Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 1885

McFarland v. State

McFarland v. State
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas · Decided May 29, 1885 · White
18 Tex. Ct. App. 313; 1885 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 98

McFarland v. State

Opinion of the Court

White, Presiding Judge.

Appellant and one McRay were jointly charged by information with malicious mischief in wantonly shooting and killing a mare and a mule. The record fails to show that appellant, who was alone put upon trial, ever pleaded to said charge or that a plea of not guilty was entered for him. Without the plea there was no issue to try. (See authorities everywhere.)

This court suggested to the last, the nineteenth, Legislature the adoption of amendments to the Code of Procedure which would save reversals in a great majority of such cases (see Att’y Gen’l’s Report, 1885, pp. 20 and 21), but that body, doubtless in the interest of the public welfare, concluded it were better to let the law remain as it was. We have no option in the matter.

The judgment is reversed and cause remanded.

Iieversed and remanded.

[Opinion delivered May 29, 1885.]

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