State v. Parker, 57350

• Decision Date: 12 November 1973
• Docket Number: No. 57350,No. 1,57350,1
• Citation: 501 S.W.2d 3
• Parties: STATE of Missouri, Respondent, v. Bennie PARKER, Appellant
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

Page 3

501 S.W.2d 3

STATE of Missouri, Respondent, v. Bennie PARKER, Appellant.

No. 57350.

Supreme Court of Missouri, Division No. 1.

Nov. 12, 1973.

John C. Danforth, Atty. Gen., Allan D. Seidel, Asst. Atty. Gen., Jefferson City, for respondent.

Edmund C. Albrecht, Jr., St. Louis, for defendant-appellant Bennie Parker.

HIGGINS, Commissioner.

Bennie Parker, with prior conviction of burglary second degree, was convicted by the court following jury-waived trial of burglary, second degree. His punishment was assessed at six years' imprisonment, and sentence and judgment were rendered accordingly. Rule 26.01, V.A.M.R.; §§ 560.045, 560.095, RSMo 1969. (Appeal taken prior to January 1, 1972.)

Appellant contends that the State failed to prove a case against him under its amended information 'in that there was no showing that the structure allegedly broken into was a dwelling house.'

The amended information charged that Bennie Parker, at the City of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 20th day of January, 1971, did feloniously and burglariously, forcibly break and enter a dwelling house at 5791 Westminster Place, the property of the Pension Fund of Christian Churches 'Disciples of Christ,' in the care and custody of Mound City Realty Company, with the felonious and burglarious intent to steal.

According to William F. Riggins, a real estate broker, his company, Mound City Realty Company, was the manager and agent of a seven-unit apartment building at 5791 Westminster, St. Louis, Missouri, owned by the Pension Fund of Christian Churches, Indianapolis, Indiana. All units were occupied on January 20, 1971. The building also had a basement containing all the utility facilities. Most of the plumbing in the basement was of copper pipe. There was one entrance to the basement, located at the rear of the building, and it usually was fastened with two locks at night and one in the daytime. The gas company had a key to the single daytime lock in order to read the gas meters. There were three other entrances, all of which had been sealed. The apartments and the basement were also connected by a common corridor by which, according to defendant, one could 'go down to 5791, and go to the bar room and go straight through to the other building.' Mr. Riggins did not know Bennie Parker and had never given him permission to open the basement door.

On January 21, 1971, Mr. Riggins was called to the apartment building by the police, at which time he observed damage to the basement door and to the copper plumbing. There were pry marks on the door and some of the copper plumbing had been disconnected.

Mound City employed Francis Coleman as manager on the premises at 5791 Westminster. He and his family lived in apartment 2A. He previously had known Bennie Parker when both of them had worked for Kisco Company, but had never given him an invitation or permission to go into the basement or to take any copper tubing from the basement. On January 20, 1971, he accompanied his wife to a bus stop en route to her work. On the way he saw defendant whom he knew only as Bennie. They visited for a few moments during which Bennie learned that Mr. Coleman was going to the bus stop, return to check the apartment house, and go to his sister's house at 5891 Washington. Mr. Coleman left Bennie, continued as planned, locked and checked the basement door, and went to his sister's home. He returned later at the request of investigating officers and saw that the door had been pried open. He also saw that parts of the copper plumbing had been broken and piled on the basement floor. The officers had defendant in their custody.

Officer Gerald Harrell was on duty January 20, 1971, with a partner, Robert Duffin. Around noon they were advised of a prowler in the apartment at 5791 Westminster. Officer Harrell went to the rear of the premises; Officer Duffin guarded the front. Officer Harrell found the basement door open. 'There were numerous pry marks up and down the facing to the door, and the hasp--the hinge part of it * * * behind the lock, that goes through to screw the door, was torn from the door itself.' Officer Harrell observed defendant 'about the middle of the basement twisting to pull off pipe.' Other copper pipe was piled on the floor. Copper has a cash value at any salvage yard. Defendant told the officer he was the manager of the building and lived in apartment 2E; however he later learned that Francis Coleman was the manager and that he lived in apartment 2E. He then arrested defendant and called Mr. Coleman at his sister's house. When arrested, defendant had a screwdriver in his rear pocket.

Officer Duffin corroborated the testimony of Officer Harrell.

In his own behalf, Bennie Parker testified that he had been to 5791 Westminster fifteen to twenty times to help Mr. Coleman clean apartments and remove trash; that he was never paid for such chores but did them out of friendship; that he helped carry trash on the date in question; that he left shortly after 9:00 a.m.; that he returned around 11:30 a.m., knocked on Mr. Coleman's door, received no answer, went to the basement, saw the door open and water or steam escaping from broken pipes. He had been in the basement about five minutes when he saw the policeman, Officer Harrell. He denied having a screwdriver on his person and denied twisting the copper pipe. The officer arrested him when he was found to have misstated his...