Ex parte Davis
Ex parte Davis
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from an order of the dis-. triet court of Eastland county denying bail.
It is true that upon a trial of this case in the court below a death penalty was assessed, but upon appeal to this court the
The facts set forth in the confession of the actual slayer, and of the younger brother of appellant who was present, and of appellant himself, would seem to establish the fact that, while appellant was undoubtedly present, he took.no active part in the killing. The testimony seems clearly to indicate that he was not of average mentality, but was much below sqch average. We have tried 'to give careful consideration to the facts, but find ourselves in a condition of much doubt as to the fact a death penalty would be given upon another trial, in the absence of those improper and injurious elements that may have entered into the minds of the former jury and induced them to give him such penalty. We do not think this conclusion, based on the facts herein, in conflict with what has been said in other eases.
. In Ex parte Howard, 99 Tex. Cr. R. 458, 270 S. W. 550, 551, we said: “In determining whether bail should be granted, it is necessary that the question be passed upon under the facts of each ease.” Judgment denying bail in that case was affirmed by us. Subsequently Howard was convicted, given a death penalty, and the judgment was reversed by us. He then made a second application for bail, based apparently on the proposition that this court by its opinion eliminated much testimony admitted on his trial, and without which he claimed there was not such proof as to make' evident the fact that upon another trial he would be given a death penalty. See Ex parte Howard, 107 Tex. Cr. R. 386, 298 S. W. 306. We said appellant was entitled to his writ, and that, if the testimony- adduced, aside from that held incompetent,,-wa? not enough to amount to proof evident, £ail should be granted. We disposed of the matter, however, on the ground that it was shown that upon another trial had after bail was refused in the lower court upon said second application said case was tried below, and that a second death penalty had been awarded, which fact was regarded by us as a complete refutation of the claim that the remaining evidence was not such as that-a jury would likely inflict such penalty, and we affirmed the judgment. The fact that a judgment formerly rendered had awarded ' the death penalty may be to some extent persuasive, but is not to be held conclusive, and each ease must be decided upon the merits of the record then before the court. Eliminating from this case those matters held in our opinion of reversal to have been factors in bringing about the death penalty, we are of opinion that such serious doubt arises as to the infliction of a death penalty upon another trial as to lead us to believe this a bailable case.
The judgment denying bail is reversed and the cause remanded, and bail fixed in the sum of $10,000.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.