Vaughn v. State

Unlawfully possessing whisky for the purpose of sale in a dry area is the offense; the punishment, a fine of $100.00.

By authority of a search warrant, peace officers found, in appellant's residence, a sufficient amount of whisky to authorize the jury's conclusion that it was possessed for the purpose of sale.

The sole question presented for review is that one of the affiants to the affidavit upon which the search warrant was issued did not swear thereto. Appellant contends that such is manifested by the following facts, set forth in the bill of exception presenting the question: viz.,

Moreland, the sheriff, one of the alleged affiants, testified as follows:

"That he and the other officer whose name is signed to the Affidavit for search warrant, (same being signed by witness and one other, only, and which affidavit was regular and sufficient on its face as to form) had prepared said affidavit, and took same to the Justice of the Peace who issued the warrant, and showed same to the Justice of the Peace as filled out; that the Justice of the Peace asked the witness if the facts set forth in said affidavit were true and the witness replied that such facts were true to the best of his knowledge and belief; that the Justice of the Peace then told the witness to sign said affidavit, whereupon the witness did sign same, and that the Justice of the Peace then affixed his signature to the jurat to the affidavit;

"That the witness further testified; 'I did not hold up my hand and swear anything; The Justice of the Peace did not administer any oath to me. I did not say anything like 'I swear this is true, so help me God'. The word swear was not used at any time by anybody. All I said to him was — he asked me if it was true, and I said it was to the best of my knowledge and belief.' However, it was my understanding that I was taking an oath."

Under these facts, it is made to appear: (a) that the witness himself prepared the affidavit and knew the contents thereof; (b) that he asserted to the justice of the peace that the facts set forth in the affidavit were true; (c) that the affidavit was signed by the witness in the presence of the justice of the peace, who was authorized to swear him thereto; and (d) that, at the time the witness so signed the affidavit, he understood that he was under oath.

Do such facts warrant the conclusion that the affidavit was sworn to by the witness?

Our Code of Criminal Procedure prescribes no form of oath necessary to be administered to a witness, or one attesting, under oath, any fact in a criminal proceeding. We therefore look to the generally accepted rules of law. An oath is any form of attestation by which a person signifies that he is bound in conscience to perform an act faithfully and truthfully. The difference between an affidavit and an oath is that an affidavit consists of a statement of fact, which is sworn to as the truth, while an oath is a pledge. 39 Am. Jur. 494.

A reasonable test to be applied in the instant case would be to ascertain whether or not a charge of perjury might have been predicated thereon, in the event statements contained in the affidavit were false.

In perjury cases, the rule is that there is a valid oath sufficient to form the basis of a charge of perjury when there is some form of an unequivocal and present act, in the presence of the officer authorized to administer the oath, whereby the affiant consciously takes on himself the obligation of an oath. 41 Am. Jur. 11; United States v. Mallard (DC), 40 Fed. 151, 5 L. R. A. 816.

We conclude that the facts in the instant case bring it within the rules stated and that the trial court was authorized to conclude that the witness Moreland did in fact swear to the affidavit for search warrant.

It follows that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed. It is so ordered.

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

ON APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR REHEARING.