Alexander v. StateAlexander v. State
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- E. C. Gaines, Davidson, Prendergast
Where the act of the Legislature provided that the court may continue in session for the period of seven weeks, or until the business is disposed of, this authorized the extension of the term of the District Court of the county of the prosecution beyond the end of the seven weeks, and an indictment returned therein during such extension is valid. Davidson, Presiding Judge, dissenting.
2.—Same—Indictment—Occupation—Selling Intoxicating Liquors—Date of Offense.
Where defendant contended that the indictment was defective in that no sales are alleged to have been made on or after the day he is alleged to have been engaged in the business of selling intoxicating liquors in local option territory, this was untenable, as the allegation was sufficient that defendant was engaged in said business and occupation, and that at least two specific sales were made within three years, and there was no error in admitting testimony thereunder.
3.—Same—Agency—Charge of Court—Evidence—Burden of Proof.
Where, upon trial of pursuing the business of selling intoxicating liquors in local option territory, the defendant offered to show that he reaped no profit from the transaction, but procured the whisky for the State‘s witness as an accommodation, the same should have been admitted in evidence and the court should have submitted a proper charge thereon. Besides, the charge of the court was error in placing the burden of proof and reasonable doubt upon defendant, with reference to the sales and what constituted pursuing the occupation. Prendergast, Judge, dissenting.
4.—Same—Evidence—Exhibiting Whisky Bottles.
Where, upon trial of pursuing the occupation of selling intoxicating liquors in local option territory, there was an agreement that the packages containing the liquor were delivered by defendant to the prosecuting witness, the court should not have permitted the county attorney to exhibit one by one sixteen bottles of whisky in the presence of the jury, as this was not necessary to any fact to be proven and prejudiced the defendant in his plea for suspended sentence. Prendergast, Judge, dissenting.
The opinion states the case.
The most serious question in the case arises on a motion to quash the indictment on the ground that the bill was returned after the term of court had expired by operation of law. The indictment was returned April 25, 1917. The Act of the Thirty-fourth Legislature, page 218, hereafter referred to as the Act of 1915, reads as follows:
“The terms of the District Court of the Sixty-sixth Judicial District of Texas, comprising the County of Hill, shall be holden in said county as follows: Beginning on the first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September and November of each year; each term of said court may continue in session for a period of seven weeks, or until the business is disposed of, save and except the term beginning annually on the first Monday in July may continue in session for a period of five weeks, or until the disposal of the business.”
The March term of said court completed the seventh week on April 21st. The grand jury is an auxiliary body of the District Court and a bill of indictment must be returned into open court. C. C. P., art. 445. Unless the court was in session under lawful authority on April 25th, the bill was not presented into open court or by a body having any legal existence as a grand jury. There are several statutes providing for holding special terms or for extending the regular terms under certain conditions, and all these have been carefully considered, but this was in no sense a special term, and, unless the statute above quoted gives such authority there is but one other statute by which a regular term of court may be extended. That is article 1726 of the Revised Civil Statutes, which provides that: “Whenever any District Court is in the midst of the trial of any case, when the time for the expiration
On April 21st, same being the last day of the seventh week, on the ground that the business could not be disposed of on that day, the court entered an order in the minutes extending the term another week or until Saturday evening, April 28th. Clearly the term could not have been extended under article 1726; because, under that statute, an extension can only be had when the court “is in the midst of the trial of any cause when the time for the expiration of the term of said court, as fixed by law, shall arrive.” It affirmatively appears that the court was not “in the midst of the trial of any cause,” when the seven weeks expired. The conditions authorizing an extension not being in existence, there was no authority to extend under that statute. Commonwealth v. McClellan, 121 Mass., 31. This much has been written as to said statute, because counsel for appellant, assuming that the extension was attempted under that statute, have argued well that no such authority could have been derived from that source. However, it does not appear that the court based its authority on said statute. It appears from the order on the minutes and from the remarks of the court in overruling the motion to quash, preserved in the record by defendant‘s bill of exceptions, that on April 21st the grand jury came into open court and informed the judge that their business was unfinished and upon their request an order was then entered extending the term for another week, during which this indictment was returned and other business transacted. The extension, therefore, clearly appears to have been based on the authority of the Act of 1915. It is true that the extension was evidenced by an order entered on the minutes, as required by article 1726, whereas an order may not have been necessary under the Act of 1915, because in the one the authority of the court could only appear from such order, while in the other it would appear from the law itself, if such authority existed. But the entry of an unnecessary order would not destroy a power existing without the order or bring the extension under another statute requiring an order based on different grounds.
Was the extension authorized by the Act of 1915? The language of that Act is: “Each term of said court may continue in session seven weeks, or until the business is disposed of.” Is the effect of this language to limit the term to seven weeks, at all events, and authorize it to adjourn sooner if the business should be disposed of, or does it authorize the court to extend longer than seven weeks if necessary?
The language of the Act is that: “Each term of said court may continue in session for a period of seven weeks.” If we eliminate the following phrase: “or until the business is disposed of,” there is no question that the court would still have authority to adjourn before the
In the absence of any direct judicial interpretation of the language under construction, the use of these phrases in substantially the same connection where their meaning is undisputed would seem to afford the best guide as to the legislative intent. A careful review of the legislation prescribing the terms of the District Courts, past and present, will show that when the term is not fixed for a definite time, the prevailing phrase is: “and until the business is disposed of,” with an occasional use of the phrase: “or until the business is disposed of.” However, there is nothing in the context of the usage of these phrases to indicate they are not convertible phrases and used in precisely the same sense. In the ordinance to the Constitution of 1876, written and adopted with the same ability and care as the Constitution itself, the State was divided into twenty-six judicial districts. In most instances the language was: “and may continue in session — weeks“; in fourteen: “and may continue in session until the business is disposed of“; and, in one only, being the County of Marion: “and may continue in session eight weeks, or until the business of the term is disposed of.” Marion County was then at the end of the circuit and was the only term not immediately followed by another. So that there is more reason to suppose a grant of authority in that instance to extend than to curtail the term.
But the language of the Constitution may well be presumed to have been chosen with more care than that of any other legislation, and while we do not find in that instrument similar language prescribing the terms of courts, we do find there precisely the same form of phraseology prescribing terms of office, and there is no sound reason why the construction of one should not involve a construction of the other. In prescribing the terms of office of the Attorney General, Comptroller, county judge, justice of the peace, and constable, the Constitution provides that each shall hold his office for two years “and until his successor shall be elected and qualified“; whereas, in prescribing the term of office for the Governor it provides that: “he shall hold his office for the term of two years, or until his successor shall be duly installed“; and in the case of judges of the Supreme Court that they “shall hold their offices for six years, or until their successors are elected and
The indictment alleged that “on or about the 25th day of April, A. D. 1917, and anterior to the presentment of this indictment, Dave Alexander, in Hill County, Texas, did then and there engage in and pursue the occupation and business of selling intoxicating liquor,” and then sets out the dates of numerous specific sales. No sales are alleged
The testimony shows that the principal witness for the State was one of those amateur detectives whose travels have been wide and his avocations diversified. He testified that he was “sent out by his headquarters at Dallas to report to the county attorney of Hill County.” He seems to have thereafter associated, for his keep, a character similar to himself. They ingratiated themselves into the confidence of appellant, who was a negro boot-black in a barbershop in Hillsboro, and induced him to procure whisky for them from the town of West on divers and sundry occasions as alleged in the indictment, for which they gave him money either before or after the delivery of the whisky. Appellant did not deny procuring the whisky and taking the money for it, but when he was testifying in his own behalf his counsel sought to elicit from him testimony to the effect that he did not have any interest in or reap any profit from the whisky but only got the same as an accommodation to the State‘s witnesses. This testimony was objected to by the State on the ground that it was “hearsay” and excluded by the court, for what reason we are not advised; certainly not on the ground that it was hearsay. This was original and direct testimony going to the gist of the offense. It was practically the only question on the facts. If appellant was a mere agent or obtaining the whisky as an accommodation, it would not constitute a sale. Campbell v. State, 37 Texas Crim. Rep., 572; Driver v. State, 48 Texas Crim. Rep., 20; Evans v. State, 55 Texas Crim. Rep., 549; Robinson v. State, 81 Texas Crim. Rep., 448. The gist of the offense is that of engaging in the business of selling intoxicating liquor. The question of the weight or probable truth of the testimony was not for the court. The jury may have preferred to have believed a negro boot-black rather than an amateur detective who encourages and participates with an ignorant negro in the commission of an offense in order that he may furnish evidence thereof for a reward. The testimony should have been admitted, and its exclusion by the court is error highly prejudicial to appellant. Appellant also complains of the failure of the court to charge on this theory, but it appears that a requested charge covering substantially this issue was given and this would cure the omission in the main charge. Ap
In the progress of the trial the State was about to exhibit the whisky in the presence of the jury for the purpose of refreshing the memory of the prosecuting witness, to identify the packages purchased and to prove it was whisky. Appellant thereupon admitted that: “Where it is alleged and proved that transactions were had with the prosecuting witnesses where the defendant delivered packages to said witnesses that the same were whisky and that said packages were the identical packages delivered by defendant to said prosecuting witness and then in the possession of the county attorney.” Notwithstanding this admission in open court, the court permitted the county attorney to exhibit one by one sixteen bottles of whisky in the presence of the jury. The nature of the employment of this witness and the short time that had elapsed since the events on which he testified were such that this testimony was clearly not necessary to refresh his memory. This admission established every other material and admissible fact that could have been established by the exhibition of said whisky. Its exhibition was, therefore, not necessary to any fact to be proven. But the psychological effect of such matters under all the circumstances must have been highly prejudicial to the appellant. This is intensified by the fact that appellant presented a plea for suspended sentence and the evidence was such that this would ordinarily have been granted. This is a right of appellant to be guarded as any other right involved in his trial. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Davidson, Presiding Judge.—I agree to reversal but do not concur on first proposition in opinion.
Morrow, Judge, not sitting.
I concur with Special Judge Gaines in holding that the extension of the term of court at which the indictment herein was preferred was legal and valid.
The Act of 1905, page 37, creating Hill County a separate district, fixed the term of court to be held on the first Mondays in January, etc., of each year, and prescribed: “Each term of said court shall continue in session until the Saturday before the beginning of the next succeeding term, or until all the business is disposed of.” Doubtless the judge of that court and the officers concluded, as the Act said, “shall continue,” etc., that it was mandatory and required the court to continue in session as stated, notwithstanding it had no business at all to transact for some time before the expiration of the term; and that the last words quoted, “or until all the business is disposed of,” gave the court power to extend the term beyond that fixed, if it had business on hand necessary to be disposed of. The Act of 1915, page 218, amending that of 1905, fixed the term of court on the first Mondays of January, etc., of each year. Then it said: “Each term of said court may continue in session for a period of seven weeks, or until the business is disposed of.” Thereby expressly authorizing the court to adjourn even before the seven weeks expired, and thereby removed the peremptory feature of the previous act requiring the court—“shall continue,” etc. But at the same time giving the court power and authority to continue the court even longer than the seven weeks if the undisposed of business required it. I think there can be no question of the intent of the Legislature in the matter and that the extension of the term by the judge in this instance was unquestionably a legal term of court during the time of extension.
I concur with Judge Gaines in holding the indictment when attacked in another instance as stated, valid.
I do not concur, but dissent from Judge Gaines’ opinion wherein he comments unfavorably upon what he says was the State‘s principal witness, as an “amateur detective” and that he “associated, for his keep, a character similar to himself.” I think his criticism of these witnesses is in no way called for by the testimony or anything that occurred in the trial.
Neither do I concur in that portion of Judge Gaines’ opinion wherein he, at least by implication, lauds the appellant in this language: “The jury may have preferred to believe a negro boot-black rather than an amateur detective who encourages and participates with an ignorant negro in the commission of an offense in order that he may furnish evidence thereof for a reward.” I commend and approve the employment of detectives by the officers to aid them in ferreting out the violations of our liquor laws. I regard them as a necessity and instead of denouncing them, I commend them.
Mr. Currey, who must be the witness referred to as “a character similar to” Carroll, testified that he made separate and distinct purchases of intoxicating liquors from appellant on March 4th, 5th and 7th.
Another witness, Mr. Sealey, who escapes being designated as an “amateur detective” or “a character similar,” testified that he bought intoxicating liquor from appellant on March 21st, April 20th, 21st and 25th.
Earl Pryor, who escaped odious designation, testified that he saw Sealey and Carroll buy liquor from appellant on March 23rd.
Mr. Eugene Pryor, another escaped witness, swore that he bought intoxicating liquor from appellant the latter part of April, and he was present when Sealey, while with Pryor, bought whisky from appellant on April 25th.
So that the testimony of the State did not depend upon the testimony of the “amateur detective” or “a character similar.” Neither did the detectives, or either of them, induce, nor were they instrumental in having, appellant to commit the crime. What they did was to detect him in the commission of the crime.
The prosecution and conviction was for pursuing the business of selling intoxicating liquor in prohibition territory—bootlegging of the worst type. Judge Ramsey in Fitch v. State, 58 Texas Crim. Rep., 366, designated accurately, so far as it goes, a bootlegger of this character, thus: “He was an unfair competitor of the man engaged in the sale of liquor under the restraints and safeguards of law. He was doing business in defiance of law. The youth received no protection at his hands as the law provides in case of the saloon keeper. He gave no bond to keep an orderly house. He might, as he did, ply his business in all hours of the day (and of the night). His place became the refuge for the depraved, a breeding ground of crime, a plague spot, the refuge and shelter of indiscriminate outlawry, and in every way worse and more destructive than the ‘earthquake‘s shock or the ocean‘s storm.’ It was this man, as it was a man of like mold in the blind tiger case, that the law sought to reach. It sought not so much to punish him for the sale as to prevent the sale, break up his place of business and
Of the two characters, this one just designated by Judge Ramsey, or the “amateur detective,” it seems to me the latter would be infinitely preferable to the former.
I do not concur in, but express my dissent from, that portion of Judge Gaines’ opinion wherein he held in effect that because of appellant‘s admission that the bottles which the State‘s witnesses claimed he had sold to them, contained whisky, that it was reversible error to permit the State to introduce in evidence these bottles of whisky before the jury. The law on the subject is as laid down by Mr. Wharton in 1 Wharton‘s Crim. Ev., sec. 24c, as follows: “It is error to exclude relevant evidence tending to prove or disprove the issues, although the facts are admitted, notwithstanding the admission, the prosecution has a right to prove the charge by competent evidence in support of it. Facts when admitted, frequently lose their probative force, and are frequently admitted for this reason alone. Through loose admissions as to such facts, both judge and jury are apt to be confused as to what is and what is not admitted, and are consequently often misled.”
Article 1 of our Code of Criminal Procedure expressly declares that the object of the code was intended to embrace rules applicable to the prevention and prosecution of offenses against the laws of the State, and that it seeks, among other things: “1. To adopt measures for preventing the commission of crime. 2. To exclude the offender from all hope of escape. 3. To bring to the investigation of each offense on the trial of the case evidence tending to produce conviction or acquittal.” And thereby commands the courts to permit the introduction of all legitimate evidence that would convict or tend to have this effect. The very reason appellant had for trying to prevent the introduction of these bottles of whisky which he had sold to these respective witnesses was to escape conviction and punishment for his crime, because the introduction of this testimony did “bring to the investigation” of this offense evidence tending to produce his conviction.
Upon the whole, it occurs to me that this case should not have been reversed but affirmed.
Davidson, Presiding Judge (dissenting).—I concur in the reversal, but am of opinion there is error in holding that the indictment was legally found. There seems to be no question as to the facts bearing upon this matter. The court adjourned by the terms of the statute on the 21st day of April. The bill of indictment was returned on the 25th day of April. The court makes this statement in the bill of exceptions:
“The court overrules the defendant‘s motion to quash, believing that the law is enunciated in the case of the State v. Mizell, 59 Texas Crim. Rep., 226, as reported in 128 S. W. Rep., on pages 125 to 128, inclusive, and upon the issue of the court‘s authority to extend the term, the court
“‘The term of the District Court in the Sixty-sixth Judicial District of Texas, comprising the County of Hill, shall be holden in said County of Hill, as follows: Beginning on the first Mondays in January, March, May, July, September and November of each year. Each term of said court may continue in session for a period of seven weeks, or until the business is disposed of, save and except the term beginning annually on the first Monday in July may continue in session for the period of five weeks, or until the disposal of the business.‘”
The Act of the Legislature referred to is not fully quoted by the judge in his qualification. Section 1 of the Act is copied by the trial judge. Section 2, however, was not and reads as follows:
“The near approach of the end of the session and the inconvenience resulting from unequal terms of court in said district, creates an emergency and an imperative public necessity requiring the constitutional rule which requires that bills be read on three several days be suspended, and that this Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and it is so enacted.”
It will be observed from reading this Act of the Legislature that the question of the extension of the term of court under article 1726 of the Revised Civil Statutes has no application. This is conceded by the majority opinion. The evidence and the bill excludes the idea that there was a pending trial before the court at the time the order was entered. The only reason for the extension was that the grand jury requested it that they might be enabled to dispose of some matters they had under investigation. Massachusetts has a similar statute to article 1726, supra, which provides that “whenever any criminal case shall be on trial at the end of any term, such term may be continued until such case is finished.” The Supreme Court of that State held that it applied only to cases actually on trial at the end of a term, and not to a case which, at some previous time during the term, had been begun and suspended, and not actually in progress of trial at the end of the term. That court said: “Whenever any criminal case shall be on trial at the end of any term, such term may be continued until such case is finished, and the jurors sitting in such case may be presiding justice to serve until the same is concluded.” “We are of opinion that the words ‘on trial’ in this statute are to be taken in their literal meaning, and that
Applying this rule to the statute under discussion, it will be found by comparing it with other statutes already mentioned that where the word “and” is used in one class and “or” in the other, it shows an intentional purpose on the part of the Legislature to amplify the length of terms in one, and to limit and restrict duration in the other. And the reason given in the statute itself fixing the term in Hill County shows that it was the purpose of the legislative mind to place a limitation on the length of such terms as specified in the Act. The reason is stated in the bill itself and carries its purpose. If the term could continue till the business was disposed of, the order of extension was not authorized. The idea of “extension” or even legal prolongation is excluded. The trial judge recognized this as correct and held it did not continue until the business was disposed of by entering the extension order. It was only by such order of extension that the jury returned the indictment. The extension was unauthorized. The term closed April 21st. The indictment was returned on the 25th of the month, a date when there was no legal or authorized term of court.
I am of the opinion that the order of the court extending the time, under the facts set out in the bill of exceptions as qualified by the judge, shows clearly that the extension of the term from the 21st of April beyond the end of the seven weeks was void. The court had no authority to extend the term, and that the term could not be lengthened by operation of law until the business was disposed of. When the night of the 21st of April came at 12 o‘clock, the seven weeks term ended, and the court by law terminated.
I respectfully dissent and believe the judgment should be reversed and the prosecution dismissed for want of a legal indictment.