Case ID: mich-app_16/html/0244-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PEOPLE v. KELSCH
    1. Criminal Law — Carrying Concealed Pistol Without License— Corpus Delicti.
    The prosecution must prove both that the defendant carried a concealed pistol and that he had no license to do so to establish the corpus delicti of the felony of carrying a concealed pistol without a license (CL 1948, § 750.227).
    2. Criminal Law — Corpus Delicti — Evidence—Statements op Dependant.
    The corpus delicti of a crime, or any essential element of it, cannot be established solely by the extrajudicial statements of the accused and therefore testimony by a police officer that defendant admitted ownership of a gun and the fact that he had no license is not by itself sufficient to convict defendant of carrying a concealed pistol without a license (CL 1948, § 750.227).
    Appeal from Macomb, Frank E. Jeannette, J.
    Submitted Division 2 January 7, 1969, at Detroit.
    (Docket No. 4,683.)
    Decided February 27, 1969.
    Michael Leo Kelsch was convicted of carrying a concealed pistol without a license. Defendant appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    
      Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, George N. Parris, Prosecuting Attorney, Thaddeus F. Hamera, Chief
    References for Points in Headnotes
    
       56 Am Jur, Weapons and Pirearms § 9.
    Offense of carrying concealed weapon as affected by manner of carrying or place of concealment. 43 ALR2d 492.
    
       30 Am Jur 2d, Evidence § 1142.
    
      Appellate Lawyer, and Stephen F. Osinslci, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
    
      Gruenburg, Robinson & Bogus, for defendant on appeal.
    BEFORE: Lesinski, C. J., and J. H. G-illis and T. M. Burns, JJ.
   Per Curiam.

Defendant appeals from a conviction by a jury of carrying a concealed pistol without a license. CL 1948, § 750.227 (Stat Ann 1962 Rev § 28.424). To establish the corpus delicti of this felony, the prosecutor must prove not only that the defendant carried a concealed pistol, but also that he had no license to do so. People v. Autry (1967), 7 Mich App 480, 483. It is well settled in this state that the corpus delicti of a crime, or any essential element of it, cannot be established solely by the extrajudicial statements of the accused. People v. Zwierkowski (1962), 368 Mich 56; People v. Asta (1953), 337 Mich 590, 613. The only testimony offered as to licensing in this case was that of a police officer that defendant admitted the gun was his and he had no license. Defendant objected that this was not sufficient proof, but the trial judge overruled the objection. See People v. White (1936), 276 Mich 29; People v. Lee (1925), 231 Mich 607.

Reversed and remanded for new trial. 
      
       This conviction precedes the effective date of PA 1968, No 299 being CL 1948, § 776.20 '[Stat Ann 1969 Cnm Supp § 28.1274(1)], which provides: “In any prosecution for the violation of any acts of the state relative to use, licensing and possession of pistols or firearms, the burden of establishing any exception, excuse, proviso or exemption contained in any sueh act shall be upon the defendant but this does not shift the burden of proof for the violation.”