Henson v. State , 138 Tex. Crim. 362 ( 1939 )

The conviction is for burglary. The punishment assessed is confinement in the state penitentiary for a term of two years.

Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to justify and sustain his conviction. The record shows that on the night of December 27, 1932, the store of Brookshire Brothers in Nacogdoches was entered by forcing open a double door with some instrument which made a dent near the lock. On the night in question, the night watchman noticed two men walkinng in front of the building back and forth on two occasions. He walked behind the ice plant and observed from this point that two men were sitting in front of the store. Upon approaching the spot where they had been sitting, he found the door to the store open and only one person sitting in front of it, whom he recognized as Baby Spencer. He asked Spencer who was inside, but Spencer replied that he did not know. The watchman then entered the building and called: "Whoever is in here, come out where I can see you." Appellant came out and the officer started with him toward the jail, but had not gone very far when another person came out of the building and ran away. He left appellant in the street and gave chase, but was unable to catch this other person. Upon his return, he found appellant gone. However, he was arrested on the following day.

Appellant testified in his own behalf and denied that he was in the store on the night in question. It was his contention that he was on his way to town when he saw a person run by him whom he took to be an acquaintance named Ryan Reid, who had died since the alleged offense was committed. It is obvious that the testimony raised an issue and that the jury was justified in their conclusion of appellant's guilt.

By a number of bills of exception appellant complains that he was forced to trial without the testimony of Baby Spencer and one, Collins. He claims that one of these witnesses (Collins) would have testified that he and Reid alone burglarized the store. That Spencer would have testified that he was near the burglarized premises and saw the door to the building open. That from this point he could also see appellant at his home at that time. All of these matters were set up in his motion for a new trial and evidence heard thereon. The court, in his qualification to the bills, states that appellant's case was set for trial on April 10th, and that he failed to appear as he had done on previous occasions. That his appearance bond was forfeited and a capias issued for his arrest. That he was immediately arrested and brought into court where he remained nearly all day without any attempt to secure the attendance of witnesses, although he was informed that his case was set for the following day. It appears that the indictment was returned against appellant in March, 1933. From that date down until the date of the trial the record does not disclose any efforts on the part of appellant to secure the attendance of these witnesses. Appellant claims in his bills that efforts were made, but these efforts are not reflected in the official record. On the following morning the State announced ready for trial. It was brought to the attention of the court that appellant was without counsel, and an attorney was appointed to confer with him relative to a possible suspension of sentence. It was determined, however, that appellant was ineligible for a suspension since he had already had one suspension of sentence. When the district attorney began to examine the prospective jurors on their voir dire, appellant's mother made arrangements with the Honorable V. Fulmer to represent him upon his trial. The court was informed of this arrangement. The employed attorney requested a postponement of the case until the attendance of Baby Spencer could be obtained. The court declined to order an attachment on the ground that said witness had not theretofore been summoned. A subpoena was then issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff. This witness did not appear until the jury had retired to consider their verdict. When he did appear, the court inquired of him as to what he knew about the facts of the case and he replied that he knew nothing. The court qualified these bills and in his qualification thereof states that when the case was called for trial on the morning of April 10th, appellant failed to appear. That he ordered a capias to be issued, had him arrested and brought into the court room at 11:00 a. m. on said date, when he was advised that his case would be called for trial on the following morning, but appellant made no effort to obtain process for the desired witness. Appellant accepted these bills as qualified, and as thus qualified they fail to reflect reversible error. We think the trial court was justified in concluding that appellant had failed to show proper diligence to secure the attendance of the witness. See 9 Tex. Jur. pp. 785-786, secs. 100-101; Bowen v. State, 3 Tex. Cr. App. 617 (624). See also Boyd v. State, 108 Tex.Crim. R., 299 S.W. 902, and authorities cited.

Appellant also complains of the court's action in overruling his Second Amended Motion for a New Trial, in which he asserts that after the court had denied his oral request for a continuance or postponement based on Spencer's absence, he asked leave to reduce his oral motion to writing and file it at a later day. Attached to this motion was the affidavit of Spencer in which he states that on the night of the alleged burglary he was standing in front of Dr. Young's place. From this point he could see appellant's house and also the burglarized store, which was lighted at this time. He further stated that he went across the street where he had agreed to meet a negro who was to sell him a pint of whisky, and that while there, he noticed appellant walking about in his room at his home. That he did not see appellant either enter or leave the burglarized premises; that the next time he saw him was when he and the night watchman were in front of the store. He stated that about this time he saw Ryan Reid and some other man run out of the store. There is also a statement to the effect that Spencer had been summoned once or twice as a witness after the indictment was returned against appellant.

The State contested the motion and the court heard evidence thereon. Appellant offered no other testimony in support of his allegations. The State's witnesses showed that Spencer had stated to the clerk and the presiding judge on the day of the trial that he knew nothing about the case. Under the authority of Wiley v. State, 36 S.W.2d 495, and authorities there cited, we think this court would not be authorized in holding that the trial court abused his discretion in determining that under all the circumstances, had the absent testimony been before the jury, no different result would have been likely. Moreover we think that appellant failed to exercise due diligence to secure the attendance of Spencer. See the authorities cited ante. It is the well settled and established rule that the denial of a motion for a new trial rests within the sound discretion of the trial court, and unless it is made to appear that the court abused his discretion in this respect, this court will not reverse the judgment. Branch's Ann. P. C., Sec. 314 and authorities cited.

Appellant addressed a number of objections to the court's charge and requested a number of special charges. We had carefully examined the charge in the light of the objections thereto and reached the conclusion that the same was a full and fair instruction to the jury on the law applicable to the facts. Hence, there was no error in declining to give his special requested instructions.

All other matters complained of by appellant have been carefully examined by us and are deemed to be without merit.

The judgment is affirmed.

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.

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.