164 S.W. 383 | Tex. Crim. App. | 1914
Appellant was convicted of receiving and concealing stolen property, his punishment being assessed at two years confinement in the penitentiary.
The State's case is shown by the testimony of a confessed accomplice, Hugh Davis. A house in Elgin, Bastrop County, was burglarized. The theory of the State was that Hugh Davis, John Davis and some negroes committed the burglary, and appellant, living ten or twelve miles away in Williamson County, received some or all of the goods taken from the house. There is no contention that appellant had anything to do with the burglary; that is, he was not present at the time and place the house was entered. The State's theory was he knew of and consented to the burglary in advance of its perpetration, and subsequently received the stolen goods. The State's case was made, as before stated, by the confessed accomplice, Hugh Davis, and such corroboration as could be adduced. The parties were arrested and carried to Bastrop County, and Hugh Davis turned State's evidence, and one of these parties named Decherd was kept in jail in Bastrop. This occurred in February. Appellant was convicted on the 27th of June, at which time Decherd was still in jail in Bastrop County. Hugh Davis' testimony, and the State's theory was, that Decherd was present, participating in the burglary. On the first of July, after appellant's conviction in June, Decherd was discharged from custody in Bastrop County and relieved of prosecution. Appellant obtained his statement in writing, sworn to, and appended it to his motion for new trial. In this statement Decherd states that he would testify that he was not present at the burglary and had nothing to do with it. In other words, he would have contradicted Davis' testimony at all points so far as he, Decherd, was concerned. This was a very important matter. It was necessary for the State to show the burglary at Elgin, and appellant's subsequent connection with the goods taken from the house. Hugh Davis' statement was the State's case, as he was the only witness who *231
testified to his own presence at the burglary and that of Decherd. Decherd could not testify at the time appellant was tried because he was in jail under a charge for the burglary. Under the statute, therefore, he could not testify for the defendant. Appellant could not obtain a severance, but the first opportunity appellant had to avail himself of Decherd's testimony was after the State had discharged him from custody. This testimony was material and under our decisions entitled the defendant to a new trial. The rule is laid down in the Rucker v. State, 7 Texas Crim. App., 549, as follows: "There can be no doubt at this day as to the rule, or the correctness of the rule in proper cases, as now established in this State, that where two are jointly indicted, and one is tried and convicted, and subsequently the other is tried and acquitted, a new trial will be granted the former to obtain the testimony of the latter, where it appears that the new evidence is legal and competent and material to his defense." This rule has been followed in a great number of cases, some of which are collated in Cox v. State, 63 Texas Crim. Rep., at page 498. In Gill v. State,
There is another question in the case which we deem unnecessary to discuss inasmuch as it will not occur upon another trial in the condition as here presented. John Davis was connected with the burglary by the testimony of the accomplice Hugh Davis. Appellant filed an application for a continuance when this was developed on the trial of the case, and asked for a postponement or continuance. Upon another trial the testimony of this witness may be obtained. If he would testify as contended by appellant it would be very material evidence — as much so as Decherd's.
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
[Rehearing denied March 11, 1914. — Reporter.]