Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1936

Elliott v. State

Elliott v. State
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · Decided May 20, 1936 · Lattimore
94 S.W.2d 744; 130 Tex. Crim. 359; 1936 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 236 (South Western Reporter, Second Series)

Elliott v. State

Opinion of the Court

LATTIMORE, Judge.

Conviction for maintaining a lottery; punishment, a fine of $100.00.

We find in this record no complaint. Under the practice in this State and the law thereof an information must be founded upon a complaint. In this condition of the record this court is without jurisdiction.

It is easily possible that the failure to file a complaint resulted from oversight. If a complaint and information should *360 be filed in this case and prosecution had hereafter, we call attention to the fact that there is nothing in this record to support the averment of the establishment of a lottery by this appellant. Somebody put a slot machine in the place of business known as the Tree Tavern. There is no testimony showing that either the slot machine or place of business belonged to this appellant, or that anybody ever saw appellant engaged in the operation of said place of business or machine. Such facts would not support a conviction.

Because of the absence of a complaint the judgment is reversed and the prosecution is ordered dismissed.

Reversed and prosecution ordered dismissed.

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