Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 1879

Winn v. State

Winn v. State
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided July 1, 1879 · White
5 Tex. Ct. App. 621

Winn v. State

Opinion of the Court

White, J.

It appears that the indictment in this case was drawn by filling up, in writing, the blanks in a printed *623form. Above the writing was printed the words, “VanBeek, Barnard & Tinsley, printers, stationers, lithographers, and blank-book makers, St. Louis ; Class 2.”' Then followed, in writing, the caption, in these words, viz. r “ The State of Texas, ) In the District Court of said coun- “ County of Bastrop. 3 ty, Spring Term, A. D. 1878.”

Motion to quash was made because the indictment did not commence, “In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas;” as is required by the statute (Pasc. Dig., art. 2863), and also by section 12, article 5, of the Constitution, which provides that “ all prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the State of Texas, and conclude, 6 against the peace and dignity of the State.’ ” This motion was overruled by the court, and, as we think, properly.

Though the statute defines an indictment to be “the written statement of a grand jury, accusing a person therein named of some act or omission which by law is declared to be an offence ” (Pasc. Dig., art. 2862), it has never been held that a printed form, with its blanks properly filled in-writing, was not a sufficient compliance with the law. We do think, however, that as a matter of taste and propriety, in having forms printed for his sole convenience, the prosecuting officer might stipulate with his printers that the blanks to be printed should not be used by them as an advertising medium; or, if so, that their names should not be placed in so conspicuous a portion of the form, and in such-connection with it as that their advertisement will be mistaken, as seems to have been done by defendant and his counsel in this case, for part and parcel of an indictment charging him with an assult with intent to murder. The process and pleadings necessary in criminal prosecutions for violations of the law are not, it seems to us, the proper mediums for advertising private individual enterprises. Suffice it to say, however, that this advertisement is not part of *624the indictment, and does not invalidate it. Nor is the indictment invalidated by the use of the unnecessary cáption in writing. The caption is no part of the indictment; it is not essential under our law. English v. The State, 4 Texas, 125; 1 Whart. Cr. Law, 6th ed., sec. 219; 1 Bishop’s Cr. Proc., 2d ed., sec. 661.

The only other errors complained of relate to the charge of the court. When considered with reference to the facts proven, the charge, which simply presented the law of assault Avith intent to murder, and self-defence, was amply sufficient. There were no facts demanding a charge on the lesser degrees of assault. On Friday, the day before the rencontre, defendant had threatened to kill Gradenton. Again, on Saturday, he renewed the threat, saying he intended to kill him before sundoAvn. Just before the shooting, he is seen by one of his own witnesses approaching the house of Williams Avith his six-shooter in his hand, and when he reaches Williams’s house, with the most abusive and insulting language he called upon Gradenton to come out; and when the latter comes out of the house, he immediately opens fire upon him. It is true, Gradenton returned his fire, and wounded him. This, however, does not in any manner change the nature or degree of his offence. Under the circumstances, had death resulted from his assault, the crime would have been murder in the first degree, —that is, murder containing all the elements of express malice. In a trial for assault with intent to murder, the court should not instruct on aggravated or simple assault unless the evidence calls for such instruction. Sims v. The State, 4 Texas Ct. App. 144; Hines v. The State, 3 Texas Ct. App. 484; Crane v. The State, 41 Texas, 494; Pugh v. The State, 2 Texas Ct. App. 539.

As was said by this court in Pugh’s case: “When one charged with committing an assault with intent to murder is shown to have given the first insult, and to have begun, him*625self, the attack which finally resulted in the effort on his part to kill, he cannot mitigate the offence by showing that he attempted to kill under the immediate influence of sudden passion, caused by injuries received from his adversary during the rencontre. In this case, as was said in Crane v. The State, 41 Texas, 494, the insult, the passion, and the assault were all on the side of the defendant.” Independent of his threats, and his deliberate mind and formed design, as evinced by his actions, the offence of defendant could not have been manslaughter, under the evidence, had death ensued ; for the law is that, “ though a homicide may take place under circumstances showing no deliberation, yet if the person guilty thereof provoked a contest, with the apparent intention of killing or doing serious bodily injury to the deceased, the offence does not come within the definítion of manslaughter.” Pasc. Dig., art. 2260. So far as the law of self-defence is concerned, there was nothing in the evidence requiring such a charge.

The guilt of the defendant was clearly, plainly, and indubitably established, and we think he has every reason to congratulate himself that the jury affixed his punishment at the lowest penalty (two years) attached to his crime.

There being no error, the judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.