Case ID: mo_37/html/0373-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Holmes, Judge,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

State of Missouri, Appellant, v. Thomas Morphin, Respondent.
    
      Crimes — Larceny.—The stealing of several articles of property at the same time and place, although belonging to several persons, constitutes but one offence.
    
      Appeal from Worth Circuit Court.
    
    
      J. C. Parker, for appellant.
    The indictment charges the defendant with but one of-fence, which was the feloniously stealing, taking, and carrying away of the property of different persons at the same time and place.
    The circumstances of several ownerships of the property does not increase or mitigate the offence. (Sutton v. State, 7 Mo. 55.) And the stealing of several articles of property at the same time and place, constitutes but one offence. (7 Mo. 55.)
   Holmes, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The court below quashed the indictment, on motion of the defendant, for the reason that the defendant was charged with stealing the property of two different persons, at one and the same time, the value of the property taken from one being less than ten dollars. This was erroneous. The stealing several articles of property at the same time and place constitutes but one offence. (Lorton v. State, 7 Mo. 55.)

Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.

Judge Wagner concurs; Judge Lovelace absent.