Deese v. State

Buford, J. In this case the defendant was convicted under an information charging him with the offense of unlawfully and feloniously designedly by false pretense and by privy and false token and with intent to defraud and obtain from one J. R: Hayes certain personal property describing the property of the value of $5.30 of the property of said J. R. Hayes. The record shows that Hayes operated a store where he ■sold general merchandise; that Deese, the accused, traded -with Hayes on credit; that he, Deese, owed Hayes some money (the amount is uncertain as neither party appeared to be able to tell exactly what Deese owed). At any rate, *584 while Deese was considerably in debt to Hayes, Hayes requested Deese to give him a mortgage to secure the account and further advances. The evidence ' is conflicting as to whether Deese procured the merchandise described in the information from Hayes at the time he delivered the mortgage. The record shows, however, that the mortgage was to secure the payment of the sum of $40.00. On the examination of Flayes as a witness in behalf of the State he was asked this' question: “As a matter of fact, didn’t he owe you at the time the mortgage was made $39.00 and you took the mortgage for $40.00?” To which he answered, “I do not think it would run that high; I do not know the exact amount.” The record also shows that Deese had paid $12.05 on account after the mortgaage was made. Deese and other witnesses testified that Deese did own two steers like those described in the mortgage at the time the mortgage was made. Deese claimed that he delivered one of the steers to Flayes and that the other one died. Hayes testified that Deese did not deliver any steers to him but reported that both of them had died. This reminds the writer of once having heard one of the most prominent merchants of West Florida say that he apprehended that the application of a chattel mortgage would kill the best herd of range cattle in Jackson County within ninety days. The record also shows that Hayes continued to credit Deese for merchandise after he learned that the property embraced in the chattel mortgage was not available. We think that the evidence entirely failed to establish an essential element of the offense charged, to-wit, the intent to defraud, for which reason the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded for new trial. It is so ordered. *585 Whitfield, Terrell, Davis, and Brown, J. J., concur..