Rains v. State

Decision Date16 October 1942
Docket NumberNo. 31395.,31395.
PartiesRAINS v. STATE.
CourtNebraska Supreme Court

142 Neb. 284
5 N.W.2d 887

RAINS
v.
STATE.

No. 31395.

Supreme Court of Nebraska.

Oct. 16, 1942.


Appeal from District Court, Gage County; Ellis, Judge.

Calvin Rains was convicted of breaking and entering a barn with intent of steal personal property and of larceny, and he brings error.

Affirmed.

[5 N.W.2d 888]


Syllabus by the Court.

1. The habitual criminal law of this state does not purport to create a new and separate criminal offense, but provides merely that the repetition of criminal conduct aggravates the guilt and justifies greater punishment.

2. When a person is charged in an information with a crime which is made a felony by statute, and it is properly alleged further that said person has been twice previously convicted of crime, sentenced and committed to prison for terms of not less than one year, the requirements of the habitual criminal statute, section 29-2217, Comp.St.Supp.1939, have been met.

3. When an offense is not designated by the statute which creates it, either as a felony or misdemeanor, but its punishment is prescribed, then the grade or character of the offense is determined by section 29-102, Comp.St.1929, and the maximum punishment which the statute authorizes.

4. The crimes necessary to be charged and proved to bring a person within the habitual criminal law must not only be felonies, but they must be felonies in which the defendant was sentenced and committed to prison for one year or more.

5. The habitual criminal law, section 29-2217, Comp.St.Supp.1939, held not violative of sections 1, 3 and 11, art. I of the Constitution of Nebraska, and articles V, VI and XIV of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

6. A judgment or sentence of a court of record in a criminal case is supported by the usual presumption of validity and regularity, and, consequently, the failure to specify the offense for which defendant was convicted will not make a certified copy of the judgment inadmissible in a prosecution where the habitual criminal law is operative.

7. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it will be presumed that the provisions of section 29-2401, Comp.St.1929, with reference to the commitment of convicted persons who have been sentenced, have been properly performed by the officers charged with so doing.

8. Evidence examined and held sufficient to sustain the verdict of the jury.


Hubka & Hubka, of Beatrice, for plaintiff in error.

Walter R. Johnson, Atty. Gen., and John H. Comstock, Asst. Atty. Gen., for defendant in error.


Heard before SIMMONS, C. J., and EBERLY, CARTER, MESSMORE, and YEAGER, JJ.

CARTER, Justice.

Plaintiff in error, hereafter referred to as the defendant, was convicted of breaking and entering a barn, the property of one Tony Shalla, with intent to steal personal property belonging to the said Shalla. The jury also found that defendant had previously been convicted of more than two crimes against the state, in each of which he had been sentenced and committed to the penitentiary for periods exceeding one year, thus bringing the crime within the provisions of the habitual criminal statute. Defendant was sentenced to serve ten years in the penitentiary for this offense. Defendant was also convicted of larceny of personal property of the value of $17.40 belonging to Shalla, and sentenced to pay a fine of $5 and costs for so doing. From these convictions and sentences defendant appeals.

Defendant complains of the trial court's...

To continue reading

Request your trial
10 cases
  • State v. Jackson, 86-667
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • July 2, 1987
    ... ... See, State v. Luna, 211 Neb. 630, 319 N.W.2d 737 (1982); State v. Rolling, 209 Neb. 243, 307 N.W.2d 123 (1981); State v. Sheldon, 179 Neb. 377, 138 N.W.2d 428 (1965); Gamron v. Jones, 148 Neb. 645, 28 N.W.2d 403 (1947); Rains v. State, 142 Neb. 284, 5 N.W.2d 887 (1942) ...         In a sentence hearing, a court, generally, has broad discretion concerning the source of information and the type of information to be considered. See, United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 92 S.Ct. 589, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972); ... ...
  • State v. Steffenson
    • United States
    • South Dakota Supreme Court
    • July 7, 1970
    ... ... State ex rel. Smith v. Jameson, 70 S.D. 503, 19 N.W.2d 505. Consequently, defendant was not entitled to a preliminary examination on the incidental issue of prior convictions. State v. Graham, 68 W.Va. 248, 69 S.E. 1010; 224 U.S. 616, 32 S.Ct. 583, 56 L.Ed. 917; Rains v. State, 142 Neb. 284, 5 N.W.2d ... 887; Murphy v. State, 50 Ariz. 481, 73 P.2d 110; People v. Palm, 245 Mich. 396, 223 N.W. 67, and Mann v. State, 200 Kan. 422, 436 P.2d 358. Also defendant's plea of guilty to Part I of the Information did not constitute a bar to the imposition of a greater ... ...
  • State v. Losieau
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • March 14, 1969
    ... ... See, State v. Konvalin, 179 Neb. 95, 136 N.W.2d 227; Poppe v. State, 155 Neb. 527, 52 N.W.2d 422; Rains v. State, 142 Neb. 284, 5 N.W.2d 887; Davis v. O'Grady, 137 Neb. 708, 291 N.W. 82.' See, also, Spencer v. Texas, 385 U.S. 554, 87 S.Ct. 648, 17 L.Ed.2d 606 ...         In Davis v. O'Grady, 137 Neb. 708, 291 N.W. 82, this court held: 'This court is committed to the doctrine, viz.: * * * ... ...
  • State v. Bundy, 36354
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • December 22, 1966
    ... ...         Exhibit 5, showing the conviction and sentence in Hancock County, Illinois, and exhibit 3, showing the conviction and sentence in Lincoln County, Nebraska, are both in evidence and it is shown the defendant was the same person in the two cases. In Rains v. State, 142 Neb. 284, 5 N.W.2d 887, this court in its opinion stated: 'Defendant urges that proof of commitment, as required by the habitual criminal law, was lacking. We think not. Another statute, section 29--2401, Comp. St. 1929 (now section 29--2401, R.R.S.1943), provides that within 30 ... ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT