Case ID: kan_23/html/0338-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Horton, C. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State of Kansas v. Joseph Thompson.
    Existence oe Railway Corporation, How Proved. On the trial in a criminal case, the existence of a railway corporation may be proved by general reputation. A de facto existence of a corporation is all that is-necessary to be shown.
    
      Appeal from, Atchison District Court.
    
    Thompson was charged by information with having, on-July 28, 1878, and in the night time, in Atchison county, unlawfully, forcibly, feloniously and burglariously broken and entered a frame building used and occupied by the Atchison & Nebraska railroad company, a corporation, as a tool shop,, in which building there were then kept, stored and deposited certain valuable goods, wares and mechanical tools, to wit: One pick, of the value of one dollar, six feet of fuse, of the value of thirty cents — then and there being the property of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad company, a corporation, with the intent to commit a felony, and the said personal property to unlawfully and feloniously steal, take and carry away. Trial at September Term, 1878. Verdict of guilty of burglary in the second degree. New trial refused, and defendant was sentenced to imprisonment in the penitentiary for five years and twenty days. Thompson brings the case here.
    
      Smith & Solomon, for appellant.
    
      C. K. Wells, county attorney, for The State.
   The opinion of the court was delivered by

Horton, C. J.:

Upon the trial of this case, the state rested without proving or offering to prove the existence of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad company as a corporation, and thereupon the defendant interposed his demurrer to the evidence. After some argument, the county attorney asked leave to call a witness to prove the existence of the corporation by reputation, and that the company was doing business as such. The court granted the request, and a witness, one Philip Dun-kin, testified as to general reputation, and to the acts and business of said company as a corporation. Counsel allege that all this was error. The court clearly had the right, in its discretion, to receive any competent testimony on the part of the state at the time the evidence complained of was produced, (Crawford v. Furlong, 21 Kas. 698,) and the only question in the case worthy of comment is, whether the testimony received was competent. Counsel say the trial court placed a wrong construction upon § 214, ch. 82, Comp. Laws 1879, pp. 756, 757, which prescribes:

“If, on trial or other proceeding in a criminal cause, the existence,, constitution, or powers of any banking company or corporation shall become material, or be in any way drawn in question, it shall not be necessary to produce a certified copy of the charter or act of incorporation, but the same may be proved by general reputation, or by the printed statute book of the state, government, or country by which such corporation was created.”

It is claimed that this section authorizes proof by general reputation, only when a banking company or a banking corporation is brought in question, and that as the corporation in occupation of the building burglariously entered was a railway co'rporation, its legal existence could only have been been proved by the best evidence, viz.: its charter or act of incorporation, or a duly-certified copy thereof. We do not agree with counsel. Sec. 214 is only cumulative, and it is immaterial whether it applies to banking corporations exclusively, or to corporations generally. The evidence excepted to was both competent and admissible, as the authorities are decisive that in criminal cases, independent of any statutory rule favoring the proposition, the existence of a corporation may be proved by general reputation. A de facto existence of the corporation is only necessary to be shown. In People v. Caryl, 3 Park. (N. Y.) Cr. 326, it was held .that on the trial of an indictment for stealing foreign bank bills, that it was not necessary to produce the highest evidence of the existence of the bank, such as proof of the original charter or act of the government incorporating the company; but that proof that there was such a bank defacto was sufficient. In People v. Frank, 28 Cal. 507, it was said: “ Whether the Utah Mining Company was a corporation de jure or not, was not an issue in the case. If it was acting as such, that was sufficient.” The supreme court of Indiana used this language: “Surely the property of corporations not lawfully organized, though existing in fact, is not to be declared by this court the legitimate prey of thieves, to be appropriated without criminal responsibility.” (Smith v. State, 28 Ind. 322.) And in Ohio, the supreme court thus lays down the rule: “The existence of a corporation may be proved by one who, of his own knowledge, is acquainted with the fact, . . . or by general reputation. . . . The rule springs from necessity, and the absolute impossibility of conviction, in frequent cases, without its adoption.” (Reed v. State, 15 Ohio, 217.) See also People v. Barric, 49 Cal. 342; People v. Davis, 21 Wend. 309; Johnson v. People, 4 Denio, 364; People v. Chadwick, 2 Park. (N.Y.) Cr. 163; and Sasser v. State, 13 Ohio, 453.

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.

All the Justices concurring.