{ "id": 2514931, "name": "The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence Coleman (Impleaded), Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Coleman", "decision_date": "1974-01-29", "docket_number": "No. 57475", "first_page": "421", "last_page": "432", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "17 Ill. App. 3d 421" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "294 N.E.2d 269", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "53 Ill.2d 585", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2925142 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/53/0585-01" ] }, { "cite": "178 N.E.2d 389", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "23 Ill.2d 280", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2797074 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "282" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/23/0280-01" ] }, { "cite": "218 N.E.2d 771", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "72 Ill.App.2d 96", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2585316 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/72/0096-01" ] }, { "cite": "281 N.E.2d 72", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "4 Ill.App.3d 471", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2912211 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/4/0471-01" ] }, { "cite": "287 N.E.2d 297", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "7 Ill.App.3d 333", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2672525 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/7/0333-01" ] }, { "cite": "222 N.E.2d 329", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "77 Ill.App.2d 312", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 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App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1598833 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/105/0419-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N.E.2d 191", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "406 Ill. 315", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2634714 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/406/0315-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 N.E.2d 40", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "8 Ill.2d 619", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2715248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/8/0619-01" ] }, { "cite": "142 N.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "11 Ill.2d 84", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2784724 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/11/0084-01" ] }, { "cite": "158 N.E.2d 53", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "16 Ill.2d 340", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2762318 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/16/0340-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 N.E.2d 689", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "30 Ill.2d 381", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2827646 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "384" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/30/0381-01" ] }, { "cite": "235 N.E.2d 625", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "39 Ill.2d 265", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2857618 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/39/0265-01" ] }, { "cite": "253 N.E.2d 353", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "43 Ill.2d 375", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2844221 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/43/0375-01" ] }, { "cite": "263 N.E.2d 127", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 Ill.App. 2d 401", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2653601 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/128/0401-01" ] }, { "cite": "305 N.E.2d 718", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "16 Ill.App.3d 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2519224 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/16/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "285 N.E.2d 133", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "52 Ill.2d 107", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5395691 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/52/0107-01" ] }, { "cite": "252 N.E.2d 26", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "113 Ill.App.2d 242", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1589936 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/113/0242-01" ] }, { "cite": "251 N.E.2d 329", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "112 Ill.App.2d 399", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1590878 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/112/0399-01" ] }, { "cite": "248 N.E.2d 777", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "109 Ill.App.2d 328", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1594797 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/109/0328-01" ] }, { "cite": "105 Ill.App.2d 8", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1598894 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/105/0008-01" ] }, { "cite": "250 N.E.2d 169", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "111 Ill.App.2d 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1593046 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/111/0316-01" ] }, { "cite": "163 N.E. 438", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "332 Ill. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5213129 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/332/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "195 N.E. 443", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "360 Ill. 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2599998 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/360/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "212 N.E.2d 126", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "65 Ill.App.2d 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5292686 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/65/0023-01" ] }, { "cite": "190 N.E.2d 738", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "28 Ill .2d 116", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5363269 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/28/0116-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 N.E.2d 809", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "29 Ill.2d 74", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2823679 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/29/0074-01" ] }, { "cite": "204 N.E.2d 482", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "207 N.E.2d 444", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "32 Ill.2d 502", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2839521 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/32/0502-01" ] }, { "cite": "262 N.E.2d 225", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "127 Ill.App. 2d 238", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2473865 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/127/0238-01" ] }, { "cite": "227 N.E.2d 521", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "83 Ill.App.2d 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2556893 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/83/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "198 N.E. 220", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "361 Ill. 465", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2597078 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/361/0465-01" ] }, { "cite": "242 N.E.2d 249", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "41 Ill.2d 267", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2853338 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/41/0267-01" ] }, { "cite": "195 N.E.2d 694", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "30 Ill.2d 110", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2826279 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "113" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/30/0110-01" ] }, { "cite": "102 N.E.2d 141", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "410 Ill. 271", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5311475 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "279" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/410/0271-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1106, "char_count": 26016, "ocr_confidence": 0.759, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.929595251623867e-07, "percentile": 0.9650827133164906 }, "sha256": "0e8dd66e7ec667d871689fb8bc0d39ed81e36687ae420291a277bbbd99142a78", "simhash": "1:a307311cb77987a1", "word_count": 4184 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:35:57.081722+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence Coleman (Impleaded), Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. JUSTICE STAMOS\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nLawrence Coleman was found guilty of robbery by a jury and was sentenced to a term of four to ten years in the penitentiary. On appeal defendant urges rev\u00e9rsal of the conviction on the grounds that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction; that the prosecutor improperly argued facts not in evidence; and that he was denied a fair trial due to the introduction of prejudicial evidence. Alternatively, defendant contends, and the State concurs, that the sentence should be modified to conform to the applicable provisions of the Unified Code of Corrections. Resolution of defendant\u2019s first contention requires a summary of the evidence presented at trial.\nJames Terry, the complaining witness, and his companions on the night of August 29, 1970, Delcine Bell and Mary Harris, testified for the State. The three had met at a lounge where Mr. Terry, who had consumed a \u201ccouple of beers,\u201d had been shooting pool. At approximately 2:15 A.M., they took a cab to Madison and Loomis and proceeded to walk down Madison Street when three men approached and said something to Ms. Bell and Ms. Harris. The complainant, who had momentarily stopped to light his pipe, caught up with the group and asked the three men to leave the girls alone. At this point the three turned their attention to James Terry, grabbed him and forced him across the street where one of the three, later identified as defendant, pulled out a gun and robbed the victim of approximately $70. During this time, Ms. Bell and Ms. Harris flagged a second cab and told the driver to pull up to the four men who then broke and ran. Immediately thereafter a police car approached, was hailed by Terry, pursued the fleeing men, and apprehended Edgar Shorter, one of the three robbers.\nThe women, James Terry, and Edgar Shorter were then taken to the police station where complainant and Ms. Bell gave descriptions of defendant. The victim stated that Coleman had a red streak in his hair; Ms. Bell indicated that two of the assailants had red coloring in their hair.\nOn October 2, 1970, James Terry saw defendant and the third robber at the intersection of Madison and Ogden. Upon seeing the complainant, they turned and walked away. The police were called, but no apprehension resulted. Approximately a week later, the victim identified Lawrence Coleman from a group of pictures shown to him by the police. On October 25, 1970, two officers accompanied Terry to the trauma ward of the Cook County hospital where Terry identified Coleman from a group of fifteen male patients. At that time, the victim \u201cdidn\u2019t think\u201d that the accused then had a red streak in his hair.\nBoth Ms. Bell and Ms. Harris recalled at trial that two of the men had red streaks in their hair. Each witness identified defendant as one of the perpetrators of the crime but testified that they had not seen him from the night of the robbery until the day before trial.\nPolice officers Richard Topel, Robert Elam, and Clifford Berti testified for the State. Officer Topel had been in the police car hailed by Terry immediately after the robbery. He testified that Mr. Terry had identified his three assailants on the street, but that only Shorter had been apprehended. He also corroborated previous testimony that the area was illuminated by overhead mercury vapor street lights and by light emanating from a commercial establishment. The officer further testified that he detected a \u201cweak\u201d odor of alcohol on the victim\u2019s breath, but that Mr. Terry was \u201cdefinitely sober.\u201d\nOfficers Elam and Berti had interviewed Edgar Shorter on the morning of the incident. Based on that conversation, they had attempted to obtain records and photographs of a \u201cJames Johnson.\u201d Their search had been unsuccessful, but subsequent investigation revealed that Lawrence Coleman had previously used the alias \u201cJames Johnson.\u201d The officers had then obtained photographs of Lawrence Coleman which were shown to the victim, who had then identified defendant. The officers had held another conversation with Shorter; based on this conversation, they had visited the Cook County Hospital and had ascertained that Lawrence Coleman was a patient. The victim subsequently had been brought to the hospital, where he had identified defendant who then had, according to the officers, a red streak in his hair.\nEdgar Shorter, called by the defense, testified that he, one \u201cWillie Smith,\u201d and one \u201cJames Johnson\u201d had robbed James Terry near Madison and Throop Streets on August 30, 1970. He had been acquainted with Lawrence Coleman for several years, and had known him to use the alias James Johnson. However, Lawrence Coleman was not the \u201cJames Johnson\u201d with whom he had committed the robbery. Shorter further testified that he had been the only one with a red streak in his hair; that he had never known Lawrence Coleman to have a red streak in his hair; and that he had not told the police to go to the Cook County Hospital.\nElizabeth Coleman, defendant\u2019s mother, testified that defendant lived at home; that on the night of August 29, 1970, her son and his girl friend were at home with another couple, celebrating defendant\u2019s birthday; and that her son had never had a red streak in his hair.\nOn rebuttal, Officer Berti testified that Mrs. Coleman had told him that Lawrence did not live at home and that defendant\u2019s correct birth date was August 24.\nDefendant initially contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction in that it rested entirely upon identifications which were doubtful, vague and uncertain. Defendant cites People v. Kidd, 410 Ill. 271, 279, 102 N.E.2d 141, where it is said:\n\u201c[Identification of one person by another who had never seen him before is an opinion or conclusion of the identifying witness, and the attendant circumstances, together with the probability or improbability of affording an opportunity for a definite identification, must be considered in weighing the evidence of one stranger by another.\u201d\nUnder this standard, defendant submits the following circumstances as reflective of an inconclusive identification: that Ms. Bell\u2019s testimony tended to indicate that the lighting conditions surrounding the incident were poor; that subsequent to the night in question neither Ms. Bell nor Ms. Harris had had an opportunity to see or identify defendant until the time of trial, which was almost a year later; that a discrepancy existed between the testimony of Mr. Terry and Officer Topel relating to the complainant\u2019s description of defendant prior to his apprehension; and finally, that none of the identifying witnesses had referred to any distinguishing facial characteristics of the accused.\nThe State urges that complainant\u2019s testimony by itself sufficiently supports the conviction, and that the absence of described facial characteristics is not controlling. We are referred to People v. Miller, 30 Ill.2d 110, 113, 195 N.E.2d 694, wherein the court stated:\n\u201cPrecise accuracy in describing facial characteristics is unnecessary where an identification is positive. * \u00b0 \u00ae We have often held that the testimony of one witness alone, if positive and the witness credible, is sufficient to convict even though the testimony is contradicted by the accused. [Citations.]\u201d\nIn support of its position, the State notes that the victim had ample opportunity to observe defendant at close range. The entire incident\u2014 from the time the three men walked up to the girls to the time they fled \u2014occurred in the span of seven or eight minutes. During that time complainant spoke with defendant several times; defendant dragged complainant across the street and upon reaching the other side, pulled out a gun and said \u201cPut your hands up.\u201d Not only did the complainant have sufficient time to observe defendant in' close proximity, but both complainant and Officer Topel testified to the presence of artificial lighting.\nAlthough the State contends that complainant\u2019s testimony alone sufficiently supports the conviction, it further points to the corroborative testimony of his two companions and of the investigating officers. Both Ms. Bell and Ms. Harris substantiated complainant\u2019s version of the robbery and identified defendant as one of the assailants; both officers testified that while defendant was in the hospital he had a red streak in his hair.\nAfter a careful reading of the record, we have considered the relative contentions of the parties and conclude that the identification evidence was sufficient to support defendant\u2019s conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. A determination of guilt by a jury will not be set aside by a reviewing court unless it is palpably contrary to the weight of the evidence or so unsatisfactory as to cause a reasonable doubt of guilt. (People v. Tribbett, 41 Ill.2d 267, 242 N.E.2d 249.) Here, the in-court identification of defendant by the three witnesses was positive and unshaken on cross-examination. Nor do defendant\u2019s assertions persuade us to a different conclusion. Although Ms. Bell testified that it was dark at the time of the occurrence, her precise language was that \u201c[i]t was dark, but not that dark.\u201d Further, although almost a year had passed between the night of the incident and the subsequent identification of defendant by . the two women, their testimony relating to the in-court identification of defendant was clear and convincing. ( See People v. Hanisch, 361 Ill. 465, 198 N.E. 220,) Finally, the discrepancy between complainant\u2019s testimony as to his initial description of defendant and the account thereof in the police report is not of a nature so substantial as to create a reasonable doubt of defendant\u2019s guilt. (See People v. Terlikowski, 83 Ill.App.2d 307, 227 N.E.2d 521.) Being, insubstantial, the. resolution of any discrepancy in the testimony was properly a matter for the jury\u2019s consideration and will not be disturbed on appeal. People v. Nelson, 127 Ill.App. 2d 238, 262 N.E.2d 225.\nDefendant further points to the testimony of Edgar Shorter and of defendant\u2019s mother, Elizabeth Coleman, in alleging the State\u2019s failure to meet its burden of proof. He cites several cases holding that plausible evidence of an alibi cannot be disregarded where the only evidence contradicting it rests upon the identity of the defendant as the perpetrator of the crime charged, and where the entire record reveals reasonable doubt of guilt because of an uncertain identification. (People v. Kidd, supra; People v. Cullotta, 32 Ill.2d 502, 207 N.E.2d 444.) Although this is a correct statement of the law, it is inapplicable to the present facts. Here the identification was positive and corroborated. As such, the province of the jury, as the trier of fact, to believe certain witnesses and to disbelieve others, will not be infringed upon. People v. Nicholson, 55 IlI.App.2d 361, 204 N.E.2d 482.\nDefendant next contends that the prosecutor argued facts not in evidence. More specifically, he complains of the prosecutors reference, during closing argument, to defendant\u2019s \u201chigh cheekbones\u201d and \u201cbeady eyes.\u201d The predicate of defendant\u2019s contention is that, although he had been in full view of the jury throughout the trial, no witness had testified as to his facial characteristics, nor had he taken the witness stand. Therefore, defendant urges, his facial characteristics were not in evidence and could not be commented upon by the prosecutor in emphasizing the unlikelihood of an incorrect identification. Inasmuch as defendant made no objection to this matter in the trial court, the prosecutor\u2019s reference to defendant\u2019s physical appearance does not present a reviewable issue. (People v. Winters, 29 Ill.2d 74, 193 N.E.2d 809). Moreover, we note in passing that photographs of defendant were admitted into evidence, thereby refuting the substance of his contention.\nDefendant next argues that certain testimony identifying defendant as the perpetrator of the crime, was both incompetent and prejudicial hearsay. Of the several particulars alleged, we will consider the first separately. On direct examination of Officer Elam, the following colloquy occurred:\n\u201cPROSECUTOR: All right. And did you have a conversation with Mr. Shorter?\nOFFICER ELAM: Yes, we did.\nQ.: After this conversation, what did you then do?\nA.: After this conversation, we went to the Cook County Hospital [where Lawrence Coleman was found and arrested].\u201d\nIn our judgment, the testimony was not hearsay. (See People v. Carpenter, 28 Ill .2d 116, 190 N.E.2d 738.) Officer Elam did not testify to the substance of the conversation, but merely to the fact that a conversation took place. As such, both the fact of the conversation and his subsequent conduct were within his personal knowledge and competent as testimony of the officer\u2019s investigatory procedure. McCormick, Law of Evidence (1954), \u00a7227.\nTurning now to the other particulars alleged by defendant, the record reveals that investigator Elam testified that \u201cLawrence Coleman was identified by the victim\u201d at the Cook County hospital, and that Officer Berti, after identifying two photographs of defendant, stated that they were the same photographs from which the victim had previously identified the defendant. No objection was made in the trial court, but defendant now urges that the admission of the hearsay evidence constituted \u201cplain error\u201d under Supreme Court Rule 615(a). (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 110A, par. 615(a); People v. Wright, 65 Ill.App.2d 23, 212 N.E.2d 126.) As supportive of his position, defendant cites the following: \u201cIt is error to allow a police officer to testify as to an out of court identification of the defendant, as a person accused of a crime.\u201d People v. Reeves, 360 Ill. 55, 195 N.E. 443; People v. Krejewski, 332 Ill. 120, 163 N.E. 438; People v. Townsend, 111 Ill.App.2d 316, 250 N.E.2d 169.\nAlthough the foregoing proposition is correct as a general statement of law, a fair summary of authorities cited by defendant stands for the proposition that the admission of hearsay identification testimony constitutes reversible error only when it serves as a substitute for courtroom identification or when it is used to strengthen and corroborate a weak identification. However, if the hearsay testimony is merely cumulative (People v. Smith, 105 Ill.App.2d 8, 245 N.E;2d 23; People v. James, 109 Ill.App.2d 328, 248 N.E.2d 777; People v. Lowe, 112 Ill.App.2d 399, 251 N.E.2d 329; People v. Gampbell, 113 Ill.App.2d 242, 252 N.E.2d 26), or is supported by a positive identification and by other corroborative circumstances (People v. Reeves, supra; People v. Canale, 52 Ill.2d 107, 285 N.E.2d 133), it constitutes harmless error. See also, People v. Williams, 16 Ill.App.3d 121, 305 N.E.2d 718; People v. Keller, 128 Ill.App. 2d 401, 263 N.E.2d 127.\nIn the present case, the identification of defendant by Mr. Terry was positive and corroborated. The victim also testified as to both the hospital and photograph identification, thus resulting in the hearsay testimony being merely cumulative. Under these circumstances, we conclude that no plain error was committed.\nIt is next alleged that the State introduced inflammatory issues into the case under the guise of' impeaching a defense witness. Defendant primarily complains of the prosecutorial questioning of Edgar Shorter on cross-examination. The witness testified that he had met the \u201cJames Johnson\u201d who committed the robbery at a church in July of 1970. The prosecutor then asked the witness if he could recall his whereabouts on May 19, 1970. When the witness replied \u201cNo\u201d, the prosecutor requested a side-bar conference, submitted a document to the trial judge indicating that on May 19, 1970, the witness had been sentenced to 120 days in the house of correction for a misdemeanor, and inquired if he might \u00fase the document for the limited purpose of showing that the witness could not have met the alleged James Johnson at a church in the month of July. After the prosecutor used the document to refresh the witness\u2019 memory, he asked a series of thirteen questions which forcefully highlighted the impossibility of the alleged meeting.\nDefendant concedes that Shorter\u2019s initial statement about meeting James Johnson was incorrect, but argues that the prosecutor should have impeached his credibility by introducing the exact date of his release from the house of correction instead of needlessly \u201charassing\u201d the witness.\nWe believe that the cross-examination of Shorter did not constitute error. On direct examination, the defense attempted to establish that Shorter had referred to James Johnson other than defendant when identifying his accomplices to the police. It was therefore proper for the State to show, for the purpose of impeachment, that the witness could not have met any \u201cJames Johnson\u201d at the time and place alleged. Defense counsel has not cited, nor can we find, authority which requires that impeachment, if proper in scope and as to subject matter, be conducted in a manner least damaging to the credibility of the witness. If the trial is fair in the legal sense, an opposite conclusion cannot be predicated upon the purported discourtesies incident to an adversary proceeding.\nDefendant further alleges another instance of improper impeachment. On cross-examination, Edgar Shorter was asked the following questions:\n\u201cPROSECUTOR: Isn\u2019t it a fact Mr. Shorter that you came to Court today to tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury that Lawrence Coleman was not present on August 30, 1970 in order to make up for the fact that you in effect squealed on him to the police for that offense?\nDEFENSE COUNSEL: Objection.\nTHE COURT: Sustained.\u201d\nAfter defendant had rested his case, Officer Berti, called in rebuttal, testified: \u201cShorter gave the name of James Johnson. Later Shorter told me Coleman was at the County Hospital.\u201d\nIt is asserted by defendant that the \u201cimpeachment\u201d of the witness was offered as substantive evidence of defendant\u2019s guilt. He relies upon People v. Nuccio, 43 Ill.2d 375, 253 N.E.2d 353, which reversed a conviction based upon unsupported and repeated prosecutorial innuendoes as to the prior misconduct of defendant and his witnesses, and People v. McKee, 39 Ill.2d 265, 235 N.E.2d 625 wherein the Illinois Supreme Court reversed a conviction where the trial court clearly employed impeaching hearsay statements of an alleged accomplice, who had been made a court\u2019s witness, as substantive evidence of defendant\u2019s guilt.\nIt is generally accepted that only the testimony given by the witness upon oath in court, subject to. cross-examination is to be considered as substantive evidence, and that a prior contradictory statement of a witness is received into evidence only for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of the witness. When, under the guise of impeachment, prior inconsistent statements are used for purposes other than reflecting upon the witness\u2019 credibility, they are necessarily incompetent as hearsay. The delineation between proper and impermissible \u201cimpeachment\u201d is detailed in People v. Paradise, 30 Ill.2d 381, 384, 196 N.E.2d 689:\n\u201cWhile we have recognized the necessity for, and permitted the use of, contradictory statements for impeachment, we have also recognized the danger that the out-of-court statement may be taken by the jury as substantive testimony in place of the statement on the stand. * * * Accordingly, this court has refused to allow a conviction to be based solely on unsworn statements by witnesses * * *, or to permit such unsworn statements to be offered virtually for the purpose of using them as testimony. * * * And, to lessen the risk of the properly admitted prior inconsistent statement of a witness being considered by the jury as testimony, this court has required that the impeachment not be repetitious * * * and that the jury be clearly cautioned and instructed to limit its consideration of such evidence for its proper purpose. [Citations.]\u201d\nAs applied to the present case, we think the impeachment was proper. Shorter on direct examination had testified that he had never offered the name of James Johnson to the police, but that the name had been submitted by the investigating officers. He further testified that he had never told the police that James Johnson or Lawrence Coleman could be found at the County hospital. It was therefore proper to impeach the witness\u2019 credibility by introducing prior inconsistent statements relating to those matters. An objection to the prosecutor\u2019s question was correctly sustained for lack of a proper foundation. The matter was not further pursued at that time by the prosecutor, but was later supported by the rebuttal testimony of Officer Berti. We note that the impeachment was not repetitious, nor is there any indication that the trial court treated the statements as substantive evidence. Inasmuch as the record available to this court does not contain the instructions given below, and defendant does not raise the point of limiting instructions, we can only assume that the jury was properly instructed as to the limited use of such testimony. In light of these circumstances, we conclude that the impeachment was proper. People v. Neukom, 16 Ill.2d 340, 158 N.E.2d 53; People v. Moses, 11 Ill.2d 84,142 N.E.2d 1.\nDefendant next contends that the State introduced evidence which by implication connected defendant with prior crimes. We. are referred to the following testimony of investigator Elam:\n\u201cA.: We then went back to 11th and State and pulled more records to further \u2014 and at that time, we were successful in obtaining a name and photographs.\nQ.: What name did you obtain?\nA.: Lawrence Coleman.\u201d\nAlthough no objection was made at trial, defendant now asserts that the clear implication of this testimony is that the police department possessed records of defendant\u2019s other crimes, thus denying him a fair trial.\nSubject to exception, it is generally held that evidence of a distinct substantive offense, or evidence which tends to mislead or prejudice the jury, cannot be admitted in a prosecution for a different offense. (People v. Ciucci, 8 Ill.2d 619, 137 N.E.2d 40.) When the evidence of prior criminality is not direct, but merely inferential, the determinative issue is the probative and prejudicial effect of the nexus between the admitted and prior criminality. (See People v. Maffioli, 406 Ill. 315, 94 N.E.2d 191; People v. Purnell, 105 Ill.App.2d 419, 245 N.E.2d 635; People v. Ogden, 77 Ill.App.2d 312, 222 N.E.2d 329; compare People v. Hudson, 7 Ill.App.3d 333, 287 N.E.2d 297; People v. Hawkins, 4 Ill.App.3d 471, 281 N.E.2d 72; People v. Williams, 72 Ill.App.2d 96, 218 N.E.2d 771.) For example, although a prior criminal record may be inferred from the use of police photographs, their admission into evidence or testimony in reference thereto, is not error per se. (E.g., People v. Maffioli, supra.) In the present case, although we do not condone the reference to obtaining records and photographs at \u201c11th and State\u201d, we believe the use of that term did not constitute reversible error (People v. Ogden, supra.), particularly since defendant took no steps to have it excluded from the record, or to have the jury instructed to disregard it. People v. Burage, 23 Ill.2d 280, 178 N.E.2d 389.\nDefendant further assigns as error testimony implicating the defendant in an unrelated murder case. Edgar Shorter, testifying for the defense, and in response to a defense question, stated that the police were attempting to find Coleman \u201cfor murder.\u201d Defense counsel made no objection or appropriate motion. In rebuttal, the State mitigated the prejudicial effect of Shorter\u2019s testimony by explaining that Coleman had merely been mentioned as a suspect. The defense again made no objection.\nIn People v. Burage, 23 Ill.2d 280, 282,178 N.E.2d 389, the Illinois Supreme Court, in holding that no error could be assigned when the testimony of a State\u2019s witness, elicited by defense counsel, indicated that defendant had just \u201cgot out of the pen,\u201d stated:\n\u201cWhile it may be agreed that the reference to defendant\u2019s prior incarceration in the penitentiary was completely incompetent and irrelevant, the State is not responsible for questions asked by the attorney for the accused, and neither is it responsible for the answers to such questions by the State\u2019s witnesses. * * * If a defendant procures, invites or acquieses in the admission of evidence, even though it be improper, he cannot complain. * * * Furthermore, a trial court is not obligated to exclude improper evidence where a defendant makes no objection, does not move to exclude it or does not disclaim the answers. [Citations.]\u201d\nWe believe the Burage decision is decisive in the instant case, and therefore reject defendant\u2019s contention.\nFinally, defendant points out that his sentence of four to ten years does not comply with the Uniform Code of Corrections which is applicable to cases pending on appeal after January 1, 1973. (People v. Harvey, 53 Ill.2d 585, 294 N.E.2d 269). Under the Code robbery is a Class 2 felony (Ill. Rev. Stat., 1972 Supp., ch. 38, par. 18 \u2014 1(b)), and the Code provides that for Class 2 felonies, the minimum term should not be greater than one-third of the maximum term (Ill. Rev. Stat., 1972 Supp., ch. 38, par. 1005 \u2014 8\u20141(c) (3)). Accordingly, the minimum sentence of 4 years will be reduced to a term of 3 years and 4 months.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the sentence is modified as indicated and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.\nAffirmed; sentence modified.\nHAYES, P. J., and LEIGHTON, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. JUSTICE STAMOS" } ], "attorneys": [ "Paul Bradley, Deputy Defender, of Chicago (Howard B. Augustus, Assistant Appellate Defender, of counsel), for appellant.", "Bernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James' S. Veldman and Jonathan Gilbert, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "The People of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence Coleman (Impleaded), Defendant-Appellant.\n(No. 57475;\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nJanuary 29, 1974.\nPaul Bradley, Deputy Defender, of Chicago (Howard B. Augustus, Assistant Appellate Defender, of counsel), for appellant.\nBernard Carey, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (James' S. Veldman and Jonathan Gilbert, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0421-01", "first_page_order": 443, "last_page_order": 454 }