Castle v. State

23 Tex. Ct. App. 286 | Tex. App. | 1887

Willson, Judge.

This conviction was obtained under a complaint and information which charge that defendant did “ knowingly, unlawfully, feloniously and seriously, threaten to take the life of Arizona C. Benton by sending her a threatening letter through the United States mail, in words and figures as follows, to wit, threatening to kill her the said Arizona 0. Benton, viz;” and then follows the letter referred to, set forth in haec verba.

It is apparent from the record that the county attorney and the trial court regarded the prosecution as brought under Article 813 of the Penal Code. In his charge the judge instructed the jury with reference to that Article and the penalty denounced by it, and there can be no doubt, from the record, that the defendant has been tried and convicted under said Article. This being the case, we are of the opinion that the conviction is erroneous because the information is not a good one under said Article 813. It does not allege that the defendant knowingly sent or delivered the letter, but that he “knowingly,” etc., did threaten, etc., by sending, etc. It is the sending or delivering of. a threatening letter knowingly that constitutes this offense —not knowingly threatening. A person might knowingly write a threatening letter, and such letter might reach the person to whom it was addressed, and yet it might not have been knowingly sent or delivered by the writer. In such case the offense denounced by Article 813 would not have been committed. (Tynes v. The State, 17 Texas Ct. App., 123; Willson’s Crim. Forms, No. 527.)

Opinion delivered April 16, 1887.

If this conviction had been had under Article 809 of the Penal Code, we would not, perhaps, disturb it, although the information is not in strict accordance with approved precedents. (Willson’s Forms, No. 525, and note.)

Because the defendant has been convicted of an offense with which he is not charged, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.