State v. Hartman

119 P.2d 112, 101 Utah 298, 1941 Utah LEXIS 91
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 21, 1941
DocketNo. 6366.
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 119 P.2d 112 (State v. Hartman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah 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. Hartman, 119 P.2d 112, 101 Utah 298, 1941 Utah LEXIS 91 (Utah 1941).

Opinion

MOFFAT, Chief Justice.

Roy Hartman and Orson Blyle were charged with the crime of grand larceny in an information which read as follows:

“The Defendants, Roy Hartman and Orson Blyle, having been heretofore duly committed to this Court by B. P. Leverich, a committing magistrate of Salt Lake County, State of Utah, to answer to this charge, are accused by Calvin W. Rawlings, District Attorney of the Third Judicial District, State of Utah, by this Information, of the *300 crime of Grand Larceny, committed as follows, to wit: That the said Roy Hartman and Orson Blyle on the 16th day of May, A. D., 1940, at the County of Salt Lake, State of Utah, stole from the Ward Chapel of the Stratford Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, one rug: contrary to the provisions of the Statute of the State of Utah, in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Utah.”

Roy Hartman was found guilty of the crime charged. The charge against Orson Blyle was dismissed because of lack of evidence. After denial by the court of a motion upon the part of Hartman for a new trial and a motion for arrest of judgment, this appeal was taken.

The bases of the appeal are three: (1) The information did not state a public offense, in this, that said information did not state that there was any felonious stealing, taking, carrying, leading or driving away the personal property of another; (2) the refusal of the court to grant appellant’s motion for a mistrial during the course of said trial on the occasion of the statement of Ross Hunsaker, State witness, in response to a question asked by the District Attorney, in which said witness stated that he had arrested appellant for the theft of six tires and wheels, matter unconnected with the offense charged in the information; and (3) the refusal of the Court to grant appellant’s motion for continuance to obtain the testimony of Mrs. Karpowitz, a State’s witness, who absented herself from court without permission of appellant or the court but with that of the District Attorney.

(1) Does the information in the instant case meet the statutory requirements of Section 105-21-8, as amended by Laws 1935, c. 118, which provides, inter alia:

“(1) The information or indictment may charge, and is valid and sufficient if it charges the offense for which the defendant is being prosecuted in one or more of the following ways:
“(a) By using the name given to the offense by the common law or by a statute.”

*301 The name given to the offense by the statute herein charged is defined in sections 108-36-1, 103-36-3, 103-36-4, Revised Statutes of Utah, 1933, which read, in part:

“Larceny is the felonious stealing, taking, carrying, leading or driving away the personal property of another. * * *”
“Larceny is divided into two degrees, the first of which is termed grand larceny; the second, petit larceny.”
“Grand larceny is committed in either of the following cases: (1) 'When the property taken is of a value exceeding $50.”

The complaint met the requirements of subsection (1) (a) of Section 105-21-8, supra, and the name given to the offense as required in Section 103-36-4. State v. Anderson, 100 Utah 468, 116 P. 2d 398. The information charges the crime of grand larceny. When grand larceny is charged as the crime named in the statute, it is sufficient as indicating the property taken is the property of another. Section 105-21-6; 105-21-8(1) (a); 105-21-42, Chapter 118, Laws of Utah, 1935.

(2) On direct examination Hunsaker, an officer and witness for the state, testified that he saw Hartman “just walking out of the garage.” The statement was followed 'by the District Attorney’s question: “What if anything, did you do ?” Hunsaker: “Placed him under arrest for the theft of six tires and wheels.”

Counsel for the defendant moved for a mis-trial, and the court ruled:

“I am not going to grant the motion for a new [sic] trial, although statements of that kind do sometimes lead to the requirement that the court declare a mis-trial, and start the trial over.
“I am going to admonish the jury, however, that they are to disregard the statement made by the officer, which is the subject here ■of the discussion, that is, that he placed Mr. Hartman under arrest for the theft of six tires. That is incompetent evidence. If it was made to appear that that evidence would be brought out, the court would most certainly exclude it. I am giving you this admonition knowing that the fact the statement was made may create in your minds some factor which you can take into consideration when you *302 come to judge the bias oí this witness. It is something that frequently happens in court, where officers are concerned.”

The question was not subject to objection. The last part of the answer, “for the theft of six tires and wheels,” was a voluntary statement which was not responsive and should not have been made. But there is nothing in the record to show that the interrogator intended to elicit this statement. Were it shown to be an attempt to get in evidence the prejudicial reference to another crime, such, purpose might well have moved the court to declare a mistrial not only on the ground of prejudice but as a proper' expression of strong disapproval of such tactics. State v. Leek, 85 Utah 531, 39 P. 2d 1091. The court admonished the jury to disregard the statement and further stated that

“the fact the statement was made may create in your minds some-factor of which you can take into consideration when you come to judge the bias of this witness.”

The court did all it could to rectify the matter. The harm done was not sufficient to cause the granting of a mistrial.

(3) Mrs. Karpowitz was properly subpoenaed as a witness for the state. She testified for the state, and after she had completed her testimony she was excused by the District Attorney without the knowledge of the court or the consent of the defendant. The defense called for her as a witness. It was determined that she had left the court room, but the court ordered the District Attorney to bring her back stating:

“If he [defense counsel] wants her testimony, he is entitled to have-her.”

After a twenty-five minute recess, the court called court again and stated:

“I don’t suppose you are [ready to proceed] Mr. Henriod, your-witness not being here, but I am going on with this case, regardless of the consequences. I am not going to hold this jury here all day, and possibly not get this witness at all. You may make your record on it,, hut I am not going to delay any further.”

*303 In view of Section 104-49-19, Revised Statutes of Utah, 1933, Mrs. Karpowitz should have remained unless excused by the Court. The Section reads:

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Bluebook (online)
119 P.2d 112, 101 Utah 298, 1941 Utah LEXIS 91, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hartman-utah-1941.