A continuance by appellants was sought for the testimony of Mrs. Sivil, which was overruled. One of the grounds of the motion for a new trial was based on this action of the court. By her it was expected to be shown “that there were only three shots fired and that the first shot she took to be a shotgun, from the sound, as it
The evidence adduced on the trial, especially the uncontradicted inculpatory facts proved, will demonstrate that the facts expected to be proved by the absent witness are wholly immaterial in this case, and if true would not in the least tend to disprove the guilt of the parties or cast a shadow of doubt in that direction.
The third bill of exceptions is thus stated in the record: “The court erred in compelling Mrs. Tweedle, the wife of one of the defendants, and mother of one of the other defendants, to answer, over objection,
During the opening argument the district attorney said “that a man could breathe slander and circulate slanderous reports against a woman, but he was not half as bad as the man that whipped his wife.” The appellants’ counsel objected to this language. Concede that this argument was improper, it does not follow that the judgment should be reversed for this cause. The remarks must not only be improper, but they must be of such a nature as would be clearly calculated to prejudice the rights of the defendants. To reverse in all cases where counsel fail to confine themselves to the record would render trials farces. There is hardly a case of any importance tried but that during the progress of the trial some unguarded expression is used by counsel upon either side. It would be a remarkable coincidence if this were not true. House v. The State, 19 Texas Ct. App., 227; Bass v. The State, 16 Texas Ct. App., 62. During the further progress of the argument the prosecuting attorney asked this question: “Why did not these defendants at the examining trial offer the same evidence in extenuation as they do now?” This remark is complained of also. The-record shows that all of the witnesses, or nearly all, who testified for the defendants on their final trial also attended the examining trial, but none of them testified. The State developed the same state of case on both trials. Defendants Tweedle had on the night and day subsequent to the killing made statements of the manner and cause of the killing directly antagonistic to the evidence offered on their final trial. To the sheriff their statements were that the deceased came upon them armed and tried to kill them, while upon their final trial they testified that they killed the deceased because he had used insulting language concerning Mrs. Tweedle, and had been guilty of other insulting conduct toward her. How on the examining trial none of these facts were proved nor offered in evidence. The.State proved all these matters fully. The remark of the district attorney was a legitimate criticism upon the failure of the defendants to offer in evidence at the examining trial the conduct of the deceased toward Mrs. Tweedle, which was the principal defense on the final trial.
We have given this case a careful examination, and we find no error for which it should be reversed in so far as it relates to W. H. Tweedle and George Tweedle. After a full investigation of the facts bearing
Affirmed.
Judges all present and concurring.
