Watts v. State
Watts v. State
Opinion of the Court
Conviction for transporting intoxicating liquor; punishment, three years in the penitentiary.
Appellant was charged in an indictment containing two counts, one for the transportation of intoxicating liquor, and the other for the possession of same for purposes of sale. The verdict and judgment were specifically for the transportation of such liquor. Appellant moved the court to require the State to elect upon which count in the indictment it would rely for a conviction. The motion was overruled, and this action of the court is here attacked. Appellant cites Smith v. State,
Appellant also contends that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the law of accomplice testimony. We do not think so. By the terms of Art. 670 of our Penal Code a co-possessor, transporter, or purchaser of intoxicating liquor is specifically exempted from being an accomplice. The testimony in the case at bar shows that the witness asserted by appellant to be an accomplice, took money from appellant and purchased for him whiskey, and then accompanied appellant in the car to the place where the officers arrested them. We think appellant wrong in his contention.
Finding no error in the record, the judgment will be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Addendum
In his motion for rehearing appellant insists that the evidence shows two "transactions," the one relating to beer, the other to whiskey, and that the state should have elected between "transactions." It is sufficient answer to this contention to say that no request was made for an election between transactions. The only request upon the subject was as between the counts in the indictment.
As we understand the evidence it does not show the witness to have been an accomplice under Art. 670. P. C.
The motion is overruled.
Overruled. *Page 220
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Earl Watts v. the State
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