People v. Parker

— Defendant Oscar Jordan Parker was indicted for theft by false pretenses and, by a separate indictment, on four counts of theft by embezzlement. This appeal is a sequel to his trial and conviction on the latter indictment.

Originally, trial on both indictments had been set for March 4, 1964, and assigned to a single trial department of the Sacramento superior court on the assumption, apparently shared by the prosecution and defense counsel, that the two cases would be consolidated for trial. There had been no order of consolidation, however. On the morning of the appointed day, the trial…