People v. Cowan

This is an appeal by defendant from a conviction of the crime of forgery, and from the order denying his motion for a new trial. To the charge, defendant had pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

The information, filed November 4, 1938, alleged the commission of the offense on or about January 19, 1937, also a prior conviction, which the defendant admitted. Subsequent to the commission of the alleged offense and prior to the filing of the information, appellant had been an inmate as an insane person of the Mendocino State Hospital.

On the issue of not guilty, wherein a trial…