People v. Thompson

274 Ill. 214
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedJune 22, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 274 Ill. 214 (People v. Thompson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois 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. Thompson, 274 Ill. 214 (Ill. 1916).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Farmer

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiffs in error, Russell Thompson and Arthur Barrett, together with Julius Eriedlander, were jointly indicted and tried in the criminal court of Cook county under an indictment charging the defendants in one count with the larceny of certain jewelry and silverware, the property of Mrs. Harriet Clifton, of the value of $800, and in another count with having received said property for their own gain knowing it to have been stolen property and with intent to prevent the owner from again possessing her property. By direction of the court Friedlander was found not guilty. The jury returned two separate verdicts,—one finding the plaintiff in error Thompson guilty of having received stolen property of the value of $800; the other finding plaintiff in error Barrett guilty of having received stolen property of the value of $400. Motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment were made by both defendants found guilty. The court overruled the motions, rendered judgment on the verdicts and sentenced defendants to imprisonment in the penitentiary. They have sued out a writ of error from this court to review the judgment.

Alfreda Nelson, a young woman twenty-one years old, was the principal witness for the prosecution. She entered the employment of the Clifton family, who resided at 851 Ingleside place, Evanston, about April 5, 1915, as a servant. On July 6 the Clifton family went away for a vacation, leaving the house in charge of servants, and did not return until July 25. Jewelry and silverware were kept in a closet in the nursery and were accessible to Alfreda Nelson. When the family returned from their vacation Mrs. Clifton discovered the jewelry and silverware kept in the closet had been stolen. The theft was reported to the police and resulted later in the arrest of plaintiffs in error. Alfreda Nelson was not indicted with them and testified as a witness for the prosecution on the trial. The substance of the most material parts of her testimony was that she had known the plaintiff in error Thompson for some time. He had on different occasions escorted her to places of amusement and she had considerable attachment for him. Thompson introduced her to plaintiff in error Barrett at an amusement park some two weeks before the theft but gave to Barrett the name of Smith. The witness told Thompson where she was staying, and he inquired if the Cliftons were rich, and she said they were. About two weeks later, and in the evening of the next day after the departure of the Clifton family on their vacation, Thompson visited the witness at the Clifton residence. The witness testified she had previously that evening met Thompson by appointment at a place designated; that Thompson told her when they met he had a machine and they would take a ride. She went with him to the car, which was in charge of a chauffeur, and Barrett was also in the car. She and Thompson entered the car and they drove a short time, and when about one-third of a mile from the Clifton residence she and Thompson left the car and walked to the residence. While they were at the residence, or sometime while they were together during the evening, Thompson asked the witness why she did not take some of Mrs. Clifton’s property. He told her the Cliftons were rich and did not need it and that the witness was poor. The witness said that would not be right, and Thompson said they would never know it. The witness consented to take the jewelry, went to the closet where it was kept, procured it and gave it to Thompson. He expressed some dissatisfaction and inquired why she did not get more property, and the witness said she was afraid of awakening the servants, but promised Thompson if he would meet her the next day at Noyes street station, in Evanston, she would bring him more property. The next day the witness took several boxes containing silverware from the closet, placed them in a suit-case belonging to her and met Thompson by appointment at the elevated station. She delivered the suit-case to him containing the silverware and they rode on the train to another station, where they met Barrett. The suit-case was delivered to him. The witness and Thompson remained on the train but Barrett did not go with them. He said he would follow on a surface car. Witness and Thompson left the train at Division and Clark streets and went to a candy store, and Thompson told witness he was going to sell the goods to Sam Solly and give her two-thirds of the proceeds. While they were at the candy store witness saw Barrett pass but did not speak to him. Witness and Thompson stayed around there all afternoon, waiting for Solly, who did not come. Finally Thompson suggested their staying around there might cause suspicion and proposed they go to a near by hotel, which they did, and Thompson registered and secured a room, to which they went. Thompson left the room, saying he was going out to see if Solly had come back. After about fifteen minutes witness left the room and went down-stairs, where she met Thompson. He said Solly had not come but the clerk had advanced him $20 on the silverware and jewelry, and he gave her $10. Thompson said he would get the rest the next day. Witness, Thompson and Barrett then walked together to an elevated station, where the witness took the train and separated from Thompson and Barrett. About four days later witness saw Thompson and inquired if he had received the money yet, and Thompson said he had not. At two different times the witness went to the pawnshop which she understood from Thompson Solly was connected with, and inquired for Solly and also for Thompson and Barrett. She was informed at the pawnshop that Solly was not known there nor was Thompson or Barrett. The witness later made some unsuccessful efforts to get in communication with Thompson. She never received any money but the $10 and never received her suit-case the silverware was in when she delivered it to Thompson.

Thomas W. Young, an investigator or detective, testified Thompson told him at the Palmer House, the latter part of April or the first of May, 1915, that he had a pretty job he thought he would pull off in Evanston; that there was a wall-safe in a house there, which he did not name, that was not locked, and all anyone had to do was to walk in and get the stuff. He said he thought it would be good picking. He told the witness that if at any time the witness had a job he thought could be pulled off and a girl could be used, he (Thompson) had a girl that could be used for that purpose.

Mrs. Clifton testified as to the jewelry and silverware that was taken from her house. She described jewelry which she testified was of the value of $335, and said there were other articles consisting of odd rings and stick pins, some of which were not of very great value. She described also the character and amount of the silverware but did not testify as to its separate value. She testified that all the property stolen she estimated to be of a value of from $800 to $1000.

Barrett did not testify but Thompson did. He admitted an acquaintance with Alfreda Nelson and that he had introduced Barrett to her. He denied everything Alfreda Nelson testified to connecting him with the theft of or receiving the stolen property, and denied he knew of or had anything to do with the theft or disposal of the property.

Plaintiffs in error, Thompson and Barrett, were represented on the trial and in this court by separate counsel, and each contends the evidence was insufficient to warrant a verdict of guilty.

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Bluebook (online)
274 Ill. 214, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-thompson-ill-1916.