Opinion
41129.
DECIDED JANUARY 20, 1965.
Larceny from house. Lumpkin Superior Court. Before Judge Smith.
C. Winfred Smith, for plaintiff in error.
Jeff C. Wayne, Solicitor General, Frank Strickland, Jr., contra.
1. Intent to steal is an essential element of the crime of larceny from the house, and the jury was properly instructed that in the absence of finding such intent it could not find that larceny occurred.
2. In a prosecution for larceny the recent possession of the stolen property not satisfactorily explained will authorize a conviction.
DECIDED JANUARY 20, 1965.
The defendant was convicted of larceny form the house under an indictment charging him with burglary. The evidence on the trial of the case showed that the defendant was found in possession of the property (a rifle) allegedly stolen and, according to the sheriff who apprehended him, that he claimed it as his own. The defendant in his unsworn statement admitted that the rifle was not his and stated that he had no intention of stealing it. Other evidence showed that the house from which the rifle was taken belonged to the defendant's aunt, that defendant had permission to enter such house at any time and that the rifle belonged to the home owner's husband. There was no evidence that the defendant had permission to take the rifle from his aunt's home. The defendant's motion for new trial as amended was overruled and error is assigned on such judgment adverse to the defendant.
1. The sole special ground of the amended motion for new trial not abandoned by the defendant assigns error on the failure of the trial court to charge specifically "that intent to steal is an essential element of the crime of larceny from the house."
The trial court charged, with reference to larceny and in connection with the charge on burglary: "Now, if you find that the property described in the indictment was taken from its lawful owner or the person in custody of the same, but that it was taken by the defendant not with the intent to steal, but under a genuine and bona fide claim of right, you could not find that larceny occurred. There can be no larceny without the intent to steal and there can be no such intent where the taking is under a fair, honest bona fide claim of right. However, if you should find that the defendant found the goods alleged to have been stolen, took them and appropriated them to his own use, with intent to steal the same, with knowledge that the goods belonged to someone else and without making reasonable inquiry from the owner or person in custody of the goods, then you would be authorized to find that a larceny occurred. Whether any property was taken and whether it was taken with the intent to steal and without the consent of the owner or person in custody of the same are questions for you to decide under all the facts and circumstances of the case," and in connection with the charge on larceny from the house instructed the jury that the instructions with reference to larceny "which involves the taking and carrying away of the personal goods of another with the intent to steal the same" were also applicable to the charge on larceny from the house.
The jury was properly instructed to determine the question of the defendant's intent, and the charge given met the requirement set forth in Glaze v. State, 2 Ga. App. 704 (3) ( 58 S.E. 1126), relied upon by the defendant and there was no failure to charge on such issue as was the case in McKuhen v. State, 102 Ga. App. 75 (1) ( 115 S.E.2d 625). The sole special ground of the motion for new trial not abandoned shows no reversible error.
2. The evidence showed that the defendant was found in possession of the stolen rifle within a few hours of the time it was allegedly stolen and the question of whether such possession was satisfactorily explained was a question for the jury. See Blackwell v. State, 99 Ga. App. 579 ( 109 S.E.2d 62). The trial court did not err in overruling the motion for new trial for any reason assigned.
Judgment affirmed. Eberhardt and Pannell, JJ., concur.