Martin v. State

The conviction is for forgery. The original statement of facts does not accompany the record as required by article 844, C.C.P., and the motion of the Assistant Attorney General that it be disregarded must be sustained. Morris v. State, 63 Tex. Crim. 375; Salins v. State, 142 S.W. Rep., 908.

The instrument declared on is as follows: "Fort Worth, Texas, May 4, 1918. Received of the Fort Worth National Bank $100 for account of I.N. Bank, Groveton" signed R.B. Buffington. The overruling of the motion to quash the indictment and the motion in arrest of judgment is complained of upon the ground that the instrument is not one that may be declared on in a forgery indictment without explanatory averments. It is the general rule that an indictment for forgery which sets out a written instrument which on its face would have created, increased, diminished, discharged or defeated any pecuniary obligation, or would have transferred, or in any manner have affected any property whatever, requires no explanatory averments. Hendircks v. State, 26 Texas Crim. App., 176; Branch's An. P.C., p. 851, sect. 1398. There are decisions somewhat conflicting, touching the question as to whether a receipt for money comes within this class of instruments or not. See Fonville v. State, 17 Texas Crim. App., 381; Black v. State, 42 Tex.Crim. Rep.. The first of these decisions appears to affirm and the latter deny that a receipt for money is an instrument that may be declared on in a forgery indictment without explanatory averments. The instrument in question appears to be more than a receipt for money. Its purport is to show that Buffington had received $100 from the Fort Worth National Bank, and that he had received it for account of the bank at Groveton. We are unable to reach the conclusion that the instrument was not such as would come within the terms of the statute, article 924 P.C. It imports an obligation on the part of Buffington to the I N Bank at Groveton for the $100 received for its account and would form the basis of a civil suit by that bank against him. In a suit by Buffington against the I N Bank for $100 it would defeat his claim. So the $100 paid, as shown by the receipt, would have diminished the obligation of the Fort Worth National Bank to the bank at Groveton. Likewise it would have shown a transfer of money from the Ft. Worth National Bank to the bank at Groveton, thus creating or increasing the obligation of the latter.

Judge Hurt in reasoning on the subject in Fonville v. State,17 Tex. Crim. 382 says: "Let us suppose that Hamby has ascertained that appellant had only paid Middleton $1.35 instead of the $1.75, and had instituted suit for the 40 cents, will it be contended that if Middleton's receipt was absolutely true, Hamby's suit would not be defeated? Appellant only having paid Middleton $1.35, and receiving $1.75 from Hamby he was by this transaction placed, in conscience and law, under a pecuniary obligation to Hamby, to the amount of forty cents. And for this amount, though small indeed, Hamby had a right of action against appellant. Now suppose suit instituted; upon the trial, if indeed he had paid Middleton, as is stated in the receipt, $1.75, certainly the pecuniary obligation of him to Hamby would have been defeated."

Many courts and text-writers designate a receipt for money as one of the instruments which may be subject of indictment for forgery without averments explaining it. Wharton's Crim. Law, sect. 887; People v. Munroe, 24 L.R.A., p. 33, and note; Cyc. vol. 19, p. 1384.

Finding no errors the judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

ON REHEARING. March, 1919.