State v. Hahn

8 Ohio N.P. 101
CourtStark County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedJuly 1, 1900
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 8 Ohio N.P. 101 (State v. Hahn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Stark County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Hahn, 8 Ohio N.P. 101 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1900).

Opinion

TAYLOR, J.

In this case of the State of Ohio against August Hahn, the state prosecutes August Hahn on an indictment' charging him with knowingly having' in his possession burglar tools, with the intent to use them.

The indictment is based upon section 6835 of the Revised Statutes, and so much of it as is material to this case, reads as follows: “That if any person shall have or keep in his possession any I tools, implements or other things used I by burglars for house breaking, forcing [102]*102doors, windows, locks, buildings, or places where goods, wares, merchandise or money is kept, with the intention of using such tools burglariously, shall be confined in the penitentiary," etcv

The indictment, charges in 'substance, omitting the formal parts of it, that August Háhn, late of this county, on or about the 2nd day of March, 1900, in this county, unlawfully did have in his possession certain implements, to-wit: one key nipper, also known as a key plyer, the same being a devise for turning a key in a lock, and seven double steel skeleton keys, Also known as lock picks, commonly used by burglars for breaking and entering houses, forcing doors locks, buildings and other places where goods, wares, merchandise and money are kept, with the intent then and there feloniously and burglariously to use and employ the said implements; he the said August Hahn then and there well knowing said implements to be commonly used by burglars for breaking and entering houses, forcing doors, locks, buildings, and other places where goods, wares, merchandise and money are kept, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio.

To this indictment, the defendant has entered a plea of “not guilty”. This plea puts in issue every material allegation of the indictment. It was all that was necessary for him to do in order to cast the burden of proof upon th* state. He is presumed to be innocent, and that presumption follows him all along during the progress of the trial unless overcome by full proof, such as will exclude all reasonable doubt of innocence. It may be overcome by full proof; and when it is overcome by full proof so as to remove it beyond the existence of a reasonable doubt, then that presumption of innocence is gone,and the defendant is no longer entitled to its benefit.

Now, much has been said during the progress of the trial, on the question of reasonable doubt; but counsel for the defendant at one time in the argument of the case, used the expression “beyond any doubt”. That is not the rule. It is beyond any reasonable doubt. You see the difference at once between the words “any doubt” and “any reasonable doubt.” “Beyond all reasonable doubt” means just what it says. It means a reasonable doubt, It does not mean a capiious doubt, an idle or frivolous doubt, a doubt gotten up in the mind of the jury or a juror for the purpose of acquitting; but it means such a reasonable doubt as a reasonable man would have after hearing all the testimony, actuated by the sole desire to do right under his oath. And if any of you after listening to all of this testimony and argument of counsel and the charge of the court, under the law as the court shall give it to you should have such a reasonable doubt, it is your duty to acquit. But if you do not have such reasonable doubt it is your duty to convict, however unpleasant it may be.

Now what must the state show? It must show that in this county, on or about March 2, 1900, the accused unlawfully had in his possession the tools and implements described in the indictment, and I have read their description. It must show that these tools and implements are commonly used by burglars for breaking and entering houses, buildings and other places where good, s wares, merchandise or money is kept, unless that is admitted.and it has been admitted on the trial by counsel for the defendant that these tools and imxfiemsnts which have been exhibited to you, are burglar tools, so on that question you will not be bothered. The state must show also that the accused had these tools and implements in his possession with the intention of using them burglariously, or of furnishing and supplying them tobe used burglariously. It must also show that he then and there knew that such tools and implements were commonly used by burglars for breaking and entering houses, buildings and other places where goods, wares, merchandise or money is kept. The state must show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant knew what was in the package obtained by officer Rinehart, as described by the testimony, and that he knew the articles to be burglars’ tools; and if it does not so prove to you, beyond a reasonable doubt,that the defendant had such knowledge, then you must render a verdict of acquittal.

The state must also prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had knowledge that said package contained burglars’ tools, and had them in his possession with the intent to use them burglariously, or of permitting or supplying them to be so used; and if it has failed to prove such intention beyond a reasonable doubt, you should return a verdict of acquittal.

The mere fact of the finding of the indictment is no evidence of guilt.

Before a person can be prosecuted for a felony in this state, it is required that the grand jury shall return an indictment, and it is upon that indictment that he is tried before a petit jury; and that apxfiies in this case. The mere possession of these tools or of these implements unaccompanied with an intent to use them burglariously or to furnish or permit them to be so used, would not constitute the crime.

Evidence tending to show the possession by the accused of other tools or [103]*103implements claimed to be burglars’ tools, not named in tbe indictment, and at another time and place, has been admitted as tending to show the character of his possession and his knowledge of these tools and implements described in the indictment, and can only be considered for such purposes.

Tbe gist of the offense charged in this indictment is the possession of the burglarious implements, commonly used by burglars for entering houses and other places in order to take therefrom money or property, knowing them to be burglars’ tools, coupled with a general intdnt to so use them.

The state does not bavo to show any specific intent on the part of the accused to use the tools in the way indicated; but the gist of the offense is the possession of such implements with the knowledge that they are burglar tools, coupled -with the general intent to either use or furnish or supply them to be used for burglarious purposes. That is, the state is not obliged to show that the accused intended to use them on any particular building, at any particular time, on any particular occasion. But, if he had possession of these tools, did he know they were burglars’ tools? And did he have the general intent to use them for that purpose, or to furnish or supply them to somebody else then in his mind, to be used for that purpose. Use of the tools or implements in question does not need by any means to be made by the defendant, but they may be used by some other person or persons with his knowledge or consent and on his furnishing these implements for that purpose. .

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Brown
37 P.3d 572 (Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2001)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
8 Ohio N.P. 101, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hahn-ohctcomplstark-1900.