State v. . Rights

Ashe, J. Larceny is a crime committed in secret, and the state in most cases is necessarily compelled to resort to circumstantial evidence to effect a .conviction of the thief. And the possession of the property shortly after the theft is the circumstance most usually relied upon. It is a general rule that whenever the property of one, which has been taken from him without his knowledge or consent, is found in the possession of another, it is encumbent on that other to prove how he came by it, otherwise the presumption is that he came by it feloniously. But in applying this rule, due attention must be paid to the circumstances by which such presumption may be weakened or strengthened, depending on the length of time intervening between the theft and the finding of the goods in the possession of the party accused. 2 Russell on Crimes, 195. Upon an indictment for stealing from a dwelling house, if the defendant were apprehended a few yards from the outer door with the stolen goods in his possession, it would be a violent presumption of his having stolen them. But if they'were found in his lodging sometime after the larceny and he refused to account for his possession of them, this, together with proof that they were actually stolen, would not amount to a violent presumption, *678 but to a probable presumption ; and if the property is not found in the possession of the defendant until months after, it is a light presumption and is entitled to no weight. Arch. Cr. Pl., 123. And when the possession is so. soon after the theft as to raise a probable presumption, it is a question to be submitted to the consideration of the jury. The defendants contend that the lapse of two weeks between the theft and the search when the goods were found, was too long to raise more than a light presumption of their guilt, and His Honor should so have instructed the jury. But we are of a different opinion. In the case of State v. Johnson, 1 Winst., 238, property proved to have been stolen was found in a house, occupied exclusively by the defendant and his wife, six weeks after the theft; it was held that such possession was evidence tending to prove the defendant’s guilt. And in the case of State v. Williams, 9 Ired., 140, Chief Justice Ruffin in delivering the opinion of the court said, the possession of a stolen thing is evidence to some extent against the possessor of a taking by him. Ordinarily it is stronger or weaker in proportion to the period intervening between the stealing and the finding in possession of the accused; and after the lapse of a considerable time before a possession is shown in the accused, the law does not infer his guilt, but leaves that question to the jury under the consideration of all the circumstances. In that case (Wil liams’)there were twenty days between the loss of'the property and the finding it in the possession of the prisoner. Upon these authorities'there was no error in the charge of the court to the jury. It was in full accord with the principles enunciated by them ; and His Honor laid down the law with great accuracy and precision. He could not have given the instructions asked for because they were not warranted by the facts of the case. There is no error. Let this be certified, &c. Per Curiam:. No error.