Chapa v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Chapa v. State, 132 S.W. 127 (Tex. Crim. App. 1910)
60 Tex. Crim. 365; 1910 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 508
Davidson

Chapa v. State

Opinion of the Court

DAVIDSON, Presiding Judge.

The charging part of the indictment, after reciting the fact that there had been a local option election held on the 8th of June, 1907, in justice precinct Ho. 2 in Duval County, which resulted favorably to that law, in the following language, undertakes to charge an offense against appellant for carrying on the business of selling intoxicating liquors in said territory: Appellant “. . . on or about the 1st day of January, A. D. 1910, in said Justice Precinct Humber Two of Duval County, Texas, did unlawfully engage in and pursue the occupation and business of selling intoxicating liquors against the peace and dignity of the State.”

Motion to quash the indictment was presented as well as motion in arrest of judgment, on the ground that the indictment failed to charge appellant with the offense sought to be charged as required by law, both of which motions were overruled by the court. Under the authority of the Pitch case this judgment will be reversed and the prosecution dismissed. The indictment totally fails to charge the offense under the Act of the Legislature prohibiting the business of selling intoxicating liquors to be carried on in local option territory. It does not undertake to name any person to whom the intoxicants were sold or that any intoxicants were sold. The allegation that appellant did engage in and pursue the occupation and business of selling intoxicating liquors is not sufficient. Pitch v. State, 58 Texas Crim. Rep., 366, 127 S. W. Rep., 1046.

The judgment is reversed and the prosecution is dismissed.

Dismissed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Abraham Chapa v. the State
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published