People v. Downing

Appellants, together with one F. H. Mc-Cann, were accused in an indictment of conspiracy to take property of another through false pretenses and representations. The co-defendant, McCann, was not apprehended and the case proceeded to trial against the two appellants upon their pleas of not guilty. When the evidence of the prosecution was closed a motion was made to advise the jury to acquit on the ground that the charge was not proven. The motion was denied. After a full trial defendants were convicted. Motion for new trial was made and denied. Motion for probation followed. The court granted this motion to each appellant, the probation of Palen being for five years upon condition that he serve a term of six months in the county jail and make restitution, the probation of Downing being for five years upon condition that he serve a term of one year in the county jail and make restitution. Notice of appeal was thereupon given, the appeal being taken from the final judgment and the order denying the motion for a new trial.

It is the claim of respondent that in view of the trial court having granted probation, there has been no final judgment rendered against appellants and therefore any attempted

Prom the facts it appears that appellant Downing is a licensed broker engaged in the sale of business enterprises. In November, 1934, one Austin M. Huffman visited Downing ’s office with reference to the purchase of some character of business. Downing informed him appellant Palen and one McCann owned a certain garage as co-partners and that Mc-Cann was withdrawing from the co-partnership for the reason that he desired to resume his business of mining engineer; that the business was clearing $300 a month and was selling 3,000 gallons of gas during such period; that the storage of automobiles and gasoline sales took care of the overhead, including the rent, leaving a net profit for all repairs made. Huffman, the prosecuting witness, went to see the garage and there met appellant Palen, who showed Huffman over the premises and repeated to him practically the same statements made by Downing. He represented that the place was selling about 3,000 gallons of gasoline a month and that the car storage and sale of gas paid the overhead, and one-half share of the profits for repairs should be from $150 to $200 a month. He also informed him that if he was not a mechanic or mechanically inclined he did not want him as a partner. Huffman, after inspecting the premises, expressed himself as being satisfied. A few days later the parties met in appellant Downing’s office and a contract was prepared by which Huffman agreed to make the purchase of the one-half interest for the sum of $750, $300 to be paid in cash, the balance out of the profits of the business.

Appellant Downing then informed Huffman before he paid his money he wanted him to fully understand that he was making the purchase after investigating the proposition for himself, and that he should not rely upon any statements made to him by himself or any other person. Huffman admitted

The alleged false pretenses charged in the indictment arc in substance as follows: that the Park-Presidio Garage was owned and operated by Palen and McCann as co-partners; that it was earning $300 profit a month; that it was sold for $750 upon terms requiring a $300 down payment and the balance in monthly installments; that the garage revenues from the sale of gasoline and storage were sufficient to pay overhead expenses; that Palen kept a complete set of books, for the garage, showing collections and disbursements.

Primarily it may be stated that in a prosecution of this character the representations to be indictable must be of a past event or an existing fact. No representation of a future event, whether in the form of a promise or an opinion, can be a criminal pretense. The mere expression of opinion or a representation of an act to be performed in the future does not constitute the offense. (People v. Walker, 76 Cal. App. 192 [ 244 Pac. 94 ]; People v. Moore, 82 Cal. App. 739 [ 256 Pac. 266 ].) The only statements here made that come within the rule arc those which refer to past profits, and those, referring to the sale of gasoline and the storage of cars. With reference to the past earnings of the business, the record is silent, no attempt having been made to show •what business had been done or what profits had been enjoyed. With reference to the amount of sales of gasoline, the prosecuting -witness admitted that the statements were true. No evidence whatever was introduced as to the amount received from the storage or repair of ears, or what the overhead expenses amounted to at any time, except that certain repairs had been made to cars while the prosecuting -witness wras a partner, and the amount charged to the oumers. It thus ap

The order denying defendants’ motion for a new trial is reversed.

Knight, J., and Cashin, J., concurred.