Court Opinion

ID: 7102916
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:17:35.095262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:28.258710
License: Public Domain

Adams, Ch. J.
The defendant was charged with the steal-
ing of certain watches and jewelry, some of which it is conceded he had in his possession after the theft.
1. iarcjsitv: appeal. I. The defendant insists that the evidence is wholly insufficient to sustain the verdict. While, as we read the evidence, it does not appear to us to be strong, we cannot say that there was such lack of evidence as would justify us in disturbing the verdict.
2_pog_ stoienprop-atioiiArardeñ of proof. II. The defendant complains of an instruction given by the court, a part of which is in these words: “As the defendant admits that he had the watches and chains in his possession on the J 9th of September, you would be justified in finding him guilty, unless he has satisfied you that his possession at that time was not obtained by stealing them.” The unexplained possession by the defendant of recently stolen property is a circumstance against him, and will justify a conviction, unless there is such evidence of good character, or other circumstances, as to raise a reasonable doubt of guilt. The case before us, however, is not one of unexplained possession. A somewhat explicit explanation was given by the defendant as a witness. As touching the explanation, the jury, as we understand, was instructed, in substance, that to render it of any avail it should be satisfactory. In our opinion, the jury should have been instructed to acquit, if the explana*502tion was sufficient to raise a-reasonable doubt of guilt. In State v. Emerson, 48 Iowa, 174, substantially the same question arose, and the court said: “When a reasonable doubt exists as to the character of the recent possession, whether il be innocent or guilty, a reasonable doubt exists as to the defendant’s guilt. If such doubt exists, he cannot be eon-■victed. Now, such doubt may arise in the minds of the jury upon less than a preponderance of the evidence. It was therefore erroneous to direct the jury that they could find the defendant guilty, unless defendant, by a preponderance of the testimony, reasonably satisfied them that his possession of the cattle was innocent.” See, also, State v. Merrick, 19 Me., 398; Hall v. State, 8 Ind., 439; State v. Henry, 48 Iowa, 403; Heed v. State, 25 Wis., 421.
In our opinion the instruction cannot be sustained.
Beversed.