Q U E S T I O N S
1. Sam said to Carol, “Kim is going to sell me a good used car next Monday; then I’ll deliver it to you in exchange for your microcomputer, but I’d like to have the computer now.” Relying on this statement, Carol delivered the computer to Sam. Sam knew Kim had no car, and would have none in the future, and he had no such arrangement with her. The appointed time of exchange passed and Sam failed to deliver the car to Carol. Has a crime been committed? Discuss.
2. Sara, a lawyer, drew a deed for Robert by which Robert was to convey land to Rick. The deed was correct in every detail. Robert examined and verbally approved it but did not sign it. Sara erased Rick’s name and substituted her own. Robert signed the deed with all required legal formalities without noticing the change. Was Sara guilty of forgery? Discuss.
3. Ann took Bonnie’s watch before Bonnie was aware of the theft. Bonnie discovered her loss immediately and pursued Ann. Ann pointed a loaded pistol at Bonnie, who, in fear of being shot, allowed Ann to escape. Was Ann guilty of robbery? Of any other crime?
4. Jones and Wilson were on trial, separately, for larceny of a $10,000 bearer bond (payable to the holder of the bond, not a named individual) issued by Brown, Inc. The Commonwealth’s evidence showed that the owner of the bond had dropped it accidentally in the street enclosed in an envelope bearing his name and address; that Jones found the envelope with the bond in it; that Jones could neither read nor write; that Jones presented the envelope and bond to Wilson, an educated man, and asked Wilson what he should do with it; that Wilson told Jones that the finder of lost property becomes the owner of it; that Wilson told Jones that the bond was worth $1,000 but that the money could only be collected at the issuer’s home office; that Jones then handed the bond to Wilson, who redeemed it at the corporation’s home office and received $10,000; and that Wilson gave Jones $1,000 of the proceeds. What rulings?
5. Truck drivers for a hauling company, while loading a desk, found a $100 bill that had fallen out of the desk. They agreed to get it exchanged for small bills and divide the proceeds. En route to a bank, one of them changed his mind and refused to proceed with the scheme, where-upon the other pulled a knife and demanded the bill. A police officer intervened. It turned out that the bill was counterfeit money. What crimes have been committed
