Fox v. State

Appellant was charged by indictment in the county court of Navarro County, with the offense of selling intoxicating liquors therein in violation of the local option law.

The record on appeal contains 280 pages, and raises many questions. A motion has been made by the State to strike out the statement of facts on the ground that this being an appeal from the county court, the Act of the Twenty-ninth Legislature, which authorized a statement of facts to be made up by questions and answers, applies only to those courts in which there was an official stenographer, and that the law makes no provisions for an official stenographer in respect to cases tried in the county court; and further because the statement of facts in this case, consisting of questions and answers, having been approved after the law of the Thirtieth Legislature had gone into effect, which repealed the provisions of the former law authorizing a statement of facts to be so prepared, that the law in effect when this statement of facts was prepared, in terms prohibited a statement of facts in the form in which this one was made up. We are inclined to believe that this motion should be granted, but in view of the disposition we have concluded to make of the case, we have concluded to consider the case as if the statement of facts was in all respects regular.

2. Complaint is made that the court erred in refusing to change the venue of the case on application made by appellant. A sufficient answer to this motion is, that under our statute a change of venue is not authorized in a misdemeanor case. This is well settled, and the general rule seems to be recognized by appellant's counsel, though they earnestly insist that we should depart from it. We see no occasion so to do. Code of Criminal Procedure, articles 613-614; Halsell v. State, 29 Texas Crim. App. 22, and Johnson v. State,31 Tex. Crim. 456.

3. Again, complaint is made that the court erred in overruling appellant's application for a continuance. There was no error in this. The indictment in the case was filed in the county court on April 15, 1907. It appears incidentally but definitely from the record that appellant was arrested on May 15, 1907. No process was sought for any witness until July 27, 1907. Appellant does say in his application that he issued subpœna to Galveston County for the witness Craig on June 27th, 1907, when he first learned he was in that county, but he does not state what diligence, if any, he used to find out his whereabouts, or that he had been in ignorance of his whereabouts, or was unable to learn same. The other witnesses resided in Navarro County. The county court met on Monday, July 1st, and appellant's case went to trial on July 2nd. So that for almost two months after his indictment and arrest, no sort of diligence was used to prepare for trial. As presented in this record, the diligence was manifestly insufficient, and the court did not err in overruling the application, and this without reference to the materiality of the testimony. In this connection, we may say it is doubtful whether under all the facts the testimony sought was of such character as to have justified the court in granting a continuance.

4. Again, complaint is made that the court erred in refusing to quash the jury panel and dismiss the jurors summoned for the week. This motion was made on the ground, in substance, that this jury was summoned by jury commissioners, both of whom were members of the Law and Order League, and contributors to a fund raised by such league to prosecute this and other cases, and the jurors summoned were all prohibitionists and several of them were members of the Law and Order League and were contributors to the fund and were all prejudiced against this defendant. A sufficient answer to this motion is, that there was no evidence offered in support of this motion; and we are, therefore, without authority to review or set aside the judgment and ruling of the trial court in holding the jury qualified, or to sustain appellant's motion. Cravey v. State, 23 Texas Crim, App. 677.

5. Again, it is contended that the trial court erred in not holding and charging, in effect, that inasmuch as the City of Corsicana is operating under a special charter granted by the Legislature, that the local option laws adopted by said county had and could have no application to it. We hold that the Legislature was without power, if it attempted so to do, and further that it did not in fact attempt in granting a special charter to the City of Corsicana, to exempt said city from the equal operation of the laws of this State, that it was prohibited under the Constitution from so doing, and that the local option law enacted under the Constitution, by which Navarro County as a unit declared the sale of intoxicating liquors unlawful was effective throughout the limits of said county, including the city of Corsicana. Constitution, article 16, section 20; and Ex Parte Elliott, 49 Tex. Crim. 108; 91 S.W. Rep. 570.

6. Again, complaint is made that the court erred in his charge on the subject of alibi. On the question the court charged, as follows: "Evidence introduced in the trial of this case suggests what is known and called in legal phraseology as an alibi; that is, if the offense was committed as alleged, then the defendant was at the time of the commission thereof, at another and different place from that at which said offense was committed (if committed); and therefore was not and could not have been the person who committed the same (if committed). Now, if the evidence raises in your mind a reasonable doubt as to the presence of the defendant in the Blue Front Saloon on the 30th day of January, 1907, at the time of the alleged sale to W.S. Clark (if any) then you will acquit defendant and say by your verdict not guilty." The requested charge was as follows: "Gentlemen of the jury: You are instructed that amongst other defenses set up by defendant, is that known as an alibi; that is, that if there was a sale of intoxicating liquor made to W.S. Clark upon January 30th, 1907, in the Blue Front building, in Corsicana, that the defendant was at that time at another and different place, and was not in Navarro County, nor in the Blue Front place at the time of said sale, and was not connected therewith, and therefore was not the person who made the alleged sale to W.S. Clark. Now, if the evidence raises in your minds a reasonable doubt as to the presence of the defendant, Leo Fox, at the time of the alleged sale, if a sale was made, then you will find defendant not guilty, and if you entertain a reasonable doubt that at that time, defendant may not have been elsewhere, the defendant is entitled to the benefit of said doubt and the jury should acquit him." The charge of the court was followed immediately by this additional charge: "The defendant in a criminal case is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established by legal evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt; and in case you have a reasonable doubt as to the defendant's guilt, you will acquit him, and say by your verdict not guilty." We see no objection to the charge given by the court, and we see no occasion why the special charge should have been given, and the court did not err in the charge given or in refusing the requested charge on the subject of the alibi.

7. Complaint is made of the charge of the court in substance charging that the issuance of internal revenue license was prima facie evidence that he was engaged in selling intoxicating liquors. This is expressly so provided by law. See Acts of the Twenty-eighth Legislature, 1903, page 57, chapter 40, article 402. This court has repeatedly held such charges correct. McGee v. State, 98 S.W. Rep. 245; Thompson v. State, 48 Tex. Crim. 295; 97 S.W. Rep. 316; Uloth v. State, 48 Tex. Crim. 295; 87 S.W. Rep. 822.

8. Complaint is made of the misconduct of three of the jurors, A.A. Heppard, J.H. Fesmire, and Jack Castles. The several matters of misconduct in respect to all these jurors was made the matter of diligent inquiry by and under the direction of the court. There is ample evidence to sustain the findings of the court that there was no such misconduct on the part of any of these jurors as to entitle appellant's motion on this ground to serious consideration. Indeed, this is our judgment, after having carefully read the entire record. Therefore, we hold that the court having found against appellant's contention in this condition of the record, and there being ample evidence to support said findings, this court ought not and will not disturb said judgment of the trial court. Code of Criminal Procedure, article 821; Mayes v. State, 33 Tex.Crim. Rep.; Cockrell v. State, 32 Tex.Crim. Rep.; Driver v. State, 37 Tex. Crim. 160; Shaw v. State, 32 Tex.Crim. Rep..

9. Finally, it is contended that the court erred in overruling appellant's motion for a new trial, because, as claimed, the verdict of the jury is not supported by the evidence. We have carefully examined the record in this respect, and it contains unequivocal proof, if believed, of appellant's guilt. These matters were fairly submitted by the court to the jury. The jury have found against appellant, and in view of this state of the record, we are without power to interfere.

The judgment of the court below is in all things affirmed.

Affirmed.

ON REHEARING. April 15, 1908.