Cannon v. State

5 Tex. Ct. App. 34 | Tex. App. | 1878

Ector, P. J.

The record before us fails to show that the defendant in the lower court pleaded to the indictment, or that, on his failure to do so, the plea of not guilty was entered for him. Without a plea there was no issue for the jury to determine. The fact that the defendant pleaded, or that a plea of not guilty was entered for him, must affirmatively appear on the record, or a judgment of conviction will not stand. Pasc. Dig., arts. 2941, 2947, 2981; Stacey v. The State, 3 Texas Ct. App. 121; Dempsey v. The State, 3 Texas Ct. App. 429; The State v. Matthews, 20 Mo. 55. The transcript also fails to show that the jury were sworn in the case. Unless the record affirmatively shows that the jury were sworn, the judgment will be set aside.

The judgment of the lower court is reversed, and cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.