Smith v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
Smith v. State, 282 S.W.2d 876 (Tex. Crim. App. 1955)
162 Tex. Crim. 132; 1955 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1571
Davidson

Smith v. State

Opinion

DAVIDSON. Judge.

This is a - conviction for forgery, with punishment assessed at two years in the penitentiary. ' - .

Under the statute, Art. 979, P.C., an essential element of the crime of forgery is the making “without lawful authority” of a false instrument in writing, purporting to be the act of. another, with the intent to injure or defraud.

The instant indictment contains no allegation that the check described therein, wfiich upon its face purported to be the act of another,-was made “without lawful authority”.

The absence of such allegation renders the indictment fatally defective. Branch’s P.C., Sec. 1403, p. 856; Willson’s Criminal Forms, No. 430; Pye v. State, 71 Tex.Cr.R. 94, 154 S.W. 222.

Accordingly, the judgment is- reversed and prosecution ordered dismissed. ■

Reference

Full Case Name
Billy J. SMITH, Appellant, v. the STATE of Texas, Appellee
Cited By
12 cases
Status
Published