Castle v. State
Castle v. State
Opinion of the Court
This conviction was obtained under a complaint and information which charge that defendant did “ knowingly, unlawfully, feloniously and seriously, threaten to take the life of Arizona C. Benton by sending her a threatening letter through the United States mail, in words and figures as follows, to wit, threatening to kill her the said Arizona 0. Benton, viz;” and then follows the letter referred to, set forth in haec verba.
It is apparent from the record that the county attorney and the trial court regarded the prosecution as brought under Article 813 of the Penal Code. In his charge the judge instructed the jury with reference to that Article and the penalty de
If this conviction had been had under Article 809 of the Penal Code, we would not, perhaps, disturb it, although the information is not in strict accordance with approved precedents. (Willson’s Forms, No. 525, and note.)
Because the defendant has been convicted of an offense with which he is not charged, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Myron Castle v. State
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Threats.—The offense defined by Article 813 of the Penal Code is the “knowingly sending or delivering of a threatening letter,” etc.; and the appellant in this case was prosecuted under that article. Held, that, the information charging that appellant knowingly did threaten to “take the life of Arizona 0. Benton, by sending her a threatening letter,” etc., it does not charge the offense defined by the statute under which the prosecution was had; wherefore the conviction can not stand. It is not knowingly threatening, but knowingly sending or delivering a threatening letter, which constitutes the offense defined in said Article.