Case Name: Turner v. State of Indiana
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1970-12-23
Citations: 255 Ind. 427
Docket Number: No. 1069S234
Parties: Turner v. State of Indiana.
Judges: Hunter, C.J., and Arterburn, J., concur; Jackson, J., dissents with opinion in which DeBruler, J., concurs.
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 255
Pages: 427–435

Head Matter:
Turner v. State of Indiana.
[No. 1069S234.
Filed December 23, 1970.
Rehearing denied March 3, 1971.]
Charles W. Symmes, of Indianapolis, for appellant.
Theodore L. Sendak, Attorney General, Robert A. Zaban, Deputy Attorney General, for appellee.

Opinion:
Givan, J.
The appellant was charged by indictment with the crime of conspiracy to commit a felony, to-wit: Second degree burglary. Appellant was tried by the court without a jury. Appellant was found guilty as charged and sentenced to the Indiana State Reformatory for a period of two to fourteen years.
The facts in this case are as follows:
On December 27, 1968, at 9:30 P.M. Indianapolis Police Officer Roger Bair received radio communication directing him to the Dixon Vending Company at 602 East New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. At the same time Wayne Meyer, a representative of the American District Telephone Company, was sent to the same address by his company where an alarm signaling a breaking into the building had been received.
When Officer Bair and Mr. Meyer arrived at the scene they heard the sound of pounding on brick at the rear of the building. Each man went in an opposite direction around the building to converge upon the area from whence the sound was coming. As Mr. Meyer rounded the corner of the building he saw Walter Turner on the roof of a small garage immediately adjacent to the Dixon Vending Company. Joseph Turner and Orville Hall were on the ground next to the Dixon Vending Company building. As Officer Bair and Mr. Meyer appeared, the three men started to run; however, they each stopped upon the order of Officer Bair.
The officer found that a brick had been removed from the side of the building. He also found a hammer and a rubber mallet laying on the ground at the scene.
This Court has repeatedly held that flight of an accused or other related conduct calculated to hide a crime or escape from the scene of a crime is admissible as evidence of guilt. It is for the trier of fact to determine what weight and value should be given to such evidence. Reno v. State (1967), 248 Ind. 334, 228 N. E. 2d 14, 11 Ind. Dec. 43. This Court will not weigh the evidence. Smith v. State (1969), 252 Ind. 425, 249 N. E. 2d 493, 18 Ind. Dec. 189.
Conspiracy cannot be established by mere suspicion nor is it established by mere showing of relationship or association between the parties. However, in the case at bar the facts justify a finding which goes beyond a mere suspicion or association. Walter Turner was on the roof of a nearby garage. Orville Hall and Joseph Turner were on the ground at a place where a brick had been knocked from the side of the building. A hammer and rubber mallet were laying on the ground. The trier of fact had ample evidence from which it could be inferred that Walter Turner was a lookout and that the other two men were attempting to effect entry into the building. This Court has previously said:
". . . It is not necessary that the evidence show a formal agreement to form a conspiracy, nor that the object of the conspiracy be actually committed....
"Participation in criminal conspiracy need not be proved by direct evidence but .common purpose and plan may be inferred from development and collocation of circum stances." Taylor, Bryant v. State (1956), 235 Ind. 126, 131, 131 N. E. 2d 297.
The facts in the case at bar support the finding of the trial court that the defendant was in fact guilty of conspiring with others to effect burglary.
The trial court is, therefore, affirmed.
Hunter, C.J., and Arterburn, J., concur; Jackson, J., dissents with opinion in which DeBruler, J., concurs.