Bruce v. State

Elva E. Bruce was found guilty of obtaining money and property under false pretenses and was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment. The only issue is whether the verdict is supported by substantial evidence.

On November 29, 1951, for a consideration of $4,800 in cash and a truck worth $1,200, W. C. Watkins purchased from Bruce the pine timber upon 320 acres of Oklahoma land. Bruce represented that he owned the land and timber, but in fact he did not. At the time of the timber sale Bruce was apparently negotiating for the property and had made a payment of $500 as earnest money. The land was owned…