State v. Duran

259 P.2d 1051, 127 Mont. 233, 1953 Mont. LEXIS 65
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 30, 1953
DocketNo. 9288
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 259 P.2d 1051 (State v. Duran) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Duran, 259 P.2d 1051, 127 Mont. 233, 1953 Mont. LEXIS 65 (Mo. 1953).

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE FREEBOURN:

Fred Duran was convicted of the crime of burglary in the first degree. The jury fixed his punishment at one year in the state’s prison; and from the judgment, following such conviction, he appeals.

The information charged that defendant, in the nighttime and with intent to commit larceny, entered a “ton and a half (1%) International truck. ’ ’ The evidence indicates such truck was an open, stake body truck with a cab, the doors of which were unlocked. The opening of one door of the cab and removal therefrom of two boxes containing bolts, nuts and some tools make the offense charged.

Upon commencement of the trial defendant moved “the court to dismiss the information” because it did not charge the defendant had entered such object necessary, as described by the statute, to make the entry burglary. This motion was overruled by the trial court.

R. C. M., sec. 94-901, as amended by Chapter 126, sec. 1, Laws of 1949, defines burglary as follows: “Every person who enters any house, room, apartment, tenement, shop, warehouse, store, mill, barn, stable, outhouse, or other building, tent, automobile, vessel or railroad ear, with intent to commit grand or petit larceny or any felony, is guilty of burglary. ’ ’

[235]*235In denying the motion to dismiss, the trial court took the view that the word “truck” as alleged in the information was included in the word “automobile” as set out in section 94-901, supra.

The legislature of Montana has recognized the automobile and auto truck as different and distinct motor vehicles and treats them as such.

R. C. M. 1947, sec. 53-104, provides: “The word ‘motor vehicle ’ as used in this act or any of the sections of this act shall be deemed to include trailers, semi-trailers, automobiles, auto trucks, motorcycles, cycle motors, and all other vehicles propelled by their own power, used upon the public highways of the state, excepting steam or gas tractors. ’ ’

R. C. M. 1947, sec. 53-107, provide: “* * * (c) The term ‘motor vehicle’ includes automobile, truck, motorcycle, semi-trailer, trailer, and trailer-house.”

“It is quite apparent that the Legislature [in a statute providing for registration of automobiles and fixing fees] intended to recognize and deal with two distinct classifications of motor propelled vehicles. One, the automobile as commonly known, and associated always with ideas of rapidity of movement and physical comfort; second, the truck, quite generally associated with the ideas of strength, weight, carrying capacity, slow speed, and consequent extra road wear.” Hemlock 6400 Tire Co. v. McLemore, 151 Tenn. 99, 268 S. W. 116, 117.

The legislature having made it clear that an automobile and truck are to be considered two distinct and separate vehicles for registration and tax purposes, it does not make sense to hold that the legislature intended, in making entry into an automobile burglary, to have intended the word “automobile” as a general term, and to include automobiles, trucks, busses and the like. Had the legislature intended to use a general term, it would have used the term “motor vehicles.” Certainly no interpretation should be given any word which would make an act a crime unless it is clear that the legislature intended that interpretation [236]*236should be given such word. See H. Earl Clack Co. v. Public Service Commission, 94 Mont. 488, 22 Pac. (2d) 1056.

In convicting the defendant the state had to rely upon the testimony of an accomplice and the purported confession of defendant, which went into evidence over the objection that such confession was not voluntary, but secured through inducement and offer of leniency. Without such' confession the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction for there was no other evidence which corroborated that of the accomplice sufficient to meet the requirements of E. C. M. 1947, sec. 94-7220,' which provides: “A conviction cannot be had on the testimony of an accomplice, unless he is corroborated by other evidence, which in itself, and without the aid of the testimony of the accomplice, tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense; and the corroboration is not sufficient, if it merely shows the commission of the offense, or the circumstances thereof. ” State v. Geddes, 22 Mont. 68, 55 Pac. 919; See State v. McCarthy, 36 Mont. 226, 92 Pac. 521; State v. Lawson, 44 Mont. 488, 120 Pac. 808; State v. Cobb, 76 Mont. 89, 245 Pac. 265.

The evidence indicates that defendant and two boys, Dave Luckey and Bob Zurawski, were together at the time and place of the alleged burglary. Bob Zurawski did not testify. Dave Luckey, sixteen years of age, testified on direct examination that:

“A. I didn’t see him [Duran] get in the truck, but I heard the door open and shut.
‘ ‘ Q. Did you see him in the cab while you were in the back of the truck? A. No, I was up on top, I couldn’t see.
“Q. Did you hear him in the cab of the truck? A. Yes. * * * He said he got a tool-box. ’ ’

On cross-examination Luckey testified:

Q. Did you make a statement to the probation officer on or about December 1, 1952, in connection with this matter? A. Yes, I think so.
“Q. In that statement, did you say anything about Fred Duran taking anything off the truck? A. I don’t think so. * * *
[237]*237‘ ‘ Q. Could it be possible that it was Bobby Zurawski who took those tool-boxes and put them in the car, if he was already there, could it be possible ? A. Could have. * * *
‘ ‘ Q. And could it be Bobby Zurawski that went into the cab of the truck, in all fairness? A. Could have, yes.”

Mrs. Eunice Zurawski, called as a witness for the defense, testified that the county attorney promised to drop a prior conviction charge against defendant if he would plead guilty to the burglary charge. She communicated this promise to defendant in the county jail. She testified on direct:

“He [the county attorney] told me if I talked Fred into pleading guilty to the burglary charge, that they would take the prior conviction off, and they had said he would get ten years for the prior conviction. * * *
“Q. And did you communicate that information to Fred Duran? A. I did.
“Q. And that was before he signed the so-called statement [confession] ? A. I don’t know for sure whether it was or not, but I think it was.
“Q. Where was Fred when you communicated this to him? A. In the jail. * * * In the county jail.”

Under cross-examination by the county attorney she testified:

“A. You didn’t say for sure, if I remember right, that you would drop it, but you said if he would plead guilty to the burglary charge, the burglary charge, you would drop the prior conviction.” The county attorney did not deny any statement made by Mrs. Zurawski.

The defendant testified: That Mrs. Zurawski communicated the county attorney’s offer to him while he was in jail, and that it was an inducement to sign the confession;

“* * '* when I was told that that prior conviction would be taken off and all this other charges dropped, why, I didn’t think it would be so hard if I did plead guilty.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
259 P.2d 1051, 127 Mont. 233, 1953 Mont. LEXIS 65, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-duran-mont-1953.