State v. . Goffney

BkowN, J. 1. Tbe defendant moved in arrest of judgment becairse tbe word felonious is not charged in tbe bill. Tbe charge is that defendant did break and enter (otherwise than by burglarious breaking) tbe storeroom and bouse of George Barnes and Joe Barnes, partners, etc., with intent to commit a felony, to wit, with intent tbe goods, etc., of said Barnes Bros., etc., feloniously to steal, etc. Tbe defendant attacks tbe bill of indictment for tbe reason that it does not allege that tbe breaking and entering into tbe storeroom was feloniously done. We think this exception is without merit. Tbe indictment alleges that tbe defendant did break and enter with intent to commit a felony. We are unable to draw any distinction between tbe words unlawfully breaking and entering with tbe intent to commit a felony, and tbe words unlawfully and.felo-niously breaking and entering with tbe intent to commit a felony. Using tbe word felonious as it is used in tbe indictment defines the offense as accurately as if it were repeated. In other words, if one breaks into a bouse with intent to commit a felony, be feloniously breaks into tbe bouse. Tbe indictment follows tbe wording of tbe statute. An indictment like tbe one at bar in this respect was held good in tbe ease of S. v. Tytus, 98 N. C., 705; see, also, S. v. Staton, 133 N. C., 643. 2. It is contended by tbe learned counsel for defendant in a well-prepared brief that upon tbe State’s evidence no crime has been committed, and with this position we fully agree. There were only two witnesses examined. Barnes, tbe prosecutor and owner of tbe storehouse, testified: “I know the defendant, have known him for four years. He has been in my employ for several years, during which time I found him honest; be assisted me in my store and business a portion of tbe time. In consequence of statements made to me by Richard Farmer, a *626 negro boy in my employ, I instructed Richard to induce defendant to break in my store. On the night of 7 July, Policeman Wynne, myself, and others watched the store, and about 12 o’clock we saw the defendant, Sylvester Goffney, and Richard Farmer go to the store, and saw defendant Goffney remove tacks holding a windowpane and remove the window and enter the store. Richard Farmer immediately afterwards also entered the store through the same window. Policeman Wynne, myself, and others who were watching the store, after firing pistols, entered the store and arrested the defendant Goffney, and required said Farmer to accompany us.” The only other witness corroborated Barnes. It is held in this State and elsewhere that larceny cannot be committed when the owner through his agent consents to the taking and asportation, though such consent is given for the purpose of apprehending the felon. S. v. Adams, 115 N. C., 775. In that case it is said: “Although the intent to steal certain property is formed and carried out, the perpetrator is not guilty of larceny if he has been persuaded by a servant of the owner, at the latter’s instance, to commit the theft.” In the opinion Jir. Justice Qlarle well says: “The object of the law is to prevent larceny by punishing it, not to procure the commission of a larceny that the defendant may be punished.” In the case at bar it appears that Barnes, the owner of the building entered, directed his servant Richard Farmer to induce the defendant to break in his (Barnes’) store; that the servant obeyed his orders, and that he and defendant entered the store together, and that Barnes was present 'watching them, and arrested defendant after he entered. If it were possible to hold the defendant guilty of a felony under such circumstances, then Barnes could be likewise convicted of feloniously breaking and entering his own store, for he was present aiding and abetting the entry of the defendant and induced him to enter. That would of course be a legal absurdity. Mr. Desty says: “Where the owner was apprised of the proposed burglary, and his servant, procuring the keys from his master, accompanied the burglar, and entered the premises, *627 ‘there could be no conviction.” Desty’s Am. Grim. Law, p. 486. See, also, Wharton’s Grim. Law (9 Ed.), secs. 915, 766-770; Reg. v. Johnson, Car. and M., 218; Allen v. State, 40 Ala., 334 (1 Am. Dec., 476); People v. Collins, 53 Cal., 185; Mace v. State, 9 Tex. App., 110; Speiden v. State, 3 Tex. App., 156; 30 Am. Rep., 126; Williams v. State, 55 Ga., 391; 2 Russell (9 Ed.), 10; 3 Am. and Eng. Enc. Law, 662; 1 Bishop Crim. Law (4th Ed.), 570. In Love v. People, reported in 32 L. R. A., 139, the building of one Hoag was entered by Robinson, Love, and others. Robinson was a hired detective, but posed among the others as one of them, and entered the building with the others. Robinson entered the building with the consent of Hoag. The Court held that Robinson having entered with the consent of the owner, committed no burglary, and that no burglary was committed, because of the absence of felonious intent. The defendants Love and others could not have 'been accomplices or privy to a burglary, because none was committed. Love v. People, 32 L. R. A., 139 ; many cases cited. In Reg. v. Johnson, Car. and M., 218, where a servant, after having been approached to aid in robbing his master’s house, pretended to consent, and then informed the police, who told him to proceed; he then went out and found the defendants and took them to the house of his master, letting them in through the door, it was held Jjiat they could not be convicted of burglary. In the case of Speiden v. State, 3 Texas App., 30 Am. Rep., 136, the' defendant was indicted for burglary by breaking into a bank with intent to commit larceny. The Court says: “In the case at bar the detectives cannot be considered in any other light than as the servants and agents of the bankers, Adams & Leonard. They (the detectives) had the legal occupancy and control of the bank. Two of them made arrangements with the defendants to enter it, and defendant when arrested had entered the bank at the solicitation of these detectives, who were 'rightfully in possession, with the consent of the owners. This cannot be burglary in contemplation of law, however much the defendant was guilty in purpose and intent.” *628 It is said in Cyc., p. 181: “There is no burglary where the occupant of a house, or his servant or agent by his direction, or a public officer or detective with his consent . . . takes active steps to aid the suspect or to induce him to enter, although this may be done for the purpose of apprehending and prosecuting him, and although he may intend to commit a felony in the house.” 6 Cyc., 181. We recognize the principles laid down in S. v. Smith, 152 N. C., 798, but there is an obvious distinction between that case and this. In that case it is properly held that the fact that a party was deceived into a violation of the liquor laws of the State by a detective will not be a justification. In the case at bar the owner himself gave permission for the defendant to enter, which destroyed the criminal feature and made the entry a lawful one. Upon the facts in evidence no crime was committed, because the entry was with the consent -and at the instance of the owner of the property.' His Honor should have' directed a verdict of not guilty. Eeversed and the proceeding Dismissed.