State v. Coombs
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
55 Me. 477 (1868)
Relevant factsFree
Coombs (defendant) borrowed a horse, sleigh, and buffalo robes after telling the lender he only intended to drive a short distance for a short time. In truth, Coombs planned all along to travel much farther for much longer. The jury was instructed that if Coombs obtained the property by this kind of false pretense about its intended use, and later converted it to his own use with felonious intent, his possession was never lawful and the conversion amounted to larceny. Coombs was convicted and appealed.
IssueFree
Whether an individual commits larceny when he obtains possession of property through a false pretense about how he intends to use it, and later converts it to his own use with felonious intent.