Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Donald M. Dade, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1961-12-07
Citations: 15 A.D.2d 629
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Donald M. Dade, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 629–629

Head Matter:
Fourth Department,
December, 1961
(December 7, 1961)
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Donald M. Dade, Appellant.

Opinion:
Memorandum:
In October, 1959, an indictment Avas returned against defendant charging him with the crime of robbery, first degree, in that he, being armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed an employee of a supermarket. Following trial he was found guilty, as charged, and sentenced as a second offender. Some 18 months after the trial it was discovered by the People that the weapon used in the robbery was " inoperable This fact is now conceded in the brief of the prosecution. Thus, the crime of robbery, first degree, has not been established as there is a complete failure of proof that defendant Avas armed with a dangerous weapon. (Cf. 1 Wharton's, Criminal Law & Procedure, p. 721.) The only proof is that the gun was pointed at the person robbed. There was no evidence and no claim is made by the People that the gun was used as a club, or that the defendant threatened so to use it, upon Avhich a finding might have been made that the weapon was a dangerous one. Moreover, there is no claim that subdivisions 2, 3 or 4 of section 2124 of the Penal Law are here applicable. Therefore, the judgment must be reversed and a new trial granted. (Appeal from judgment of Brie County Court convicting defendant of the crime of robbery, first degree.) Present — Williams, P. J., Bastow, Goldman, Halpern and Henry, JJ.