DocketNumber： No. 4330.
Judges： Bamset
Filed Date： 3/18/1908
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/15/2024
This is an original application for habeas corpus filed in this court.
The relator raises some interesting questions, and has sought to sustain his contention in a brief showing great learning, and on oral argument, supported same with much plausibility. We think, however, after careful investigation, that, as presented, relator's position cannot be sustained.
The brief filed in the case of counsel for respondent contains a statement of the facts, and such a clear enunciation of the law (eliminating some incidental matters not necessary to be considered) that we adopt it as the opinion of the court. It is as follows:
"The historical facts preceding and out of which these proceedings grew, are as follows: The applicant R.M. Cox was charged by complaint filed in the justice court of precinct number 2 of Bosque County, with the offense of having unlawfully entered upon the inclosed lands of one Woody, without his consent, and which comprised less than 2,000 acres, and therein hunted with fire-arms, etc.
The case was tried in the justice court where applicant was duly convicted, and appealed the case to the county court of Bosque County, where he was again tried and convicted and his punishment assessed at a fine of $10 and costs.
The County Court being a court of general jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases, its judgments cannot be collaterally attacked, and the writ or habeas corpus is not available for that purpose. See Ex parte Call 2, Texas Crim. App. 497; Ex parte Scwartz, 2 Texas Crim. App. 74; Ex parte McGill, 6 Texas Crim. App. 498; Ex parte Boland, 11 Texas Crim. App. 159; Ex parte Dickerson, 30 Texas Crim. App. 448; Ex parte Branch, 36 Tex.Crim. Rep.. It is only in cases where the judgment is absolutely void that the writ is available and not in cases where such judgment is voidable. Errors committed on the trial of the case do not render the judgment void. If the court had jurisdiction, the judgment is not void.
The writ of habeas corpus is not available as a means of effecting *Page 242
the purposes of an appeal, certiorari or supersedeas. Perry v. State,
The writ is not available to test the sufficiency of a complaint. Ex parte Beverly, 34 Tex.Crim. Rep..
Now, with regard to the case on its merits, it will be contended that the Act of 1903, Twenty-Eighth Legislature, page 159, is void, because of the fact that it purports by its caption, to be an amendment to article 804 of the Penal Code, and it is claimed that there was then no such article as 804.
The first act on this subject was the Act of March 31st, 1885, which made it an offense to enter upon the enclosed and posted lands of another, without his consent, and therein hunt with fire-arms, etc. The second section of this act defined posting and provided how it should be done.
The next act was passed by the Twenty-Third Legislature in 1893, May 1st (page 87) and provided and made it an offense to enter upon the enclosed lands of another, without his consent and therein hunt, etc. This act contained a number of provisos, and was amendment to Act of 1885.
The next act was the codification of the statutes, in 1895. In this codification, the Act of 1885 was brought forward and re-enacted.
The next act was in 1903, the Twenty-Eighth Legislature, page 159. This act was an amendment to article 804 of the Penal Code of 1895, and made it an offense to enter the enclosed lands of another and hunt, etc.
The contention is, that as the Act of 1903 is an amendment to article 804 of the Penal Code, and that article is a copy of the Act of 1885, which had been amended in 1893, and not an amendment of 1893 — act, that this act (1903) is void.
In the codification of the statutes, the codifiers were instructed to bring forward only laws that were not repealed, and if the Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Legislatures had repealed or amended any law, that they should bring forward the amendment and drop such repealed law.
Now, if the adoption of the codified Penal Code was not a re-enactment of the statute as it reads in the Penal Code, it was such a recognition of that law as would make it capable of being referred to in the Act of 1903, for the purposes of amending that subject. Again, if the codifiers disobeyed their instructions or made a mistake in omitting the Act of 1893, in the codification, then the law would bring forward the amendment of 1893 and insert it as article 804 of the Penal Code, and in *Page 243 such case, article 804 of the Penal Code would read as the Act of 1893 does, and not as the Act of 1885, as shown in the Penal Code, and in either event, the Act of 1903 being an amendment to article 804, was proper and said Act of 1903 is valid. Then again, if the Act of 1903 is not in force, then the Act of 1893 is, and if such be the case, the writ must be denied herein, because the most that can be said under this prosecution is, that the complaint in this case would be only defective in not negativing some of the exceptions to the Act of 1893, and such defects cannot be taken advantage of in a proceeding for habeas corpus. Ex parte Beverly, 34 Tex.Crim. Rep..
Every presumption is in favor of the jurisdiction of the county court, and in favor of its judgments and the validity thereof, and unless it had no jurisdiction of the case, its judgments are valid, or to say the least of it, are not void.
If there is any law on this subject, then the court had jurisdiction, and its judgment is not void, and the writ must be denied herein.
The cases of Ratigan v. State, 33 Tex.Crim. Rep. and State v. Larkin et al, 90 S.W. Rep. 912 are strikingly in point by analogy."
Being of the opinion that the judgment of conviction in the County Court of Bosque County is not wholly void, it follows that relator should be and he is hereby remanded to custody.
Remanded to custody.