Chapman v. State
Chapman v. State
Opinion of the Court
The offense is possessing a still for manufacturing spirituous liquors capable of producing intoxication; the punishment, confinement in the penitentiary for one year.
Officers went to Bennett Davis’ place on the 29th of November, 1933, at night, and stopped on his premises about one-fourth of a mile from his house. They heard water pouring. Finally a wagon driven by two men went in the direction of Davis’ house. The officers followed. When the wagon reached the well at the house the parties stopped and filled a barrel with water. After said parties entered the house the officers -called to Davis and he came outside where he was arrested. Appellant walked out of the house and was not seen by the -officers again. After placing Davis in jail the officers returned ;to the point where they had heard the water pouring and found a, complete still.
Mrs. Bennett Davis testified that she did not know that, appellant and her husband were moving a still on the night of the arrest. She testified further that her father came over to the house two or three times a week to haul water to his stock. Again, she testified that appellant gave her some money to be delivered to Roberts for buying sugar, and that she gave the money to Roberts. Further she testified that, in addition to bringing the sugar, her father brought a sack of chops and some yeast to the house.
Roberts testified that Davis and appellant left Davis’ home on the night of the arrest in the witness’ wagon and returned shortly prior to the arrest. He did not go with them. He testified further that he hauled 150 pounds of sugar to Davis* home on the day of the arrest; that appellant furnished money with which to buy the sugar; that he left the sugar on his wagon when he got to Davis’ home.
Testifying in his own behalf, appellant declared that he had nothing to do with the still and that shortly before the arrest Roberts and Davis came to the house in Roberts’ wagon. He testified that he knew nothing of the presence of the still. He denied that he furnished Roberts any money for buying sugar.
Appellant timely and properly excepted to the charge of the court for its failure to instruct the jury that the witness Roberts was an accomplice as a matter of law. The still was located on land Roberts had in charge. It was in Roberts* wagon that it was hauled from somewhere north of Davis’ house to the pasture where it was found. Roberts bought the
As to Mrs. Davis, we think the court should have responded to appellant’s exception and submitted to the jury the issue as to whether she was an accomplice witness.
The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals, and approved by the Court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Louis Chapman v. State
- Status
- Published