People v. Freeman

The defendant claimed to have discovered a process for the manufacture of synthetic camphor from turpentine. He had a laboratory at- Rutherford, N. J., in which he had installed a partial plant and some apparatus for the carrying on of the experimental work. Parke, Davis & Co. were manufacturing chemists in Detroit, Mich. Mr. Herbert Turrell was the New York agent of Parke, Davis & Co., and department manager of their New York branch, and had been associated with the company for upwards of 20 years. In the latter part of September or early October, 1904, Mr. Turrell, accompanied by Mr. Smedley, the treasurer of the company, and Mr. Macintosh, who introduced them to the defendant, at the defendant’s request visited his laboratory. The defendant stated that he was arranging to place a plant in the building for the manufacture of camphor, and exhibited certain drawings and apparatus. He stated that he had taken spirits of turpentine and from such spirits he got 50 to 80 per cent, artificial camphor; that camphor so produced would cost about 18 cents per pound; that he had spent a great deal of time and thought on the subject and spent considerable money in the experimental work; that he was ready to go ahead and produce 400 or 500 pounds of camphor per day at a price not exceeding 20 cents per pound. He said:

“I need help; but, if X do not get it from Parke, Davis & Co. or other houses, I will go ahead alone in some way and produce camphor."

Mr. Smedley asked the defendant how much it would take to complete the experiment so that camphor could be produced in commercial quantities, and the defendant stated various sums from $8,000 to $14,-000-, The defendant then asked Smedley to bring to his laboratory whoever he cared to to watch the building and see that he produced camphor from spirits of turpentine, and that then he would be ready to make some contract with Parke, Davis & Co., naming Powers & Whitman and Parke, Davis & Co. as the only firms that he would contract with in this country. Subsequently, about the last week in October, Mr. Smedley and Mr. Turrell and two chemists went to the defendant’s Rutherford laboratory with a package of spirits of turpentine, which was handed to the defendant, who asked them to go into a small room, see what was there, and move the vessels and the materials and the drugs that were on the shelves. One of the chemists asked the privilege of staying with the defendant in the small room 'while the camphor was made, but the defendant said that he could not do so, but that they could hand him the turpentine, and that he must be left alone and would produce camphor. They remained all day, and about 6 o’clock in the evening the defendant came from the small room with a quantity of the so-called camphor, possibly half a pound,'stating that the yield, was not so good that day from the quantity given him' as it had been on other occasions. The head chemist of Parke-,. Davis & Co. reported against the method, but in spite of the adverse report Parke-, -Davis & Co-, and the defendant entered into á Written.

“Whereas said second party believes he has made certain new and useful discoveries in chemistry especially relating to terpenes proper, and a process-of winning from the American commercial turpentine a product substantially camphor, equal to the samples submitted and complying with the requirements-of the United States Pharmacopoeia ; * * * and whereas said second party desires the assistance of said first party in perfecting and commercially developing said discoveries: * * * The party of the first part hereby agrees-to pay the cost of the apparatus and supplies necessary to demonstrate for a product substantially camphor, as above specified, can be commercially derived from American Turpentine, which cost it is hereby agreed shall not be-more than $15,000, and which apparatus said second party hereby agrees will be capable of producing 400 pounds of the product per day. * » * Respecting the cost of apparatus, etc., and as provided in paragraph numbered first in this agreement, it is hereby mutually understood and agreed between the-parties hereto that $7,500 shall be paid by said first party to said second party as soon after the execution of this agreement as said second party shall convey to said first party an undivided three-fourths interest in the apparatus,, appurtenances, etc., by proper deed or bill of sale duly recorded, and the balance of such cost within the limit stipulated in said paragraph numbered first to be paid from time to time as the bills accrue.”

Thereafter a bill of sale from the defendant to Parke, Davis & Co, was executed and delivered, dated November-, 1904, acknowledged November 16, 1904, and recorded on December 2, 1904, transferring an undivided three-fourths interest in certain chattels described as being in Rutherford, N. J., in conformity with the agreement tc> give such bill of sale set forth in the first paragraph of the contract of November 10th. On November 12, 1904, Parke, Davis & Co, paid to the defendant $2,000, and on November 21, 1904, $5,500, making the $7,500 agreed to be paid upon the execution of the bill of sale. In short, the agreement was to pay $7,500 for a three-fourths interest in the apparatus and supplies necessary to demonstrate for a product substantially camphor capable of producing 400 pounds per day and to pay for the labor and materials necessary which cost, including the $7,500 paid, should not exceed $15,000. By the end of February, 1905,. Parke, Davis & Co. had paid practically the full sum of $15,000. The defendant was indicted and has been convicted of obtaining $2,250' from Parke, Davis & Co. upon the false and fraudulent representations that he had purchased from a certain corporation called Baker & Co., Incorporated, a quantity of platinum, to wit, 1,019 ounces, 9 pennyweights, and 7 grains, and that he had paid the said corporation $2,250 in part payment thereof.

The people offered in evidence a typewritten memorandum entitled,. “Report ending November 30, 1904,” which embraced various items of labor and material, which was claimed to have been made out and delivered to Mr. Turrell who had charge for Parke, Davis & Co. of its transactions with the defendant as he was notified by letter dated November 18, 1904, in which, among other things, the company said:

“We have decided that Mr. Turrell shall represent us in checking up, etc., and anything pertaining to payment of bills, etc. You will please communicate' with him at once as he has instructions to take care of them promptly.”

Upon this memorandum appears, among the other items checked' by Turrell with his initials, “November 23, paid on account of materi

Two questions were sharply presented upon the trial of this case. First, did the defendant represent that he had purchased platinum for the purpose of conducting this experimental work and pay therefor the sum of $2,250, and upon such representation, admittedly false if 'made, receive said sum from Parke, Davis & Co.; and, second, were the checks which he conceded to have received delivered at Rutherford, N. J., or were they delivered and received in the county of New York? It would serve no useful purpose to analyze the testimony. Both questions were questions of fact. There was a sharp conflict between the people’s witness Turrell and the defendant who took the stand in-his own behalf. It was for the jury to decide which witness was to be believed. There was evidence from which the jury could have found that the defendant was receiving payment for the same items from another concern for many of his expenditures without the knowledge of Parke, Davis & Co. His own statements, both on and off the stand, which were in evidence, were before the jury. An attorney testified that the defendant had stated to him that he had bought $2,-.500 worth of platinum from Baker & Co., Newark. This testimony, corroborative of the people’s claim, was of great force in supporting the evidence of Turrell, and is challenged by the defense upon the ground that at the time of the statement made to the attorney by the defendant said attorney was representing the defendant, and the evidence was therefore inadmissible as a disclosure of confidential communications. We are satisfied that at the time when the statement was made by the defendant to the attorney said attorney was representing other parties, and had no professional relations with the defendant, and therefore the admission of his testimony was not error.

We are of opinion, upon examination of the whole case, that no error prejudicial to the defendant was committed, and that the verdict of the jury is supported by the evidence, and that the judgment should be affirmed.

There is also brought up for review an order denying a motion for a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence. We have