Bass v. State
Bass v. State
070rehearing
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
In his motion for rehearing the appellant contends that the charge on accomplice testimony required the reversal of the judgment under the law. The •charge given to the jury reads as follows:
“The witnesses, Claud Jones and Dock Means, are accomplices, if any offense were committed, and you are instructed" that you can not convict this defendant upon their testimony unless you first believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the testimony of said Claud Jones and Dock Means is true, and that it connects the defendant with the commission of the offense charged in the indictment, and unless you further believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there is other evidence in the case corroborative of the testimony of said Claud Jones and Dock Means, tending to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense charged in the indictment, and the corroboration must be by testimony other than that of an accomplice, and then from all the evidence, you must believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant is guilty. If you do not so believe, or if you have a reasonable doubt as to any of the above elements, you will find the defendant not guilty.”
The sufficiency of such a charge has been asserted by this court many times when passing upon facts closely analogous to those governing in the present appeal. Four persons were implicated in the commission of the offense, namely, Bass,. Conner, Jhnes and Means. Jones and Means testified in great detail touching the commission of the offense and the preparation therefor. Jones was an actual participant. Means was nearby and cognizánt of all that was done. Each of them testified in •detail to facts showing the guilt of the appellant. Under such circumstances, as stated above, it has been held on various occasions that the charge given to the jury sufficiently complied with the law on the subject of accomplice testimony. So far as the present charge is criticised, it is identical with that given to the jury in the case of Oates v. State, 67 Texas Crim. Rep., 488. Notwithstanding the criticism of the charge, the Oates case, supra, in which there was a conviction carrying the death
The motion for rehearing is overruled.
Overruled,
Opinion of the Court
Conviction is for burglary, punishment being three years in the penitentiary.
To effect his release pending appeal appellant, after adjournment of the term of court at which he was convicted, entered into bond under the provisions of article 818, C. C. P. The case was tried in Angelina county. The appeal bond, as it appears in the record, bears the certificate of the Tax Collector of Nacogdoches county as to the solvency of the sureties, and a certificate of the sheriff of Nacogdoches county that he would approve the bond if presented to him, but the bond does not bear' the approval of the trial judge and the sheriff of Angelina, county. The approval of both is required by article 818, C. C. P.
The appeal must be dismissed for insufficient bond. Appellant is granted 15 days from this date to file and have approved a new bond, if he desires to do so, and perfect the record by a showing that this has been done.
The appeal is dismissed.
Dismissed.
ON MOTION TO REINSTATE THE APPEAL.
Appellant attaches to his motion to reinstate this appeal a certified copy of the appeal bond showing that same did in fact bear the approval of the trial judge and sheriff of the county of the forum. The judgment of dismissal is set aside, the appeal is reinstated, and the case now considered upon its merits.
By the accomplice witnesses Claud Jones and Dock Means a complete case was made out of guilt on the part of this appellant, of the burglary of a bank at Huntington, and the taking of the money in the safe of said bank from the cashier, Mr. Ivy, in whom ownership was laid in the indictment. This is said for the purpose of making clear our holding that the error of the court in his charge on accomplice testimony, — adverted to hereafter, — was not such as to necessitate reversal.
By statute we are expressly forbidden to reverse cases for errors in the charge “unless the error appearing from the record was calculated to injure the rights of defendant.” See article 666, C. C. P., 1925. What are “the rights of defendant,”
Appellant cites Baggett v. State, 144 S. W., 1136; Sealey v. State, 47 S. W. (2d) 295; Alsup v. State, 49 S. W. (2d) 749, and the opinion in Burns et al. v. State, handed down at a recent date, as supporting his proposition that the case should be reversed for the giving of the charge which we have been discussing. Examination of the authorities mentioned shows that the charge on accomplice testimony in each of those cases contained the expression, in reference to the accomplice testimony, that the jury must believe that “it tended to connect,” instead of
Complaint is made that two jurors on their voir dire examination disclosed that they had some information of the fact that said bank had been burglarized, which later fact was in nowise disputed. Both disclaimed knowledge or information in any way as to who were the perpetrators. Each answered that he had no opinion as to the guilt or innocence of appellants such as would influence his decision. The bills presenting these complaints evidence no error.
Bill No. 3 reflects a rambling somewhat incoherent and disconnected statement of witness Claud Jones, all in reference to himself and his feelings and surroundings, and no mention being made of appellant, and, as we see it, capable of no injury to him, even if of no materiality.
Bill No. 4 complains of an answer given by the wife of appellant’s co-defendant Conner, while she was being examined, by state’s counsel. No objection was made by appellant to the question asked, — which is not even set out in the bill. The answer of the witness was wholly negative and put nothing before the jury. We also observe that the existence of those matters stated as objections, — is not certified by the court.
. Bill No. 5 sets out certain testimony of the same witness, to which objection was made that same was not in rebuttal; that the examination was as to something not elicited on direct examination; that same was a breach “of the privity of relation between confidentials.” Nothing in this bill shows that the testimony was not in fact in rebuttal; nor that it was not as to matters about which witness had been directly examined; nor that it was trenching on privileged communications. Without some such showing we can not appraise the soundness of these objections.
Bill No. 6 presents exceptions to state witness Purvis stating that he had received advance knowledge that probably plans were being made to rob the bank; that he had that notice five or six weeks before the burglary; that he made three trips, two prior to the burglary, and that on the first trip in connection with this particular thing he was accompanied by * * * and Dock Means. This was objected to as hearsay, no part of the conspiracy, and as corroborating the accomplice by a wrongful act. We observe that there was not the slightest controversy over the fact that the bank was robbed, nor that Means had some connection with such robbery. We do not know the surroundings or connection of this testimony, — it is not stated in
Finding no error in the record for which reversal should be had, the judgment will be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.