Watson v. State

The appellant was convicted in the District Court of Bowie County for an assault with intent to murder Charley Emerson, and his punishment assessed at four years in the penitentiary.

The record in this case shows that the appellant and his nephew, Gene Watson, a boy about 17 years of age, were in an automobile and had with them a Winchester and an automatic pistol. They stopped in front of the prosecuting witness' house, and when he came out to the automobile, after engaging in a conversation, Gene Watson shot said prosecuting witness with a pistol, through the chin and into his windpipe, and the bullet lodged in his lungs. The prosecuting witness hastily started to the house of his neighbor, and after leaving the car about 15 or 20 feet, Gene Watson shot at him with the Winchester. It was the contention of the state, and evidence was introduced to that effect, that the appellant and Gene Watson called the prosecuting witness, Emerson, out to their automobile, which was standing in front of the gate, and asked him when he was going to leave, and if he was going to leave that day, and upon being informed by said prosecuting witness that he could not leave that day, stated, "We come down here to kill you," and upon being asked why they wanted to kill him, they replied because they were bad men, and appellant replied, "He could kill me and get out of it for a dime, and said he had a right to kill me, and said he was a United States marshal." After some further remarks along this line, said prosecuting witness testified that appellant leaned back in his seat and said to Gene Watson, "Put it to him," and that Gene Watson shot him immediately, as above stated. The prosecuting witness also testified that said parties were drinking at the time, and under the influence of whiskey, and that he had met them day prior to the shooting, at which time appellant drew a pistol on him and cursed him, but afterward in a manner apologized to him and asked him to say nothing about it.

It was the contention of the appellant that he and his nephew Gene Watson, were passing the house of the prosecuting witness and going to get a "middle buster," or some farm implement, and was requested to stop by said Emerson, and upon doing so, Emerson inquired of the appellant about getting a job making some railroad ties, and upon being informed that appellant's brother, the father of Gene Watson, was handling that business, he began to curse his brother, Nig Watson, and called him a son-of-a-bitch. Whereupon Gene Watson took it up, and after Gene and the prosecuting witness had engaged in a very rough conversation in which they were both cursing each other, Gene Watson accused the prosecuting witness of having sold some whiskey to his brother, of about 15 years of age, when said prosecuting witness called him a "damned liar," and grabbed him, and then Gene Watson drew the pistol and shot the said Emerson.

From the record it is to be inferred that Gene Watson's greatest grievance against the prosecuting witness was the alleged sale of whiskey to his brother, which was denied. The record also discloses that the pistol and Winchester belonged to the appellant, and he and Gene Watson appeared to be sleeping or living together, prior to and at the time of the difficulty. Appellant further contended that the prosecuting witness was selling whiskey to the negroes on his farm, against his desire and against his will, and that he was not instrumental in bringing on the difficulty between Gene and Emerson, and that the shooting took place before he could prevent it. This is a sufficient statement of the issues raised for a discussion of this case.

There are many bills of exceptions in the record objecting to the testimony introduced by the state relative to the drinking of whiskey by appellant, Gene Watson, the appellant's father, and appellant's 15-year-old brother, Joe Watson, and the handling of whiskey by Gene Watson and the appellant. But in view of the issue raised and the testimony introduced by the appellant contending that the cause of the difficulty was on account of the prosecuting witness, Emerson, having sold whiskey to appellant's nephew and Gene Watson's brother, Joe, we are of the opinion that there is no error shown in the admission of said testimony, as same was bearing on said issue and in rebuttal of the defense therein made.

Complaint is made to the court's action in permitting the state to prove that Gene Watson had gone a short time prior to the difficulty and gotten the appellant's pistol, which was then in possession of one of his neighbors, and which was used in the difficulty. It is the contention of the appellant that the acts and declarations of Gene Watson in getting the said pistol were inadmissible because same was not shown to have been known to him or made in his presence. We are of the opinion that there is no merit in these bills, as they were shown to have been acting together at the time of the difficulty and prior to the difficulty.

Bill 16 also complains of the action of the court in permitting the state's witness to testify that on the evening after the shooting, the appellant, in referring to the prosecuting witness and to the difficulty remarked that he hoped the son-of-a-bitch would die. We think this testimony was clearly admissible as showing the animus of the appellant against the prosecuting witness, and the motive he had at the time of the difficulty, and in rebuttal of his contention that he was not acting in connection with his nephew, Gene Watson, at the time of the shooting.

Complaint is made in bill 19 to the closing argument of the District Attorney to the jury, wherein he used the following language:

"We could not attack the defendant's reputation; he could have put his reputation in issue, we could not; why would he not put his reputation in issue, if he had done so, then we could have introduced testimony in answer to what his witnesses said about his reputation. Why would they not put his reputation in issue? I presume there must be something against his reputation or they would have seen fit to put it in issue and brought witnesses here to testify about it."

This bill shows that the defendant had not put his reputation in issue, and the court in granting said bill qualifies same to the following effect:

"The rule of practice in this court requires that defendant request a special charge at the time setting forth the language complained of. In absence of same court cannot at this time say whether or not the District Attorney used the language complained of."

The bill further shows that at the time said remarks were made, that the defendant's attorney called the court's attention thereto and excepted to said remarks. It appears from the qualification that the court was of the opinion that it was necessary for the attorney to prepare a special charge and present same at the time of taking the bill, and that same was his practice in his court in requiring it. This court has not followed that rule, and in the case of Childress v. State,92 Tex. Crim. 215; 241 S.W. 1029, under similar state of facts, Judge Hawkins for this court, stated:

"The learned trial judge qualified the bill by stating that appellant did not submit any special charge to the court instructing the jury to disregard the question. It is our opinion that the question was such a gross violation of all rules of procedure that it should not be necessary for appellant to request the court to instruct the jury that it was improper and to disregard the same. The court should have done so of his own motion, and should have promptly reprimanded the District Attorney for asking such a question. There is no better known rule than that the reputation of the defendant cannot be inquired into by the state unless the accused himself opens up the way, and for the District Attorney to propound such a question, thereby forcing the accused in the presence of the jury to interpose an objection, called for prompt action on the part of the court. As long as the law presumes an accused to be innocent, attorneys for the state ought not to inject into the trial a matter which every well-informed lawyer knows is improper."

Under a similar state of facts, Judge Davidson held it was reversible error for the District Attorney to indulge in such comment in the case of Pollard v. State, 33 Tex. Crim. 197, which was also followed in the case of Turner v. State,39 Tex. Crim. 327. There are many other authorities we could cite in support of this doctrine, but we deem it unnecessary. We regret that it becomes necessary to reverse this case on this argument, but under the well established doctrine of this state for many years we think there is no other alternative left to this court.

Bill No. 11 complains of the action of the court in permitting the District Attorney, upon cross-examination of Eugene Watson, to show by him that he had filed a plea the day before, testifying to the effect that he was under 17 years of age, asking that he be tried as a juvenile so that he could be sent to the reformatory. It is urged by the appellant that he was not bound by acts of said Eugene Watson in filing said plea, and that said testimony was immaterial and prejudicial to his case. We think this testimony was inadmissible against the appellant.

By bill 13 complaint is made to the action of the court in permitting the District Attorney, on cross-examination of the appellant, to ask him if he did not stop at the prosecuting witness' house to see the wife of said prosecuting witness, and if he did not tell the witness, Shafer, that he had had illicit relations with said Emerson's wife. To the first question, the appellant answered in the negative, and to the second question, answered that he did not remember making such a statement, but denied having any illicit relations with the wife of said prosecuting witness. It is urged that this testimony was immaterial and prejudicial because the matters inquired about had nothing to do with the trouble involving the difficulty. We are of the opinion that this evidence was admissible as a circumstance tending to show motive, under the peculiar facts of this case.

For the errors above discussed, we are of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be reversed and remanded, and it is accordingly so ordered.

Reversed and remanded.

The foregoing opinion by the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.

Morrow, P. J., absent.

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING BY STATE.