Trammell v. State

MORROW/P. J.

The offense is transporting intoxicating liquor; punishment fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a period of 2 years.

Appellant was arrested while driving upon the public highway an automobile in which there were 41 gallons of alcohol. The alcohol was locked up in the back end of the car. When first accosted, appellant insisted that he had nothing objectionable in his car, and declared that he had no key to the part of it in which the alcohol was afterwards found. He ultimately stated to the officer: “Well, you have got me; I am loaded with alcohol.” The state’s witness testified that he examined the alcohol, tasted it, and smelled it; that he identified the contents of the can which was opened as alcohol. Upon cross-examination, the witness was interrogated with reference to denatured alcohol. 1-Ie said that he had smelled but had never tasted denatured alcohol; that the liquid had a sickening, sweet scent to it, different from that of alcohol.

A graduate pharmacist and chemist was called by the appellant, who stated that he was familiar with the various kinds of alcohol;' that denatured alcohol was grain alcohol with formaldehyde in it and could not be used as a beverage; that it was not made for beverage purposes or for medicine. The witness had had occasion to smell grain alcohol which could be used as a beverage; he had also smelled denatured alcohol, and thought that there was no difference in the odor of the two. Upon cross-examination, the witness tasted the liquid in question, and said that it tasted like alcohol, though he had never tasted denatured alcohol. The witness also said that he would not say that the article in question was not usable as beverage alcohol.

Appellant testified that he was an automobile mechanic; that he owned the car which he was driving. He said that he understood that the 41 gallons of alcohol which he had in his car were denatured alcohol, and believed them to be so at the time they were placed therein. According to his testimony, the alcohol was put in the car by Pat Harrison, at El Paso, who stated at the time: “You can’t get into any trouble over this, for this is poison.” Upon that assurance, appellant agreed to take the alcohol to Fort Worth for a certain consideration. It seems that Pat HaYrison was arrested at the same time, or about the same time, he driving another automobile.

The issues raised by the evidence touching the nature of the fluid seem to have been submitted to the jury in an unobjectionable manner. The jury was told that, if they believed the fluid was denatured alcohol, or if the appellant believed it to be denatured alcohol, or if upon those subjects there was a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors, there should be an acquittal.

Appellant testified in his own behalf. The proof of the indictment for a felony was admissible upon the issue of credibility. As stated above, however, there is no complaint of the receipt of such testimony presented in a manner that can be considered. If the jury believed the liquid to be grain alcohol, further proof that it was intoxicating liquor was not required. In refusing the special charge to that effect there was no error committed.

The complaint of the refusal to require an election seems untenable. The first count charged the possession of spirituous liquors for the purpose of sale. The second count charged the transportation of spirituous liquor capable of producing intoxication. There was but a single transaction. The court instructed the jury that a conviction could not be had on more than one count. The verdict shows that the conviction was on the second count. Smith v. State, 90 Tex. Cr. R. 273, 234 S. W. 893; Hooper v. State, 94 Tex. Cr. R. 278, 250 S. W. 694; Mathis v. State, 97 Tex. Cr. R. 222, 260 S. W. 603.

The evidence is deemed sufficient to warrant the finding that the liquid was grain alcohol and not denatured alcohol. Our statute (article 58814b, Vernon’s Complete Statutes 1920 or Vernon’s Ann. Pen. Code Supp. 1922), seems to classify alcohol as one of the liquors within the prohibition. This court has held that alcohol is a known intoxicant. See Branch’s Ann. Tex. P. C. § 1237; Rucker v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 24 S. W. 902.

The judgment is affirmed.