{ "id": 8841407, "name": "STATE v. CRAIG", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Craig", "decision_date": "1922-04-12", "docket_number": "No. 2676", "first_page": "110", "last_page": "113", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "28 N.M. 110" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "180 Pac. 286", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "25 N. M. 228", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 4732533 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/25/0228-01" ] }, { "cite": "103 Pac. 984", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "15 N. M. 229", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "167 Pac. 283", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "23 N. M. 77", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2398535 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/23/0077-01" ] }, { "cite": "153 Pac. 1034", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "21 N. M. 207", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2386487 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/21/0207-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 Pac. 491", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "17 N. M. 484", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 208849 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/17/0484-01" ] }, { "cite": "106 Pac. 378", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "15 N. M. 240", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 206013 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/15/0240-01" ] }, { "cite": "98 Pac 167", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "14 N. M. 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 204484 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/14/0535-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 326, "char_count": 5104, "ocr_confidence": 0.53, "pagerank": { "raw": 8.507179480523219e-08, "percentile": 0.4867028927169113 }, "sha256": "44de97ba57561abd26f1e5cfdcfd40a5ac7acbc225d727ef47df9f8a27149576", "simhash": "1:8f8d14575c9a53db", "word_count": 887 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:04:11.800263+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "RAYNOLDS, C. J., and'Leib, District Judge, concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE v. CRAIG" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION OP THE COURT\nPARKER, J.\nJohn T. Craig was convicted of larceny of neat cattle and appeals. The evidence of the state showed that the appellant, on three or four separate occasions, drove a number of young calves from the Venable and Koenig pastures, in S.an Miguel county, to the Webber pasture, in Mora county. The calves were then placed in a corral at the Webber ranch, and several days later were branded by appellant with A slash brand and then turned into the open pasture. The foreman of the grand jury which preferred the indictment testified that the grand jury endeavored without success to ascertain the names of the owners of the calves. It appeared that most of the calves were unbranded before they were driven to the Webber corral.\n\u25a0The question arises as to the sufficiency of that proof to sustain the conviction. At the close of the state\u2019s case the appellant moved for a directed verdict. The trial court said:\n\"The evidence as to that motion is as follows: That John T. Craig did drive or cause to be driven some few head of unbranded calves from the county of San Miguel over into the county of Mora and there branded them. There is a circumstance \u2014 young calves, unbranded. Slight, it is true, but it is really a question for the jury to determine \u2014 the suffi-cency of the evidence \u2014 and not the court. The court cannot weigh the evidence. If there is any substantial evidence to support a verdict, it is the duty of the court to let the jury determine. There is a circumstance.\u201d\nIn Territory v. Caldwell, 14 N. M. 535, 98 Pac 167, the evidence showed that the appellant was found in the possession of a calf, of the property of Benevides, freshly branded in appellant\u2019s brand. The appellant had been seen driving a number of bawling calves on the public road, the calves having been recently separated from their mothers. Other incriminating circumstances appeared. The evidence was held sufficient.\nIn Territory v. Leslie, 15 N. M. 240, 106 Pac. 378, the evidence showed that the appellants drove some cattle belonging to a corporation into tlieir slaughterhouse, and butchered them. This was held to be sufficient to sustain the conviction.\nIn State v. Lucero, 17 N. M. 484, 131 Pac. 491, it was held that the evidence was sufficient, and that the court \u201ccannot be called upon to exercise the functions of a jury.\"\nIn State v. Sakariason, 21 N. M. 207, 153 Pac. 1034, proof of the corpus delicti was said to consist in showing that a criminal act has been \u2019 committed, and that the appellant committed it, and that this may be shown circumstantially. The evidence in that case showed that the appellants were found in the possession of freshly killed beef, that their conduct was suspicious, and that they prevented inspection of the beef by drawn weapons. The evidence was held to be sufficient to sustain the conviction.\nIn State v. Cason, 23 N. M. 77, 167 Pac. 283, the defendants were found in the possession of cattle of others upon which the brands had been defaced. This was held sufficient, the court citing Territory v. Valles, 15 N. M. 229, 103 Pac. 984, wherein it was held that evidence establishing the identity of the mule, its ownership by the prosecuting witness, and the possession thereof by the defendant made a prima facie case of guilt.\nIn State v. Jaramillo, 25 N. M. 228, 180 Pac. 286, it was held that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to support a conviction for the larceny of neat cattle, and where such evidence is substantial the court will not attempt to weigh it.\nEach case, it will be seen, turns upon the particular facts of the case. Here we simply have the fact of driving cattle, unbranded, from one county to another. The mere fact of driving unbranded calves from one place to another and there later branding them is not of itself sufficient to prove larceny. In eases of this nature some fact or circumstance of an inculpatory nature is usually shown to characterize the act as unlawful. Here there are no such facts or circumstances. No criminal act was shown nor any facts from which a criminal act could be inferred. The state\u2019s evidence was as consistent with appellant\u2019s innocence as with his guilt. The judgment therefore will be reversed, with instruction's to set aside the judgment, dismiss the cause, and discharge the appellant; and it is so ordered.\nRAYNOLDS, C. J., and'Leib, District Judge, concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PARKER, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Geo. H. Hunker, M. E. Noble, Chester Hunker, and C. W. G. Ward, all of East Las Vegas, for appellant.", "H. S. Bowman, Atty. Gen., and A. M. Edwards, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "[No. 2676.\nApril 12, 1922.]\nSTATE v. CRAIG\nSYLLABUS BY THE COURT\n(1). Where there is no substantial evidence of the corpus delicti, the verdict will he set aside on appeal. P. 112\n(2) In prosecution for larceny of neat cattle, evidence that defendant drove unbranded cattle from one county to another and there branded them held insufficient to sustain conviction. P. 112\nAppeal from District Court, San Miguel County; Leahy, Judge.\nJohn T. Craig was convicted of larceny of neat cattle, and he appeals.\nReversed, with instructions.\nGeo. H. Hunker, M. E. Noble, Chester Hunker, and C. W. G. Ward, all of East Las Vegas, for appellant.\nH. S. Bowman, Atty. Gen., and A. M. Edwards, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State." }, "file_name": "0110-01", "first_page_order": 136, "last_page_order": 139 }