Grogan v. State ( 1900 )

Appellant was convicted of adultery, and his punishment assessed at a fine of $250, and he prosecutes this appeal.

The Assistant Attorney-General has filed a motion to strike out the statement of facts and bills of exception, because not filed in time. The court at which the trial was had adjourned June 24, 1899. The statement of facts appears to have been filed on June 15th, and the bills of exception appear to have been filed on June 16th. The motion of the Assistant Attorney-General is predicated on the affidavits of M.F. Martin, an attorney representing the State, and R.F. Roberts, a former deputy county clerk of Erath County. The affidavits state that the statement of facts and bills of exception were filed about August 15, 1899; that both the statement of facts and bills of exception were filed after the adjournment of the court. There is a response to this motion of the Assistant Attorney-General, supported by the affidavits of Clarence Nugent and M.J. Thompson. These affidavits of appellant's counsel are in the nature of a confession and avoidance. With reference to the statement of facts we cull from the affidavits this expression: "On the 28th of June, 1899, defendant's counsel, understanding that the bills of exceptions were filed, or had been considered filed, on the 16th day of June, 1899, with the court's permission took the statement of facts above referred to, and filed the same with the clerk of the county court of Erath County; nor at that time was any other statement of facts prepared or filed by either the court or prosecuting counsel, so far as defendant's counsel were able to find out." That is, we take it, that here is an admission that what appellant is pleased to term the "original statement of facts" was not filed until June 28th, — four days after the adjournment of the court, — and we find no ten-day order in the record. Appellant seeks to excuse himself for not filing the statement of facts sooner because M.F. Martin was absent, and his partner, J.C. George, desired him to wait until Martin returned. The application shows that Oxford, one of the State's counsel, refused to sign said statement of facts on June 12, 1899; that counsel then, it seems, took the statement of facts to the judge, and he looked over it, but did not sign the same; that he went to see the judge on several other occasions, but the judge stated he was very busy, but would approve the same and file the statement of facts himself within the lawful time. There is also appended an explanation by the judge, but it is not sworn to, and can not be considered; but, even if it could be, it would not alter the case. It does not occur to us that appellant used proper diligence to obtain the signature of the judge and to file the statement of facts within the time required by law. It certainly was his duty to procure a ten-day order, and to have the same entered of record. This, as we have seen, was not done. As to the bills of exception the statement of appellant in said affidavit is equally as general as the statement in regard to the statement of facts. Appellant shows there were some twelve bills of exception; that he and Oxford agreed on all but two; that appellant then carried the bills to the judge and left them with him. It seems that, after several efforts to get the court to sign the bills, the court instructed Nugent, one of the attorneys, to tell the clerk to consider the bill of exceptions then filed. It seems said bills were not filed at that time. It is a little difficult to understand this statement. It is not clear and distinct, as it should be, in order to meet directly the issue made by the State. Bryant v. State, 35 Tex.Crim. Rep.; Davis v. State (Texas Crim. App.), 47 S.W. Rep., 978. But, as far as we can judge, there is an admission on the part of appellant that neither the statement of facts nor the bill of exceptions was filed during the term; and then there is an attempt to show diligence on the part of appellant, and to lay the failure to file the same in time on the judge. But, as stated, the affidavit here does not place the blame on the judge by clear and distinct averments, but, as presented in this general way, it occurs to us that there is a failure on the part of appellant to exonerate himself, or to show that there was no lack of diligence on his part. He should have shown that, before the time elapsed for filing the bills of exception and the statement of facts, he went to the judge and demanded the approval of said papers, in order that he might file them in time, or, having called on the judge for the papers, the judge refused to deliver them to him, and distinctly promised to approve and file the same within the time authorized by law. Unquestionably, if appellant had shown complete diligence on his part, and that the failure to file the same was on account of the laches of the judge, then it would be our duty to consider said statement of facts and bills of exception as part of the record in this case; but, as presented in this affidavit, we do not feel authorized to do so. In the absence of a statement of the facts and bills of exceptions, the assignments relied on by appellant can not be reviewed. No errors being apparent in the record, the judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

DAVIDSON, Presiding Judge, absent.