Rogers v. Van Eps

KeewiN, J. The case was submitted to the jury on a general verdict, and no exception is taken to the charge. The assignment of errors practically raises but two questions: (1) Whether prejudicial error was committed in the exclusion of evidence; and (2) Whether the evidence supports the verdict. The plaintiff was prosecuted on complaint of defendant for selling property covered by a chattel mortgage given by her to defendant. The prosecution resulted in acquittal of plaintiff, and the main question litigated was whether defendant fully and fairly stated the case to the district attorney who conducted the prosecution. The-law is well settled to the effect that, where one institutes a criminal prosecution upon the advice of counsel, he is bound to fully and fairly state the facts to counsel which constitute the alleged criminal charge. [398] Tbe criminal prosecution was based upon sec. 4467, Stats. (1898), wbicb provides: “Any person Having conveyed any personal property by mortgage, wbo shall, during tbe existence of tbe lien or title created by sucb mortgage, sell, transfer, conceal, remove or carry or drive away said property or any part thereof, or cause tbe same to be done, without tbe consent of tbe mortgagee or bis assigns and with tbe intent to defraud, shall be punished . . .” There is ample evidence to warrant the jury in finding that tbe property sold by plaintiff and covered by tbe mortgage was sold with tbe consent of defendant, and that this fact was not stated or made known to tbe district attorney by defendant. This question was fairly submitted to tbe jury. Tbe court told tbe jury in effect that if they found that defendant, before instituting tbe criminal proceedings against plaintiff, consulted tbe district attorney and gave him a full, fair, and truthful statement of all tbe facts and circumstances relating to tbe alleged offense wbicb were known to him and then acted upon tbe advice of tbe district attorney, their verdict should be for tbe defendant. The appellant makes tbe point that there was not sufficient proof of malice. We cannot agree with counsel in this contention. Tbe fact that there was evidence to tbe effect that a full and fair statement bad not been made to tbe district attorney and that there was not probable cause to believe tbe plaintiff guilty, was evidence of malice. There is also other evidence in tbe record from wbicb tbe jury would be justified in inferring malice. Tbe questions in tbe case were fairly jury questions upon disputed facts. Tbe jury resolved sucb questions adversely to appellant and tbe verdict is supported by tbe evidence. Error is assigned upon tbe ruling of tbe court sustaining objection to a question put to plaintiff as to what she did with cattle taken with her to Newald. Tbe main question. liti [399] •gated on tbe trial was whether the property covered by the mortgage was sold without the consent of defendant, and there is evidence that the defendant assented to the sale of all articles covered by the mortgage and sold by plaintiff. What "became of the cattle after defendant consented to the sale of them was immaterial. Moreover the question was answered later by the respondent and a full explanation made by her. We think no prejudicial error was committed. By the Court. — The judgment of the court below is affirmed.