Court Opinion

ID: 5498927
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:56:34.427888+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:52.936306
License: Public Domain

Pratt, J.
The defendant was convicted under subdivision 8, § 640, of the Penal Code. It was proved beyond all question that the lines upon the defendant’s rakes were about 14 fathoms in length, and if the rakes were overboard at the time he sailed over the ground in question they would disturb the oysters planted there. The ease only involves a question of fact, and that is whether the rakes were overboard at the time charged. The defendant denies the charge, but two apparently disinterested witnesses, Polwarth and La Forge, testify to the contrary, and the jury believed the latter. The defendant also excepted to the evidence of witnesses skilled in the business, who testified that rakes rigged in the manner described in the evidence would disturb oysters. This testimony was immaterial, as the defendant himself testified that his rakes would go to the bottom, and disturb oysters if any were there. This admission justified a conviction in case the jury found he had his rakes overboard at the time, so that the defendant could not have been prejudiced by the admission of that testimony.
The defendant also claims that inasmuch as no witness saw an oyster disturbed, a case was not made; but we must assume that to have taken place which in the nature of things must have been the result of the defendant’s acts. If the construction of the defendant is put upon the statute, no conviction could ever be had under the statute. The statute was passed to prevent just such acts as were committed by the defendant, to-w’it, sailing over ground planted with oysters, and that defendant dragged his rakes for a long distance over it, and that such acts must necessarily disturb the oysters. This proof, taken altogether, we think, made out a case. Judgment affirmed. All concur.