trial the court refused to enforce the temporary injunction, allowing Officer Iredale to testify in direct defiance thereof. The defendants were found guilty by the jury. After judgment was pronounced each defendant appealed to this court from the order denying his motion for a new trial and from the judgment.

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by federal officers. Pursuant to this mandate the federal courts forbid the introduction in court of evidence obtained by an illegal search or seizure if a timely motion for its exclusion is made by the accused. (Byars v. United States, 273 U. S. 28 [47 S. Ct. 248, 71 L. Ed. 520]; Go-Bart Importing Co. v. United States, 283 U. S. 344 [51 S. Ct. 153, 75 L. Ed. 374]; Gouled v. United States, 252 U. S. 298, 302 [41 S. Ct. 261, 65 L. Ed. 647]; Silverthorne Lumber Co. v. United States, 251 U. S. 385 [40 S. Ct. 182, 64 L. Ed. 319]; Boyd v. United States, 116 U. S. 616 [6 S. Ct. 524, 29 L. Ed. 746]; Weeks v. United States, 232 U. S. 383 [34 S. Ct. 341, 58 L. Ed. 652]; Nardone v. United States, 308 U. S. 338 [60 S. Ct. 266, 84 L. Ed. 307]; Ex parte Jackson, 96 U. S. 727, 733 [24 L. Ed. 877]; Amos v. United States, 252 U. S. 313 [41 S. Ct. 266, 65 L. Ed. 654]; Agnello v. United States, 269 U. S. 20 [46 S. Ct. 4, 70 L. Ed. 145].) The California Constitution contains an identical provision (Cal. Const., art. I, sec. 19), but the accepted rule in this state, as in many others, permits the introduction of improperly obtained evidence on the ground that the illegality of the search and seizure does not affect the admissibility of the evidence. (People v. Mayen, 188 Cal. 237 [205 Pac. 435, 24 A. L. R. 1383]; In re Polizzotto, 188 Cal. 410 [205 Pac. 676]; People v. Le Doux, 155 Cal. 535 [102 Pac. 517]; Herrscher v. State Bar, 4 Cal. (2d) 399 [49 P. (2d) 832]. See cases cited in 88 A. L. R. 348.) The defendant may have civil and criminal remedies against the officers for their illegal acts (see Pen. Code, sec. 146; Silva v. MacAuley, 135 Cal. App. 249 [26 P. (2d) 887, 27 P. (2d) 791]; Ryan v. Crist, 23 Cal. App. 744 [139 Pac. 436]; 15 So. Cal. L. Rev. 139, 141 et seq.), but the state is not precluded from using the evidence obtained thereby.

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is not a limitation upon the states (National Safety Deposit Co. v. Stead, 232 U. S. 58 [34 S. Ct. 209, 58 L. Ed. 504]; Ohio v. Dollison, 194 U. S. 445 [24 S. Ct. 703, 48 L. Ed. 1062]), and California is free to interpret its own Constitution. Defendants contend, however, that the prohibition in the Fourth Amendment of unreasonable searches and seizures is included in the provision of the Fourteenth Amendment that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, and therefore that under the interpretation given to the Fourth Amendment by the federal courts the introduction of evidence obtained by an illegal search and seizure constitutes a denial of due process of law. Not all of the first ten amendments to the federal Constitution, however, fall within the concept of due process of law. (Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U. S. 319 [58 S. Ct. 149, 82 L. Ed. 288]; Twining v. New Jersey, 211 U. S. 78 [29 S. Ct. 14, 53 L. Ed. 97]; Snyder v. Massachusetts, 291 U. S. 97 [54 S. Ct. 330, 78 L. Ed. 674, 90 A. L. R. 575]. See 39 Harv. L. Rev. 431; 24 Harv. L. Rev. 366.) In the determination of whether the prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures is' included within this concept, the unlawful search and seizure must be distinguished from the introduction in court of the evidence obtained as a result thereof. ‘‘ The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures” may be so fundamental as to make any unreasonable search and seizure by a public officer a violation of due process of law. It does not necessarily follow, however, that the use in a court of law of evidence thus obtained is so contrary to fundamental principles of liberty and justice as to constitute a denial of due process of law. A criminal trial does not constitute a denial of due process of law so long as it is fair and impartial. (See cases cited in 16 C. J. S., p. 1185 et seq.) There is a failure to observe “that fundamental fairness essential to the very concept of justice” when a trial is but a pretense (Lisenba v. California, 314 U. S. 219, 236 [62 S. Ct. 280, 290, 86 L. Ed.—]), as a trial dominated by a mob (Moore v. Dempsey, 261 U. S. 86 [43 S. Ct. 265, 67 L. Ed. 543]), or when the defendant is denied the right to counsel (Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458 [58 S. Ct. 1019, 82 L. Ed. 1461]), or when his conviction results from testimony known by the prosecution to be perjured (Mooney v. Holohan, 294 U. S. 103 [55 S. Ct. 340, 79 L. Ed. 791, 98 A. L. R. 406]) or from an involuntary confession obtained through coercion or torture. (Chambers v. Florida, 309 U. S. 227 [60 S. Ct. 472, 84 L. Ed. 716]; Brown v. Mississippi, 297 U. S. 278 [56 S. Ct. 461, 80 L. Ed. 682].) While the United States Supreme Court has held that the due process clause includes the guarantee of the Fifth Amendment against compulsory self-incrimination to the extent that the Amendment forbids the use of a confession obtained by coercion or torture (Chambers v. Florida, supra; Brown v. Mississippi, supra; Lisenba v. California, supra. See Bram v. United States, 168 U. S. 532 [18 S. Ct. 183, 42 L. Ed. 568]), it has done so because a confession obtained by coercion or torture is so unreliable that its use violates all concepts of fairness and justice. (Chambers v. Florida, supra; Brown v. Mississippi, supra; Lisenba v. California, supra; cf. Twining v. New Jersey, supra.) The use of evidence obtained through an illegal search and seizure, however, does not violate due process of law for it does not affect the fairness or impartiality of the trial. (People v. Defore, 242 N. Y. 13 [150 N. E. 585]; People v. Mayen, supra; Com. v. Donnelly, 246 Mass. 507 [141 N. E. 500]; Johnson v. State, 152 Ga. 271 [109 S. E. 662, 19 A. L. R. 641].) The fact that an officer acted improperly in obtaining evidence presented at the trial in no way precludes the court from rendering a fair and impartial judgment. It has long been an established rule of evidence that “the admissibility of evidence is not affected by the illegality of the means through which the party has been enabled to obtain the evidence.” (8 Wigmore, Evidence, (3rd. ed.) sec. 2183, p. 5, and cases there cited.)

Defendants contend that the trial court should not have permitted Officer Iredale to testify in view of the temporary injunction restraining him from testifying with regard to the entry into Chierotti’s apartment. Objections to the testimony of a witness, however, should be made to the court before which he testifies and have no place in an injunction proceeding in another court. Any competent person who is properly subpoened, and who is not privileged, must appear in court and answer questions pertinent to the matter in issue. If he refuses to testify he may be punished for contempt of court, and no one may lawfully prevent or dissuade him from testifying. (Code Civ. Proc. secs. 128, 177, 1955, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993; Pen. Code secs. 136, 166, 1331. See cases cited in 8 Wigmore, Evidence (3rd ed.) secs. 2190-2195; 27 Cal. Jur., p. 9 et seq.) Clearly it is the objective of these provisions to prevent interference with the testimony of witnesses and the issuance of the temporary injunction was therefore improper. Even if it were error for the trial court to permit Officer Iredale to testify despite the temporary injunction it was in no way prejudicial to defendants, for such testimony could not be excluded on a new trial in view of the holding herein that the testimony was admissible and the affirmance of the order denying an injunction in Chierotti v. San Francisco Police Department, S. F. 16646, this day decided, post p. 895 [124 P. (2d) 51].

On cross-examination defendants’ attorney asked Officer Iredale if he had not been enjoined from testifying concerning anything he had learned as a result of his illegal search of Chierotti’s apartment. Defendants contend that they had a right to ask this question for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of the witness by showing interest, bias, or prejudice and that the trial court therefore erred in sustaining an objection to it. It does not follow, however, that a witness would be inclined to testify falsely because he testified in the face of an injunction. On the contrary, in the words of the trial court, “the jury would be more inclined to believe the police officer who testified, if he testified despite the injunction and order. They would believe he was doing his duty.” The question was immaterial and the objection to it was properly sustained.

Defendants have also objected to the refusal of the trial court to give certain instructions to the jury'. Proposed instruction number 30 stated: “... It is the law of this state, that in determining whether any such conspiracy existed of which the defendant Chierotti was a party, that testimony of the acts or declarations of the defendant Gonzales cannot be considered by you, and it is your duty to disregard all evidence as to any acts or declarations of the defendant Gonzales, and to determine the existence or non-existence of such conspiracy, so far as defendant Chierotti is concerned, from such other evidence as may be in the case against him. The fact that an unlawful conspiracy existed of which the defendant Chierotti was a member and the unlawful purpose of such conspiracy, must be established by evidence, to a moral certainty and beyond a reasonable doubt, separate and apart from and independent of any testimony as to any declarations that were made by the defendant Gonzales. In other words, in determining whether defendant Chierotti was a member of the conspiracy charged you cannot consider any declaration or act that the defendant Gonzales said or did.” Proposed instruction number 31 is the same as number 30 except that it applies to defendant Gonzales instead of defendant Chierotti. Proposed instruction number 32 stated: “You are instructed that a conspiracy cannot be proven merely by the acts or declarations of an alleged conspirator and that you may not consider such acts or declarations unless you are first convinced beyond a reasonable doubt by entirely independent evidence that a conspiracy existed.”

The trial court instructed the jury on the subject of these instructions as follows: '‘ The first fundamental question that you should determine in this case is: Was there in fact a conspiracy formed as charged in the indictment? If you answer that question in the negative, you are at an end of the case and your verdict should be not guilty. If, on the other hand, you answer that question in the affirmative, you should then determine the question whether these defendants actively participated and entered into such conspiracy or scheme. In deciding the issues in this case you should take into consideration all the evidence admitted in the case, both for the State and for the defendants. ... In considering the guilt or innocence of the defendant Chierotti you must consider only the evidence that has been admitted against him and cannot consider any evidence that has been admitted only as evidence against the defendant Gonzales. In considering the guilt or innocence of the defendant Gonzales you must consider only the evidence that has been admitted against him and cannot consider any evidence that has been admitted only as against the defendant Chierotti. You cannot return a verdict finding one of the defendants guilty solely on the ground that you find the evidence sufficient to establish the guilt of the other defendant.”

These instructions told the jury that evidence admitted against Chierotti could not be used against Gonzales and that evidence admitted against Gonzales could not be used against Chierotti. They are ambiguous in failing to indicate to the jury what evidence was admitted against Gonzales and what evidence was admitted against Chierotti. The record, however, reveals that at the time evidence as to the acts and declarations of Gonzales was introduced, the court stated in the presence of the jury that the evidence was admitted against Gonzales and not against Chierotti, and that at the time evidence as to the acts and declarations of Chierotti was introduced the court stated that it was admitted against Chierotti and not against Gonzales. The instructions, therefore, read in conjunction with the statements of the court during the trial indicated to the jury that the acts and declarations of Gonzales could not be used to prove Chierotti a party to the conspiracy and that the acts and declarations of Chierotti could not be used to prove Gonzales a party thereto. Any error in the instructions because of their ambiguity was therefore not prejudicial to defendants.

Defendants contend the evidence is insufficient to establish that Chierotti participated in the conspiracy. Participation in a conspiracy, however, can be shown by circumstantial evidence. (See cases cited in 5 Cal. Jur. 521.) The evidence shows that a bag containing the money making machine and bottles of liquid was in Chierotti’s apartment, that Chierotti had possession of the key to the lock on the bag, that Chierotti knew Gonzales, that Gonzales had been to Chierotti’s apartment and was there on the Monday before the arrests were made, that Chierotti was seen leaving his apartment house with Gonzales carrying a bag, that Gonzales met with Chierotti shortly after leaving Valenzano’s tavern, that Gonzales exhibited to Valenzano a large roll of bills but when Gonzales and Chierotti were arrested together shortly thereafter Chierotti had possession of a large roll of bills but Gonzales did not. This evidence is sufficient to justify the jury’s conclusion that Chierotti participated with Gonzales in a conspiracy to steal money from Valenzano by use of the pretended money making machine.

Any misconduct that may have existed on the prosecutor’s, part in referring to other bunco cases and bunco games during the course of his argument to the jury is not sufficiently prejudicial to justify reversal, particularly since the trial court refused to grant a new trial on this ground. (See Imlay v. California, Cab Co., 124 Cal. App. 68 [11 P. (2d) 1116]; Alberts v. Lytle, 1 Cal. App. (2d) 682 [37 P. (2d) 705].)

The judgment of conviction and orders denying a new trial are affirmed.

Gibson, C. J., Shenk, J., Curtis, J., and Edmonds, J., concurred.