Case ID: iowa_73/html/0355-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Beck, J.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State v. Frahm.
    1. Burglary: in night time: insufficient evidence. The evidence in this case examined, and held insufficient to justify a verdict of guilty of burglary in the night time.
    
    2. -: evidence: possession of stolen goods. Where it is shown that larceny and burglary were committed by the same person at the same time, recent possession of the stolen goods is prima facie evidence that the possessor is guilty of both offenses. (State v. Rivers, 68 Iowa, 611, followed.)
    
      Appeal from Jasper District Court.
    
    Friday, December 9.
    Defendant was convicted upon an indictment' for burglary in the night time. He now appeals to this court.
    
      Alanson Clark and E. J. Salmon, for appellant.
    
      A. J. Baker, Attorney-general, for the State.
   Beck, J.

I. Under the statute of this state, burglary of a dwelling-house is of two degrees, — the first, the breaking and entering in the night-time, with the intent to commit a felony; the second, the breaking and entering in the day-time. The punishment for the first degree is imprisonment in the penitentiary, not to exceed twenty years, in the absence of aggravation by reason of the offender being armed, or committing an assault upon any person in the dwelling, or being aided by confederates present at the commission of the crime, and for the second is imprisonment in the penitentiary for not more than ten years, or fine of not to exceed $100, and imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year. It will be observed that, in the estimation of these statutes, there is a wide difference in the heinousness of the degrees of this offense.

II. ~We are of the opinion that the evidence utterly fails to show that the offense was committed in the night-time. The only evidence to establish defendant’s guilt ® was testimony tending to show that the dwelling-house was broken open, and that certain goods left therein' were found in defendant’s possession. It cannot be denied that the evidence which is claimed to identify the goods found as those left in the house is, to say the least of it, extremely unsatisfactory. It can hardly be said that it utterly fails on this point; but it does wholly fail to show that the crime was committed in the night-time. It is said that, on account of the bulky character of the goods stolen, the probability arises that they were taken in the night-time. In view of the facts that the house was somewhat secluded, and was unoccupied by any person for several days, it is quite as probable that the goods were taken in the day-time as at night.

III. The district court gave the following instruction, which is complained of by defendant’s counsel: “If you find from the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that some person stole from the said dwelling-house the beds or bedding, or some portion thereof, introduced in evidence in this case, by breaking and entering the said dwelling-house in the night-time, with intent to steal the same, and you further so find that recently thereafter such property thus stolen, if any, was found in the possession of the defendant, then and in such case you would be warranted in concluding that the defendant stole the property, if any, thus found in his possession, by breaking and entering said dwelling-house in the night-time, with intent to steal such property, unless the facts and circumstances, shown by the evidence raise in your mind a reasonable doubt as to whether he did not come honestly into such possession. But if such facts and circumstances do raise such reasonable doubt, then you would not be warranted in drawing such conclusion from such recent possession, if established.” This instruction is in accord with our ruling in State v. Rivers, 68 Iowa, 611, wherein we held that, where it is shown that the larceny and the burglary were committed by the same person at the same time, recent possession of the goods stolen is prima facie evidence that the possessor is guilty of both offenses.

IY. "We think the district court should have sustained the motion for a new trial, on the ground that the evidence wholly failed to show that the offense was committed in the •night-time. The prejudice resulting to defendant from the "conviction, in the absence of evidence showing such fact, is apparent.

For the error in overruling the motion for a new trial, the judgment of the district court is

Reversed.