Clayton v. StateClayton v. State
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Harper
Where, upon trial of perjury, defendant made his first application for a continuance for two absent witnesses whose testimony was material, and was refused by the court to introduce three other witnesses who were in the courtroom, because they had not been placed under the rule which defendant invoked, and whose testimony was also material, and was thus deprived of the testimony of five of his most material witnesses whose testimony went direct to the
2.—Same—Evidence—Result of Other Trials.
The result of other trials of some of the witnesses for the defense should not have been introduced in evidence, but where the court permitted the State to prove that one of these witnesses pleaded guilty to a charge of being a common gambler, the defendant should have been permitted to show that the other witnesses contested their cases and were adjudged not guilty.
3.—Same—Term of Punishment—Charge of Court—Fundamental Error—Article 743.
Where, upon trial of perjury, the court instructed the jury that the punishment for perjury was not less than five nor more than ten years, instead of not less than two, etc., as the law directs, and the jury assessed the punishment at a term of five years, the same was reversible error, although defendant took no exceptions to the charge of the court when it was submitted to him, and complained for the first time of this error in a motion for new trial, as the same was fundamental error. Prendergast, Presiding Judge, dissenting, citing article 743, Code Criminal Procedure.
4.—Same—Witnesses—Accomplice—Accessory—Principal—Conspiracy.
That two or more witnesses were indicted for perjury on account of their testimony in a given case, would not render them incompetent, unless it was contended that they had entered into a conspiracy to do so, or were charged as accomplice, accessory, or principals, in the commission of the offense for which the accused is on trial. Following Anderson v. State, 56 Texas Crim. Rep., 360, and other cases. Prendergast, Presiding Judge, questioning their competency.
The court gave the following reasons for not permitting the witnesses Rich Henderson, Will Zachary, and Will Stewart to testify, in his qualification of defendant’s bill of exceptions:
“The above named witnesses were in the courtroom at the time counsel for defendant invoked the rule; all other witnesses were placed under the rule, and were retired from the courtroom under proper instructions, and after the State had rested, defendant offered these witnesses, who had not theretofore been sworn, and who had remained in the courtroom, and heard the greater part of the trial, and especially, a greater part of the State’s case. If counsel instructed these parties to stay out of the courtroom, the court was not so advised during the trial, and said negro witnesses did not stay out of the courtroom during the examination of the principal State’s witnesses, and the rule having been invoked by counsel for defendant, and no valid reason appearing why said rule should be modified, the objection by the State was sustained for the reasons assigned in State’s contest to motion for new trial as set out in paragraph No. 7, and made a part hereof, as follows: ‘The court did not err as alleged in defendant’s motion for a new trial in section
The court also made the following qualification to defendant’s bill of exceptions, overruling his motion for continuance, and subsequent motion for new trial for the absence of his witnesses Perry Hornsby and Will Siefkin, as follows:
“The motion for continuance was contested by the State and application was overruled, and same was assigned as error in defendant’s motion for new trial, which was likewise contested by the State. It appears from the record in the case that the testimony of Will Siefkin was not material to the defense, as shown by his affidavit attached to and made a part of State’s contest to new trial, and also made a part of this qualification; and it appears that counsel for defendant failed to use due diligence to obtain the testimony of the witness Perry Hornsby, as is shown by State’s contest to motion for new trial, paragraph 3, and affidavit of the district clerk, all of which is made a part hereof. Counsel for defendant failed or refused to inform the clerk whether witness Hornsby was white or black, or give him any assistance to locate said witness other than shown by clerk’s affidavit.”
Paragraph 3 of State’s contest is as follows:
“The court did not err in refusing to grant defendant’s application for a continuance on account of the absence of Perry Hornsby because one of the attorneys of record for the defendant, in filing his application with the district clerk for his witnesses, simply stated in his application, the following: ‘Perry Hornsby, Plum, Texas, or Cameron, Texas,’ as is shown by the application of defendant for subpoenas for witnesses filed herein on May 3, 1915, marked exhibit A, attached hereto, and made a part hereof; that the district clerk, at the time, asked said attorney, Jno. T. Duncan, to give him some better description as to the avocation and location of said witness, which the said attorney failed and refused to do, as shown by the affidavit of the district clerk hertao attached, marked exhibit B, and made a part hereof; that thereafter, towit, on May 6, 1915, four days prior to the time that this cause was set down for trial, the district clerk received a postal card from Allen Hooks, sheriff of Milam County, requesting some further description of the witness Hornsby; that this postal card was filed with
Paragraph 4:
“Contestant says that the testimony of the witness Will Seifkin would be irrelevant and immaterial to any issue in the trial of this cause, as is shown by his affidavit hereto attached, marked exhibit D, and made a part hereof.
HARPER, Judge.—Appellant was convicted of perjury, and his punishment assessed at five years confinement in the State penitentiary.
It appears that one Rich Henderson was tried in the County Court on an information containing two counts, one charging that on the 11th day of November, 1913, the said Henderson did unlawfully bet and wager money at a game played with cards; the other count charging that Henderson did knowingly go into and remain at a place where a game of cards was being played. On the trial of that case it is alleged that appellant testified that there was no card playing going on in the room alleged at that time, and that Henderson was not present in said room at the time alleged, and upon this testimony the charge of perjury is based.
That appellant was duly sworn and so testified on the trial of said Henderson is not contested, he contending on this trial that he did so testify, and that his testimony was true. To show the materiality of the hereinafter recited matters, we will quote one paragraph of the court’s charge: “You are further instructed if you find from the evidence, or have a reasonable doubt thereof that the said Rich Henderson, referred to in said indictment, was not in fact present at the time and place of the alleged games of cards, if any, in the town of Plum, referred to in the indictment in this case, then, in that event, you will find the defendant not guilty.” Thus it is seen the court, under this record, made the guilt or innocence depend on the presence of Rich Henderson in the room where the gambling is said to have taken place.
On the trial of the case J. M. Richardson testified he was a deputy sheriff, and that he went into this room and they were playing cards; that he took down the names of some ten men in the room, and filed a
The indictment against appellant was returned April 30, when he was arrested. On May 3, among other witnesses he secured process for Will Siefken to Jackson County, and to Milam County for Perry Hornsby. Neither of them were in attendance on court, and when the case was called for trial on May 10, appellant moved to continue the case on account of their absence. This was the first application for continuance. So the question of cumulative testimony is immaterial. By the witness Perry Hornsby he stated he expected to prove “that he was in the house in the rear of Morgan’s saloon where it is claimed that Rich Henderson was dealing Monte and other persons were present and by the witness Perry Hornsby this defendant expects to prove that he was in Morgan’s saloon at the same time the witness J. M. Richardson was in said saloon and that the said Perry Hornsby entered said room just in advance or just ahead of the State witness, J. M. Richardson, and by this witness the defendant expects to prove that Henderson was not present and was not gambling or dealing Monte and by this witness this defendant expects to prove that no gambling was going on in said room at the time.”
The State’s witness, Richardson, testified he went from the saloon to this room where he says gambling was going on, and the testimony of this witness Hornsby would be in direct conflict with the testimony of Richardson. The materiality of this testimony is not questioned by the court, but he says that appellant did not use diligence, in that after the sheriff of Milam County had received the process he wrote to the district clerk of Fayette County: “You sent me subpoena for Perry Hornsby. Can’t locate him. Is he white or colored? Where does he live? Give all information about him.” The clerk received this request on May 6th and filed it with the papers, but did not answer nor call appellant’s attention to it, and appellant and his counsel say they had no information in regard to it until this case was called for trial.
As to the witness Siefken, the State attaches his affidavit to its contest of appellant’s motion for new trial, evidencing that he in fact was in Jackson County, and if process had been properly served when sent his attendance could have been obtained. In the affidavit he states he did not see who got out of the window, but says he was told at the time it was appellant and not Henderson, by Will Steward. If this
Thus it is seen that appellant states he can prove by Siefken that he went into this room and will swear he saw no gambling going on; that he saw no cards on the table, and that the room was not used for a gaming room, but one in which to drink beer. This was on a material issue in the case, and he says, furthermore, that witness will swear he saw appellant there at the saloon and did not see Henderson. This would have an indirect, if not a direct, bearing on which one of the two got out of the window, and Siefken’s affidavit and testimony given on the trial of the case in the County Court show he would have so testified.
If this was the only matter complained of in the record we might hesitate to reverse the case on account thereof, taking into consideration the qualification attached to the bill by the court. But in another bill it is shown that during the trial of the case appellant called Rich Henderson, Will Zachary and Will Stewart as witnesses in his behalf, and states: “By the witness Rich Henderson the defendant expected to prove that he was not at Plum on the 11th day of November, 1913, and was not in the room in the rear of Morgan’s saloon on that day or at any other date. That at the time when this alleged offense was committed that he was at work for Dr. Crutzbauer on Dr. Crutzbauer’s farm, over seven miles distant from Plum or from Morgan’s saloon. That he was not in the said building and was not the person who got out the window when Richardson and his witnesses appeared at the door of the room and arrested all the parties remaining in said room.
“By the witness Will Stewart he expected to prove that he, Will Stewart, was in said room at the time Richardson entered the same and that Will Stewart knew Rich Henderson, and by Will Stewart he expected to prove that Rich Henderson was not in said room at that time or at any time before or at any time thereafter while the said Richardson was arresting or attempting to arrest the parties in said room, and by said Will Stewart he expected to prove that he (Henry Clayton) jumped out the window and made his escape; and that Rich Henderson was not in the room and Rich Henderson did not get out that window.
“By the witness Will Zachary he expected to prove and would have proven that Zachary was in said house when Richardson and his assistant witnesses entered the same. That Will Zachary knew Rich Henderson and that Rich Henderson was not in said room and had not been in said room and that Rich Henderson was not the party who got out the window, but the defendant was the party that got out the window.”
It is thus seen that the testimony of each of these witnesses would have borne directly upon the material issues in the case. The court excluded each of the three witnesses named on the ground that the rule had been demanded by appellant, and these witnesses had heard a portion of the testimony offered by the State before they were placed under the rule. Appellant was deprived of the testimony of five of his most material witnesses, whose testimony went direct to the issues involved, and the testimony of all of whom would support appellant’s testimony and his contention. He was forced to rely on the testimony of himself and Louis Burrell alone, on the issue as to whether gambling was going on in the room and whether or not Henderson was in the room. Ordinarily we will not disturb the action of the court in excluding testimony where the rule has been invoked. It is a matter confided to the trial court’s sound discretion. But in a case like this where the person on trial has been deprived of all his witnesses (except one) on the material issues in the case, and it is made to appear that they would testify to these material facts, three of them being in attendance on court, and through no fault of appellant he has been deprived of their testimony, we are inclined to think the court erred in not granting him a new trial. Each of the bills might not in and of themselves present reversible error, but when we consider them together and see that appellant was deprived of the testimony of five of his most material witnesses—a greater number than who testified for the State that gambling was going on in the room, and that Henderson was present, it appears that appellant has not had the issue of his guilt or innocence fairly determined. If Henderson was not present, as the testimony of all of these witnesses would tend to show, then the State’s case must and would fail, for he is the man the State’s witnesses say was dealing the cards. So the question of his presence on this occa-
The result of the trial of Rich Henderson in the County Court could not ordinarily be shown, and the court would not err in so holding. The result of his trial, and that of any of the others charged with gaming on that occasion would not be admissible on this trial, and on another trial the court should not only exclude the testimony as to the result of that trial, but exclude as well the result of the trial of any and all the others. However, on this trial the court permitted the State to prove that one of the men, Will Zachary, plead guilty to a charge of being a common gambler, filed against him on the occasion in question. If the State was permitted to prove that one of them plead guilty to being a common gambler, then in justice and fairness appellant ought to have been permitted to prove that those charged on that occasion who contested their cases were adjudged not guilty. This would be but common fairness, and especially does the injustice appear in this case when it is shown that Will Zachary was one of the witnesses for defendant who was not permitted by the court to testify, and who, the bill shows, would have testified in behalf of appellant that Henderson was not present, and doubtless would have explained why his plea of guilty to being a common gambler was entered. However, on another trial the court will exclude the result of the trials of all the others, whether adjudged guilty or not guilty, for as the court or jury found in those cases should not be used to affect the finding of the jury in this case. They should pass on that question uninfluenced by the verdict or finding in any other case.
Again, the court instructed the jury that the punishment for perjury was not less than five years, nor more than ten years, and instructed the jury if they found appellant guilty to assess his punishment at not less than five years, nor more than ten years. The jury assessed the punishment at the least term authorized by the charge—five years. The State admits this was error, as the statute fixes the minimum punishment at not less than two years (
In the Work and Robbins cases the minimum punishment authorized by law was assessed, and we think the court correctly held such error under such circumstances presented no reversible error. In the Manning case more than the minimum authorized by the court in his charge was assessed. So it could not be said if the court had authorized a lower punishment the jury would have assessed it. But this case is different from either of those cases—the jury did assess the lowest punishment authorized by the charge of the court, but more than double the minimum punishment fixed by law. In this character of case the writer thinks such error should be considered, even though not complained of until in the motion for a new trial. This gives the trial court an opportunity to correct his own errors, and award a new trial, and where one is manifest, and admitted to be error, and which error may have contributed to more than doubling the punishment that might otherwise have been assessed against one on trial, a new trial should have been granted. At least, this case should be reversed on account of the other matters herein discussed.
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
PRENDERGAST, Presiding Judge.—1. The State contested appellant’s motion for a continuance, and also his motion for new trial on the same ground. The court correctly overruled both, and gave the reasons in his qualification of his bill, which are borne out fully by the record. The Reporter will quote the judge’s qualification on pages 57 and 78 of the record.
2. The witnesses Rich Henderson, Will Zachary and Will Stewart sought to be introduced by appellant were under indictment for perjury in the same case and transaction as appellant was in this case. Under the proper construction of
3. The statute by the Act of April 5, 1913, page 278, was passed expressly for the purpose of preventing new trials and reversals because of just such inadvertent omissions as to the penalty in the court’s charge as was made in this case, and such an error is not and can not be fundamental. If advantage can be taken of such an error by motion for new trial, then the statute is vain and ineffective; but it is not so as all the time heretofore held by this court construing it. This case should not be reversed but affirmed.