Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1951

Williams v. State

Williams v. State
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · Decided November 28, 1951 · Beauchamp
243 S.W.2d 837; 156 Tex. Crim. 484; 1951 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1654 (South Western Reporter, Second Series)

Williams v. State

Opinion

BEAUCHAMP, Judge.

Appellant was convicted for the sale of intoxicating liquor in a dry area and assessed a fine of $500.00.

The evidence amply sustains the conviction. The appellant did not testify and offered no evidence to contradict that presented by the state. The appeal presents only one question by which reversal is sought.

The county attorney, in arguing the case to the jury, said: “If Ollie did not sell the whiskey he would have gotten on this stand and told you that he didn’t sell it.” Objection was timely made and the court instructed the jury not to consider the statement.

The argument was clearly in violation of Art. 710, Code of Criminal Procedure, and it has frequently been held that the instruction to not consider such statement cannot cure the error. See annotations under Footnote 41, page 1026, Vernon’s Ann. C.C.P.

For the error in the argument, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded.

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