Cain v. State

Hurt, Judge.

This is a conviction for theft. The material facts in evidence were that the prosecuting witness, the alleged owner of the stolen property, had for some time served the defendant in the capacity of mistress, they living together as man and wife. They came to Austin together. After reaching Austin they did not live together. The witness had a room at a hotel in the city. In the month of August or September, defendant visited her in that room. They disagreed about the witness going to a place called “Pressler’s garden.” The property (a locket and chain) was lying on the table in the room: The defendant took it, as he said, to prevent the witness going to the garden. The witness did not consent to the taking. She repeatedly asked the defendant for it, he giving some excuse for not returning it. In December following he sold the articles to a pawn broker, claiming to be the owner. The pawn broker kept them about a year, and sold them to another pawn broker, from whom they were recovered by the witness in an action at law. When informed that this action was pending, the defendant claimed ownership, and promised that evidence should be forthcoming to prove his claim, but failed to produce the evidence. The indictment was presented November 28, 1885.

Opinion delivered June 25, 1886.

The learned trial judge charged the jury that, “if the jury are not satisfied from the testimony that the taking was fraudulent, they will acquit. And, if the testimony should show that the defendant took the property only to keep said Mary Marshall from attending at Pressler’s garden, then they, will acquit the defendant.” This was the law of the case, and the question, under the rule thus announced, was, is the evidence sufficient to warrant the conclusion arrived at by the jury, that, at the time of the taking, the fraudulent intent existed in the mind of the defendant? Taking into consideration the relations of the parties and the length of time which elapsed from the date of the taking, and • the time of the conversion, we are not satisfied to let this conviction stand.

Because the evidence is insufficient to show a fraudulent intent jj at the time of the taking, the judgment is reversed and thev cause remanded. li

Reversed and remanded.