Williamson v. State

72 S.W. 600 | Tex. Crim. App. | 1903

Appellant was convicted under article 367, Penal Code, of the offense of disinterring, removing, and carrying away a human body, etc., and his punishment assessed at a fine of $75; hence this appeal.

Appellant assigns a number of errors, but it is only necessary to discuss those which dispose of the case. Appellant made a motion to quash the information, among other things, on the ground that it failed to allege the name of the human body alleged to have been disinterred. Article 367, Penal Code, provides as follows: "If any person not authorized by law or by a relative or friend, for the purpose of reinterment, shall disinter, remove, or carry away any human body, or the remains thereof, * * * he shall be punished by fine not exceeding two thousand dollars." We are not advised that this statute has been before our courts for construction. However, upon the question here presented, consulting decisions on statutes framed in terms similar to this, the name of the alleged dead person should be set out in the indictment. See McAfee v. State, 38 Tex. Crim. 124. And upon this exact question the authorities in other States hold that the name of the dead person is essential. See 2 Bishop, Crim. Proc. sec. 1010, and authorities there cited. An indictment should always describe the offense as set out in the statute, and sometimes more than even the definition contained in the statute should be set out, in order to apprise the accused of what he is called upon to answer; that is, the indictment must set forth the offense charged with such a degree of certainty as will apprise the defendant of the nature of the peculiar accusation on which he is to be tried. If it is held that the want of consent of the relatives or friend of a deceased person is an essential averment, and that the burden is on the State to prove this, as in theft cases, then it would unquestionably follow that the name of the deceased person should be alleged. If, on the other, it is held that, while it is necessary to aver such want of consent, the burden of proving this fact, being peculiarly within the knowledge of the defendant, is to be proved by him, then he ought to be apprised of the name of the deceased person he is charged with disinterring, in order that he might prepare himself with proof of consent, if such be his defense. So, in either event, it occurs to us that the name of the deceased person is a necessary averment in the indictment under this statute.

Appellant's counsel strongly insists that the proof is not sufficient, and that the statute itself is defective in failing to define the offense, and urges us to construe said statute. He maintains that the statute requires the entire body to be disinterred. By disinterment he contends that the statute means that the body, and the whole thereof, should be removed from the grave. He insists that the proof only shows that the grave was uncovered, and only the head displaced and taken therefrom, and that this would not be an offense under the statute; because disinterring does not mean simply uncovering the grave, but includes removing the body therefrom, and that the removal of a part of the body is not sufficient — that the whole body must be taken from the grave. While it is not necessary to decide the question, the writer is inclined to believe that appellant's contentions in regard to this statute are correct, and I would respectfully suggest to the Legislature that a comprehensive and definite statute on this subject is required, inasmuch as the statute we now have is indefinite and uncertain in its terms. Such a statute should only authorize disinterment with the consent of the nearest relative or relatives of the deceased person, or in the interest of public justice in case an autopsy should be demanded, and in such case the exhumation should be authorized by some court. For the statutes on this subject in the various States, see note in vol. 2, Archbold, Crim. Prac. and Plead., under "Offenses Relating to Dead Bodies," and see art. 1024, Code Crim. Proc.

The judgment is reversed and the prosecution ordered dismissed.

Reversed and dismissed.