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Brief Fact Summary. The Defendant, Topolewski (Defendant), was charged with having stolen three barrels of meat from the Plankinton Packing Company, valued at $55.20 and was found guilty.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. Where the owner of property, by himself or his agent, actually or constructively, aids in the commission of the offense, as intended by the wrongdoer, by performing or rendering unnecessary some act in the transaction essential to the offense, the would-be criminal is not guilty of all of the elements of the offense.
On the trial of a person for a particular offense, evidence tending to prove that he has committed other distinct offenses is incompetent and generally prejudicial.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Can a charge of larceny be sustained were goods were taken and carried away through the assistance of the legal owner of the stolen goods?
Held. The charge of larceny against the Defendant cannot stand. If one procures his property to be taken by another intending to commit larceny, or delivers his property to such other, the latter proposing to commit such crime, the element of trespass is wanting and the crime not fully consummated however plain may be the guilty purpose of the one possessing himself of such property.
Discussion. The court held that this case was very near the border line between consent and non-consent to the taking of property. However, the actions of Dolan and Layer eliminated the element of trespass. The court held that the Defendant would have been guilty had the company merely provided an improved opportunity to steal the barrels of meat himself. However, Dolan and Layer did much more than provide an opportunity. The barrels of meat were placed in the platform loading area. Further, the platform boss was told to let the barrels of meat go to an individual who would be picking them up. Dolan and Layer more than improved the opportunity for the Defendant to take the barrels of meat and as a result, eliminated the element of trespass necessary for a charge of larceny to stand.