Case ID: ga-app_22/html/0639-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Broyles, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

9873.
    JOHNSON v. THE STATE.
    On a trial for burglary, where the fact relied -upon by the State for a conviction is the defendant’s recent possession of articles stolen from -the burglarized premises on the occasion of the burglary, it is error for the court to instruct the jury that the burden is upon the defendant to show that he came by the stolen articles honestly.
    
    Decided October 10, 1918.
    Indictment for burglary; from Eulton superior court—Judge Hill. May 25, 1918.
    
      A. M. Brand, for plaintiff in error.
    
      John A. Boykin,'solicitor-general, E. A. Stephens, contra.
   Broyles, P. J.

The defendant was on trial for burglary, and the fact,, relied upon by the State for his conviction, was that he was found in recent possession of articles stolen from the burglarized premises at the time of the burglary. In view of this fact, and of the further fact that the evidence did not demand the defendant’s conviction, the majority of this court hold that it was reversible error for the court to instruct the jury, in substance, that th.e accused must satisfy the jury that he came into possession of the stolen articles honestly. Falvey v. State, 85 Ga. 157 (11 S. E. 607); Cornwall v. State, 91 Ga. 277 (7), 283 (18 S. E. 154). The Writer, while agreeing that this instruction was inaccurate, .does not think that it requires a new trial when it is considered in the light of the charge as a whole.

Judgment reversed.

Bloodworth and Harwell, JJ., concur; Broyles, P. J., dissents.