People v. Burroughs

• Decision Date: 21 February 1962
• Docket Number: Cr. 7785
• Citation: 19 Cal.Rptr. 344,200 Cal.App.2d 629
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. James BURROUGHS, Defendant and Appellant.

Page 344

19 Cal.Rptr. 344

200 Cal.App.2d 629

The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. James BURROUGHS, Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 7785.

District Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 4, California.

Feb. 21, 1962.

James Burroughs, in pro. per.

Stanley Mosk, Atty. Gen., Elizabeth Miller and Mario A. Roberti, Deputy Attys. Gen., for respondent.

BURKE, Presiding Justice.

Defendant James Burroughs was charged by an information filed by the District Attorney of Los Angeles County accusing him of the crime of rape in violation of section 261, subdivision 4, of the Penal Code, and alleging prior felony convictions of grand theft on April 21, 1952, and assault with a deadly weapon on March 27, 1953. Defendant pleaded not guilty and denied the prior convictions. Defendant, personally, and all counsel waived trial by jury. The cause was submitted on the testimony contained in the transcript of the preliminary hearing with each side reserving the right to offer additional evidence.

At the commencement of the trial the judge directed that the record show that pursuant to the stipulation he had read the transcript of the testimony taken at the preliminary hearing. Additional evidence offered at the trial consisted of the testimony of two witnesses for the People. Defendant testified in his own behalf and the prosecuting witness was recalled and testified in rebuttal. Defendant was found guilty.

A probation report was ordered. Defendant's motion for a new trial was denied. The prior convictions were found true. Probation was denied and defendant was sentenced to state prison for the term prescribed by law.

Defendant petitioned this court for the appointment of counsel to represent him on the appeal. This court, having made an independent investigation of the record and having determined that it would be neither advantageous to defendant nor helpful to the court to have counsel appointed, denied the application, whereupon defendant prosecutes this appeal in propria persona.

Defendant and Justin G. Scott visited the home of Jeanette Taylor and her husband on Christmas Eve 1960. Mrs. Taylor was cleaning the house when the two persons arrived. Her husband had left at seven o'clock that morning. Scott and Matthew Jones, a roomer with the Taylors, left the house, taking two of Mrs. Taylor's children with them. The third child was left outside of the house. Mrs. Taylor was cleaning her children's bedroom and defendant was in the living room. Mrs. Taylor testified that defendant went to the back of the house where she was cleaning and kept bothering her. He wanted to mop and to sweep but Mrs. Taylor insisted that she didn't need any help. The last time he went back he grabbed the broom from her. He stuck his hand in his pocket and told her to undress. He then pulled out an opened knife, brought the knife to her neck and told her to take off her clothes. She refused, so he unbuttoned her blouse and took off her shorts. She testified that during this time he held the knife at her neck telling her not to scream. He also said he would slit her throat. He pushed her down on the bed. She told him her husband had only gone shopping and he would be back any minute; that the front door was unlocked because her little boy was outside and he had better leave her alone; and that the other men who had left were only supposed to go to the corner store and would be right back. Defendant, not dissuaded, commenced an act of sexual intercourse. During this time he still had the knife in his hand. He told her she had better not scream and to stop crying. The doorbell rang while the act of intercourse was in progress. Mrs. Taylor told defendant the doorbell was ringing and he had better leave her alone. He didn't stop. Mrs. Taylor's son and one John Brown entered the house and proceeded to the bedroom. When they were in the hallway defendant jumped up and Mrs. Taylor who was still undressed ran into the closet. She testified that when defendant got up he still had the knife in his hand.

John Brown testified that when Mrs. Taylor's boy opened the door to the bedroom defendant was coming out '* * * fixing his pants up on him. Me not knowing who he were, never saw him before, I thought maybe he was one of her exfiancees. I did not know. So, he pushed the kid ahead of him and follows me and then at that time I sees Janet (sic) run into the closet and she didn't have any clothes on.' Brown testified defendant put the boy on his lap and offered him fifty cents to go down to the store to get some candy. When asked if he noticed anything in either of Mr. Burroughs' hands Brown stated: 'Yes. I couldn't exactly make out exactly what it were, I just seen a shiny object, and he had a coat laying over his arm, you know.' He further testified when defendant got out on the porch he saw the object was a knife and it was open. Brown testified he could see that Mrs. Taylor had been crying; when he asked her what was the matter she wouldn't tell him; and when he and defendant walked out of the house to leave defendant offered him ten dollars to get some liquor.

Justin Scott testified when he and Matthew Jones returned to the house Mrs. Taylor looked disturbed and worried and her eyes were red.

Mrs. Taylor testified she, the three men and Mrs. Taylor's daughter all got in a car together after the occurrence to go to her mother's house; defendant put her daughter on his lap and was sitting in the front seat next to Mrs. Taylor, with Mrs. Taylor sitting between the driver and him. Mrs. Taylor testified he still had the knife in his hand and defendant kept asking her to promise not to say anything. She stated she promised not to if he would leave her alone. Mrs. Taylor got out of the car in front of her mother's house. She telephoned her husband from there and told him what had happened. She also related the incident to her mother as soon as she went into the house.

Defendant's version of the facts were when he and Jeanette Taylor had been left alone in the house they commenced dancing and Mrs. Taylor told him she needed some money to get the children some things for Christmas; she and her husband had had a few words and he had gone. Defendant stated he told Mrs. Taylor he would give her the money 'for her time'; she agreed and went to the bedroom and undressed; defendant got into position but never completed the act of intercourse. He said he never had a knife the whole time he was there nor did he threaten her. He denied Mrs. Taylor cried at any time that afternoon nor was she sweeping while he was there; and further denied he offered Mr. Brown...