People v. Marineau

132 P.2d 22, 55 Cal. App. 2d 893, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 144
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 7, 1942
DocketCrim. 3602
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 132 P.2d 22 (People v. Marineau) 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. Marineau, 132 P.2d 22, 55 Cal. App. 2d 893, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 144 (Cal. Ct. App. 1942).

Opinion

DORAN, J.

Appellants were charged in an information filed by the District Attorney of Los Angeles County with the violation of section 274 of the Penal Code in that on or about September 15, 1941, in said county, they did wilfully, etc., provide, supply, administer, procure, use and employ an instrument upon the person of one Reva Shirley, a woman, with the wilful and felonious intent then and there to procure the miscarriage of said Reva Shirley, and that the use and employment of said instrument to procure a miscarriage was not necessary to preserve her life. In a second count of the information appellants were charged with violation of the same section in that on or about October 6, 1941, they did the same acts in connection with one Estelle Stein. Motion to set aside the information was denied as to each appellant and each appellant entered a plea of not guilty as charged. After a trial by jury verdicts were returned finding each appellant guilty as charged in each count. Motions for new trial on behalf of each appellant were denied; and appellants were sentenced. In the case of appellant Vremsak, the sentence was suspended and appellant was granted probation on certain terms. The appeals here taken are from the order denying the motions for new trial and from the judgments of conviction.

Appellants contend that the court erred in admitting evidence of other acts and offenses not charged in the information ; that there was error in admitting the testimony of a woman deputy sheriff as to her going to the office of appellant Marinean and there submitting herself to an examination; that there was error in the admission of certain other evidence and in the admission of a certain purported accusatory statement; that there was insufficient corroboration of the testimony of accomplices; and that the court erred in giving certain instructions. On behalf of appellant Vremsak, in addition, it is urged that the evidence offered was insufficient to sustain a conviction, as to her, upon either count *896 of the information; and that the prosecution failed to prove guilty knowledge on the part of said appellant.

The record reveals the following evidence. The prosecutrix under the first count was an unmarried girl, who had been keeping company with a young man with whom, as their acquaintance progressed, she had had sexual intercourse. Her menstruation ceased about June 1, 1941. The prosecutrix discussed this situation with the young man in question. The prosecutrix told the young man she had gone to a doctor and that she was pregnant. The young man, one Dickson, told her that he knew a doctor’s name. The prosecutrix and Dickson discussed the matter numerous times, and Dickson also said he knew of a prescription that would cause a miscarriage. Dickson, also suggested an abortion, but the prosecutrix did not want to submit to such a treatment. However, Dickson gave the prosecutrix the name of appellant Vremsak and an address on Hollywood Boulevard; and on September 13, 1941, the prosecutrix went to an office on the second floor at this address. On the door of the office were the names of a Dr. Stevens and appellant Marinean. Appellant Marinean was a chiropractor. At this time the prosecutrix had been having “morning sickness” for about three weeks, and had been gaining weight. She stated that her purpose in going to the office in question was “to have an operation.” The prosecutrix entered the reception room of the office suite in question and was there greeted by appellant Vremsak. The prosecutrix stated that she was the girl that had an appointment for one o’clock. Appellant Vremsak then took the prosecutrix into another room which contained what appeared to be an operating table and a sort of covered closet that had instruments in it. There was also a sterilizer in the room. The prosecutrix removed her underclothes at appellant Vremsak’s direction; and the appellant placed the prosecutrix upon the operating table. Appellant Marinean then came into the room and examined the prosecutrix. After the examination the prosecutrix went into another room with appellant Vremsak. According to the testimony of the prosecutrix, appellant Vremsak there told her that the prosecutrix was approximately “three months along” and that she would have to be packed; and that if she and Dickson would come over to appellant’s home that evening, appellant Vremsak would discuss the details and the financial aspects. Appellant Vremsak gave the prosecutrix appellant’s name and ad *897 dress, written on a slip of paper, together with home phone and office phone. That evening the prosecutrix and Dickson went to the address given, an apartment. Here Miss Vremsak told them the prosecutrix was three months along, would have to be “packed" and that the fee would be $100, $75 for the operation and $25 for the nurse and other expenses. Appellant Vremsak made an appointment for the prosecutrix to come to the office again the following Monday. On the afternoon of September 15th the prosecutrix went alone to appellant Marineau’s offices. There appellant Vremsak put the prosecutrix in a surgical gown and assisted her on to the table as on the previous occasion. Appellant Marineau came into the room and inserted certain instruments into the private parts of the prosecutrix, who testified that she could feel the instruments and that they caused her great pain. This operation took about fifteen minutes. After it was over appellant Vremsak helped the prosecutrix off the table and took her into another room where she lay down until about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. While the prosecutrix was lying-in that room appellant Vremsak came in and asked her for the money. The prosecutrix then handed appellant $70. Miss Vremsak then took the prosecutrix to Miss Vremsak’s apartment where they were joined by another woman, who, the appellant stated, was the nurse who was going home with the prosecutrix. A little later Dickson came to the apartment and took prosecutrix and the nurse to the prosecutrix’ apartment. The nurse stayed with the prosecutrix that night and all the next day, when the nurse removed from the prosecutrix what appeared to be a strip of gauze about an inch wide and about 2% feet long. On Tuesday the prosecutrix went again to Miss Vremsak’s apartment and from there to an office on Santa Monica Boulevard, where appellant Marineau again inserted instruments similar to the ones used before, causing prosecutrix a great deal of pain. Miss Vremsak was present and assisted as before. The prosecutrix was on the operating-table about ten minutes. Afterwards, Dickson took the prosecutrix home. That night a flow began, and the prosecutrix remained in bed until the following Saturday. About Thursday after her return from appellant Marineau’s office a foul discharge set in, which grew worse. On Saturday the prosecutrix again went to see Dr. Marineau, accompanied by her brother. Miss Vremsak was present. At this time appellant *898 Marinean took the prosecutrix’ temperature, said she had the “flu” and gave her an injection in the hip and some capsules. The prosecutrix again visited appellant Marinean’s office the following Tuesday, September 23rd. Miss Vremsak was present. At this time, while the prosecutrix was waiting for Dr. Marinean, her nose began to bleed. Appellant Vremsak placed the prosecutrix on the operating table and appellant Marinean again examined her by means of the instruments he had used before, or similar instruments. The prosecutrix suffered much pain during this examination. Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
132 P.2d 22, 55 Cal. App. 2d 893, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 144, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-marineau-calctapp-1942.