State v. Myers

220 N.W.2d 535, 88 S.D. 378, 1974 S.D. LEXIS 141
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 2, 1974
Docket11304
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 220 N.W.2d 535 (State v. Myers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota 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. Myers, 220 N.W.2d 535, 88 S.D. 378, 1974 S.D. LEXIS 141 (S.D. 1974).

Opinions

WINANS, Justice.

Defendant was indicted by a Grand Jury in Brown County, South Dakota on September 11, 1972. A change of venue was granted to Brookings County, South Dakota, where the trial was held. The indictment contained two separate counts, the second of which was by the circuit court eliminated from consideration by the jury. It will not be considered further.

Count I is in the following language:

[380]*380“That Morris B. Myers, on or about the 9th day of January, 1970, in Brown County, South Dakota, while being an attorney duly licensed to practice law in South Dakota, had under his control certain property for the use of another person, to wit: cash in excess of $50.00, said property being entrusted to him by Jeanette Zick, and he did then and there fraudulently appropriate said property to a use or purpose not in the due and lawful execution of his trust contrary to the form of the statute in such cases made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of South Dakota.”

The jury returned a verdict of guilty on Count I, and defendant was given a two-year State Penitentiary sentence by the court. The defendant appeals under numerous assignments of error, but in his brief on appeal eliminates all except two questions which are covered by the assignments as herein numbered.

The defendant presents such questions as follows:

“I
“DOES THE RECORD SUPPORT THE CONVICTION OF DEFENDANT OF THE ACT AND INTENT NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE EMBEZZLEMENT? (Assignments of Error I and IV)
“II
“DID THE COURT ERR IN REFUSING TO ALLOW THE DEFENDANT TO TESTIFY AS TO THE REASONS WHY HE BELIEVED HE HAD THE RIGHT TO CASH THE BONDS AND PLACE THE PROCEEDS IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT? (Assignment of Error II)”

The key words in the first question presented for review by this court are “act” and “intent”. Is the evidence sufficient in this regard?

[381]*381Our review must be considered under some well known principles heretofore announced by this court. In the case of State v. Henry, 1973, 87 S.D. 454, 210 N.W.2d 169, 171, we held:

“* * * As a reviewing court we must view the evidence in light most favorable to the state on appeal from a conviction. This court held in State v. Geelan, 1963, 80 S.D. 135, 120 N.W.2d 533, 536:
‘Accepting the state’s evidence and indulging the most favorable inferences which can fairly be drawn therefrom, as the jury had a right to do, we have no hesitancy in holding that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict.’
The North Dakota Supreme Court has so held in State v. Moe, 1967, 151 N.W.2d 310.”

The section defining the embezzlement charged here is covered by SDCL 22-38-3, and whether or not the acts of the defendant were sufficient to come within the purview of that particular section is largely a fact question. Fact issues are peculiarly within the province of the jury. Here there were two different versions of those acts. The State gave its version and the defendant gave his. It appears the jury accepted that given by the State and rejected that by the defendant. This court in State v. Olson, 1968, 83 S.D. 493, 161 N.W.2d 858, has held:

“The facts were for the jury and this court will not disturb the verdict unless the evidence as a matter of law is insufficient to justify the jury finding defendant guilty.”

The credibility of witnesses and weighing the evidence is for the jury. State v. Burtts, 81 S.D. 150, 132 N.W.2d 209; State v. Buffalo Chief, 83 S.D. 131, 155 N.W.2d 914. In the recent case of State v. Hanson, 1974, 88 S.D. 48, 215 N.W.2d 130, quoting from an earlier case, we said:

“ ‘When the state has introduced evidence upon which, if believed by a jury, they may reasonably find the defendant guilty of the crime charged, the state has [382]*382made out a prima facie case, and the jury, not the judge, ought to pass upon it.’
The jury heard the evidence as offered by the state and the evidence offered in support of appellant’s defense. As indicated above, the trial court permitted wide leeway in letting appellant develop his defense. His defense was also fully covered by the court’s instructions. Thus the question of appellant’s guilt or innocence was fairly and fully submitted to the jury. It is well established by decisions of this Court that ‘The jury are the exclusive judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the evidence.’ ”

It would extend this opinion beyond reasonable length to review the evidence fully herein, so we will briefly summarize.

The parties in a divorce action, Mr. and Mrs. Zick, called on Mr. Myers to get the divorce. The husband was to pay for the legal services, and defendant Myers was to get the divorce for Mrs. Zick. Certain United States Savings Bonds, property of Mrs. Zick, registered in the names of Herman Weismantel, P.O.D. Mrs. Jeanette Zick, were discussed. The defendant told Mrs. Zick that the value of the bonds would bring a better rate of interest if they were cashed and invested in something else. Mrs. Zick was requested by defendant to endorse the bonds, which she did. The defendant then took the bonds so endorsed to a local bank for redemption, and the bank sent them in to the Federal Reserve Bank. The defendant on the strength of the bonds and his personal note borrowed from the bank the amount of the redemption value in the sum of $4,035.60 which he deposited in his own personal account. The defendant gave his personal note to the bank. He told the banker that he needed the money that day so that he could give the money to Mrs. Zick because of her financial condition. Defendant asked the banker if he could borrow the money, then when the proceeds were received, to apply “those against the note to pay it off.” This is what was done, and when the proceeds of the redeemed bonds were returned to the bank, the note signed by defendant was canceled as paid in full. The bank endorsed the check from the treasurer of the United States with a credit and guaranteed the endorsement. It was not endorsed by Mrs. Zick.

[383]*383The defense is that when Mrs. Zick came to defendant he went over her papers among which were the bonds. He discussed with her the needs of the family and suggested cashing the bonds and using the proceeds in some investment yielding a high rate of interest. Defendant stated that there was an individual named Roberts who owned a piece of property which he had sold by contract for deed, and that Mr. Roberts also owed defendant money. The contract for deed was paying an 8% return on the balance due along with monthly payments. Defendant claims he informed Mrs.

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

Related

Schaffer v. Edward D. Jones & Co.
521 N.W.2d 921 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1994)
State v. French
509 N.W.2d 698 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1993)
State v. Koepsell
508 N.W.2d 591 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1993)
State v. Svihl
490 N.W.2d 269 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1992)
State v. Brings Plenty
490 N.W.2d 261 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1992)
McCafferty v. Solem
449 N.W.2d 590 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1989)
State v. Bachman
446 N.W.2d 271 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1989)
State v. Davis
401 N.W.2d 721 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1987)
State v. Clothier
381 N.W.2d 253 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1986)
State v. Vogel
315 N.W.2d 321 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1982)
State v. Myers
220 N.W.2d 535 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1974)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
220 N.W.2d 535, 88 S.D. 378, 1974 S.D. LEXIS 141, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-myers-sd-1974.