Commonwealth v. Stevenson

An indictment on the Gen. Sts. c. 161, § 54, alleged that the defendant, to induce M to sign a lease to C., falsely represented that C. was a liquor-dealer doing busi ness as such in B.; that C. was a man worth ten thousand dollars; and that a certain person whom the defendant pointed out to M. was C. Held, that the first allegation was of a representation of a material fact; that the second was not; and semble that the third was not. It is no ground for quashing an indictment on the Gen. Sts. c. 161, § 54, that it contains some immaterial allegations, or that some one of the pretences charged is not properly charged, if upon its face there is an offence stated with propel precision and formality. It is no objection to an indictment on the Gen. Sts. c. 161, § 54, charging the defendant with inducing another to sign a lease by means of false pretences, that the false pretences are not alleged to have been in writing. An indictment on the Gen. Sts. c. 161, § 54, charging that the defendant falsely represented to A. that he had then and there in his possession a check for the payment of money drawn by him in favor of A., from the proceeds of which he intended to pay certain bills due from A. to other persons, does not set out a false pretence within the statute. At the trial of an indictment on the Gen. Sts. c. 161, § 54, charging the defendant with defrauding A. by means of false pretences, a record of a proceeding for divorce, in which A. was a party and in which the jury found that A. had committed adultery, is not admissible to affect the credibility of A. as a witness.

Indictment on the Gen. S.ts, c. 161, § 54, in two counts. The first count charged that the defendant on June 8, 1877, at Boston, “with intent to cheat and defraud one Eliza D. Mayo, and with the view and intent to obtain the signature of said Mayo to a certain written instrument and lease hereinafter described, and to induce the said Mayó to lease, demise and let then and there, to one T. F. Conlin, under and according to the provisions of said instrument, the dwelling-house belonging to said Mayo, situate and numbered two on Dover Street in said Boston, did then and there, unlawfully, knowingly and designedly, falsely pretend and represent to said Mayo, that said T. F. Conlin was then and there a liquor-dealer, then doing business as such dealer in Broad Street in said Boston, and that said Conlin was then and there a man worth ten thousand dollars, and that a certain person whom the said Stevenson then and there pointed out and designated to said Mayo was then and there the said T. F. Conlin. And the said Stevenson then and there asked and requested the said Mayo to then and there put and sign the name and signature of her, the said Mayo, to the said written instrument and lease. And the said Mayo, then and there believing the said false pretences and representations, sc made as aforesaid by the said Stevenson, and being deceived thereby, was induced, by reason of the false pretences and representations, so made as aforesaid, to put and sign, and did then and there put and sign, the name and signature of her, the said Mayo, to the said written instrument and lease, the false making whereof would be punishable as forgery, and to deliver, and did then and there deliver, to the said person so as aforesaid designated by the said Stevenson to be the said T. F. Conlin, the said written instrument and lease, with the signature of the said Mayo, so as aforesaid obtained and affixed thereto. And the said Stevenson did then and there receive and obtain the said signature of the said Mayo to the said written instrument and lease by means of the false pretences and representations aforesaid, and with intent to cheat and defraud the said Mayo.” The count also set forth the lease; negatived the truth of the representations ; and concluded in the usual manner. The second count charged that the defendant, on June 8,1877, at Boston, “ with intent to cheat and defraud, did then and there, unlawfully, knowingly and designedly, falsely pretend and represent to one Eliza D. Mayo that he, said Stevenson, then and there had in his possession a check and order for the payment of money, for a large sum of money, to wit, the sum of thirteen hundred and forty-three dollars; that said check was then and there drawn to the credit of her, said Mayo, by him, said Stevenson ; that said Stevenson then intended to immediately pay with the proceeds of said check, for her, said Mayo, certain bills then due, and to be paid from her, said Mayo, to wit ” (setting forth the bills); that “ said Stevenson then and there asked and requested said Mayo to sign, seal and deliver to him, said Stevenson, among other papers, a certain instrument, to wit, a deed of the tenor following” (setting it forth). And the said Mayo, then and there believing the said false pretences and representations so made as aforesaid by him, the said Stevenson, to be true, and being deceived thereby, was induced, by reason of the false pretences and representations, so made as aforesaid, to sign, seal and deliver, and did then and there sign, seal and deliver, to the said Stevenson, said deed hereinbefore set forth. And the said Stevenson did then and there receive and obtain said signature of the said Mayo to said deed, by means of the false pretences and representations aforesaid, and with intent to cheat and defraud.” The indictment then negatived the truth of the representations ; and concluded in the usual manner. In the Superior Court, before the jury were empanelled, the defendant moved to quash the indictment for reasons which sufficiently appear in the opinion. Aldrich, J., overruled the motion. The defendant was then tried; and at the trial offered in evi dence, for the purpose of affecting the credibility of Eliza D. Mayo as a witness, the record of a proceeding for divorce in the Supreme Judicial Court, in which she was found by the jury to have committed adultery with James M. Huse. The judge excluded the evidence. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts; and the defendant alleged exceptions.