State v. Mardesich

140 P. 573, 79 Wash. 204, 1914 Wash. LEXIS 1223
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedApril 25, 1914
DocketNo. 11586
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 140 P. 573 (State v. Mardesich) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington 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. Mardesich, 140 P. 573, 79 Wash. 204, 1914 Wash. LEXIS 1223 (Wash. 1914).

Opinion

Main, J.

The defendants were charged with the crime of conspiracy. The amended information, after designating the defendants by name, charged:

“Then and there being in Whatcom county, Washington, on or about the 14th day of April, 1912, the said defendants did then and there unlawfully and wilfully conspire, confederate and agree together that they would prevent any person or persons from fishing in the open waters of Puget Sound, except such person or persons as might agree to join with said defendants in said occupation, and in accordance with the terms of said agreement; and did then and there by threats, force and intimidation, and by interfering and threatening to interfere with the property of certain other persons then and there used for fishing in the open waters of Puget Sound, prevent certain other persons from fishing and from the use and employment of their property in said fishing, fishing in the open waters of Puget Sound then and there being a lawful occupation in which any person or persons had the right to engage in under the laws of the United States and the State of Washington. And so the prosecuting attorney as aforesaid, doth accuse the said Andró Mardesich, Jack Trudvich, John Naterlin, Steve Gusich, Nick Mardesich, V. Prettingiani, Tony Buratovish, Peter Covich, Nick Fiamengo, Lucas Carr, Dick Kenk, of the crime of conspiracy, all of which is contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the state of Washington.”

To this information, each of the defendants pleaded not guilty. The trial resulted in a conviction. Motion for new trial being made and overruled, the defendants appeal.

It is argued that the information charges no crime, in that it does not charge the appellants with intention to injure any person in particular, and does not aver the persons [206]*206whom the appellants sought to prevent from taking fish were citizens of the state of Washington, or qualified to engage in the business of fishing for á living. From a reading of the information, it appears, that the appellants were charged with unlawfully conspiring and confederating together for the purpose of preventing any person or persons from fishing for herring in the open waters of Puget Sound, except such person or persons as might agree to join with the appellants. It is further charged that the appellants, by threats, force and intimidation and by interfering and threatening. to interfere with certain other persons, did prevent other persons from fishing and from the use and employment of their property therein.

The charge of conspiracy is founded upon Rem. & Bal. Code, § 2382 (P. C. 135 § 259), wherein it is provided:

“Whenever two or more persons shall conspire .
(5) To prevent another from exercising any lawful trade or calling, or from doing any other lawful act, by force, threats or intimidation, or by interfering or threatening to interfere with any tools, implements or property belonging to or used by another, or with the use or employment thereof . . . Every such person shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.”

By this statute, two or more persons are guilty of conspiracy when they agree or confederate together to prevent another from exercising any lawful trade or calling, or from doing any other lawful act by force or threats or intimidation, or by interfering or threatening to interfere with any tools, implements or property belonging to or used by another.

■ Section 2383 (P. C. 135 § 261), of the same act provides: “In any proceeding for (a) violation of section 2382 it shall (not) be necessary to prove that any overt act was done in pursuance of such unlawful conspiracy or combination.” By this séction, it should be noted, an overt act is not a necessary element of the crime.

• The first objection to the information is that it does not allege any specific persons against whom the conspiracy was [207]*207directed. But it was not necessary to so allege. The rule is that, where a conspiracy is directed against a particular person, he should be designated in the indictment or information; but where the conspiracy is not directed against any particular person, it may be charged as an intended wrong against a class of persons, or the general public, without a more specific designation. 1 Wharton, Criminal Evidence (10th ed.), § 93; 8 Cyc. 661. In Cye., at the volume and page mentioned, the rule is stated in this language:

“Where the conspiracy is directed against a particular person, or the object of the conspiracy has been effected so that the person or persons intended can be ascertained, he or they should be designated by name or the reason why such designation is not made should be stated; but where no intent as to any particular person was formed it should charge an intended wrong against some person, persons, or class of persons or the general public, without designating any particular individual.”

Neither is the information faulty in that it fails to aver that the persons whom the appellants conspired to prevent from fishing had a lawful right to engage in that business. To so hold, would be to indulge the presumption that the appellants and those associated with them were the only persons who had a right to fish for herring in the open waters of Puget Sound. The mere statement of the proposition carries its own refutation. The information answers the requirements of the law in a charge of the crime of conspiracy.

The sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the charge of conspiracy is challenged. Much space in the brief of the appellants is devoted to this question. The record is long, and it would 'be impossible to epitomize herein the testimony. There was not only direct evidence of the formation of the conspiracy and of the connection of the appellants therewith, but there were facts and circumstances shown by the proof from which it might reasonably be inferred. There was sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction. The evidence on behalf of [208]*208the appellants would establish their innocence; but the question, under the conflicting evidence, was for the jury.

During the spring of the year 1912, at different times, there were engaged in fishing for herring within the boundaries of Jefferson, Island, and Whatcom counties, approximately one hundred and fifty men of Austrian birth, and certain Scandinavians. While within the jurisdiction of Jefferson county, they — that is, the Austrians and the Scandinavians — entered into a combination by which they were to fish together and divide the proceeds, the purpose being to control the sale price of the product. After this arrangement had been consummated, they agreed and confederated together that they would prevent any one from fishing for herring in the open waters of Puget Sound, unless such person or persons joined the combination. The Scandinavians being unwilling to participate in the means necessary to prevent others from fishing, withdrew from the combine. It was not the agreement to maintain the price of herring that constituted the conspiracy, but it was the understanding and agreement among them to prevent others from engaging in the business of fishing for herring.

The venue in the present case is laid in Whatcom county. In order to sustain this, one of two things is necessary: Either that the conspiracy was continued and brought into that county, or that an overt act in pursuance of it there took place.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
140 P. 573, 79 Wash. 204, 1914 Wash. LEXIS 1223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-mardesich-wash-1914.