Garland v. State , 51 Tex. Crim. 643 ( 1907 )

Appellant was convicted of adultery and his punishment assessed at a fine of $200.

The indictment in this case contains two counts, the first for fornication, and the second for adultery. This is authorized by the practice in this State. See Cosgrove v. State, 37 Tex. Crim. 249.

The first ground of the motion complains that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict, since same fails to show that at the time of the alleged commission of the offense of adultery, for which appellant was convicted, as stated, that appellant was lawfully married to Mollie Garland as alleged in the indictment. The only evidence in this record that we discover shows that appellant was married to one M.M. Allen, but it does not show that M.M. Allen was Mollie Allen and subsequently Mrs. Mollie Garland, as charged in the indictment. This should have been done. We cannot presume that M.M. Allen is Mrs. Mollie Garland as alleged. Hence, as appellant insists, there is a fatal variance between the allegation and proof.

Appellant objects to the following charge of the court: "You are further instructed that you will consider the evidence of the witness Jim Morrow only as tending to establish an adulterous disposition on the part of the defendant." We will say, in view of the fact that this case has to be reversed, that this character of charge is a charge on the weight of evidence, and should not be given.

Appellant complains of the following charge of the court: "If you believe from the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant did in the County of Henderson and State of Texas, at any time within two years next before the filing of the indictment herein, live together and have carnal intercourse with one Kate Chilton and if you further believe from the evidence that defendant was at the time lawfully married to some other person, then you will find the defendant guilty." Appellant objects to this charge because the same authorizes the jury to find the defendant guilty even though they might not believe that he was at the time married to Mollie Garland as alleged in the indictment. This criticism is correct. The indictment charged that he (appellant) was married to Mollie Garland and the facts should support this charge in the indictment, and the charge should tell the jury it was necessary to prove it since it was necessary to allege it. To make a case of adultery the evidence should show marriage at the time of the adultery prosecution. See Webb v. State, 24 Texas Crim. App., 164.

We note in the record an exception to the effect that the State placed the paramour of appellant on the stand and she claimed the privilege of being an accomplice to the crime. See Merritt v. State, 10 Texas Crim. App., 402. The paramour being an accomplice, the State should not attempt to place her on the stand unless she proposes to turn State's evidence; then it would be the duty of the court, after she should testify, to charge the law of an accomplice, but it is certainly prejudicial to appellant to place his paramour upon the stand and ring from her a refusal to testify, and have the jury use this refusal as a circumstance of guilt against appellant. We would suggest upon another trial that this be not done.

For the errors suggested, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

Davidson, Presiding Judge, absent.