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27 Cal. 500

People v. Brown

California Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1865

California Supreme Court · decided 1865-07-01

The indictment charged 11 that the said Alexander Brown, on or about the 13th day of May, 1864, and before the finding and presentation of this indictment, at the County of Placer, to wit: at a place, known as Chandler & Saunders’ Ranch, in the County of Placer, did feloniously, wilfully, and unlawfully, and with force and arms, steal, take, and carry, lead, and drive away from the ranch aforesaid, the personal goods and property of another, to wit: the property of W. H.…

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently December 1919

3 state decisions

Relies on Cooper v. Pena · Weddle v. Stark

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1865-07-01

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By the Court, Sanderson, C. J.

¶1The demurrer to the indictment was properly overruled. The charging part is in the following words: “Did feloniously, wilfully and unlawfully, and with force and arms, steal, take, carry, lead and drive away,” etc., which is not only a sufficient statement of the intent with which the taking was done, under our statute, but also at common law. (People v. Vance, 21 Cal. 403 ; Wharton’s Precedents, 190.)

¶2We cannot reverse the judgment on the ground that the verdict is contrary to the evidence. Disregarding the testimony offered by the defendant for the purpose of proving an alibi (which the jury manifestly did not believe), we are not prepared to say that the evidence does not sustain the verdict. In The People v. Ah Loy, 10 Cal. 301, the Court said: “ It *502requires a clear case—one in which there is an absence of evidence against the prisoner, or a decided preponderance of evidence in his favor—to justify an interference with the verdict of the jury.” We think this is one of those cases in which the verdict, whether guilty or not guilty, ought not to he disturbed by this Court. The Court below refused a new trial, and that Court could better judge of the weight of the evidence.

¶3Judgment affirmed.

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