People v. Marks

13 P. 149, 72 Cal. 46, 1887 Cal. LEXIS 455

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: February 17, 1887
• Docket: No. 20262
• Status: Published

Opinion

Foote, C.

The defendant was tried and convicted of the crime of embezzlement.

He appeals from the judgment rendered therein, and from an order denying him a new trial. He contends that the charge of the court, given on its own motion to the jury, does not declare to them that in order to convict him as charged in the indictment, they must believe from the evidence that the crime so alleged against him was committed in the city and county of San Francisco, and that such omission on the part of the court constituted a reversible error.

The bill of exceptions presented by the defendant does not show that he or his counsel for him requested the court to instruct the jury that if the venue was not proven, they should acquit; therefore the omission of that tribunal so to charge of its own motion cannot be taken advantage of by one who failed to exercise the privilege which he had of requesting an instruction or instructions on his behalf, to be given to the jury, upon the point in question. The charge of the court which is before us was given to the jury “of its own motion, and was all the law so given in the action." (Transcript, page 16.)

We cannot say, therefore, that the court did not give other instructions for the people, or the defendant, in relation to the necessity for the proof of venue as laid in the iodictment.

The bill of exceptions states simply what the evidence of the principal witness for the people and that of the defendant tended to show as to the commission of an embezzlement of money; it does not show or pretend to do so that there was or not any evidence relative to the venue, nor is it anywhere made apparant that the above stated was all the evidence given on that or any other point in the case.

There is nothing whatever to make it appear affirmatively that the venue was not proved.

To obtain a reversal of a judgment of conviction, the defendant must show error affirmatively, and all omissions and uncertainties, in a bill of exceptions presented by him are to be construed against him. (People v. Williams, 45 Cal. 27.)

No prejudicial error is apparent from the record, and the judgment and order should be affirmed.

Belcher, C. C., and Searls, C., concurred.

The Court.

For the reasons given in the foregoing opinion, the judgment and order are affirmed.

Rehearing denied.