Case ID: sw_151/html/0826-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HARPER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WHITE v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Nov. 13, 1912.
    On Motion for Rehearing, Dec. 4, 1912.)
    1. Bail (§ 57) — Recognizance—-Recitals.
    Where a recognizance does not state the punishment assessed against accused in compliance with Code Cr. Proe. 1911, arts. 900-903, his appeal must he dismissed.
    [E'd. Note. — For other cases, see Bail, Cent. Dig. §§ 232-236; Dec. Dig. § 57.]
    On Rehearing.
    2. Criminal Daw (§ 1131) — Appeal-Reinstatement of Appeal.
    Where accused files a proper recognizance, his appeal will on motion be reinstated, although the first recognizance was not in accordance with the statute.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 2971-2979, 2985; Dec. Dig. § .1131.]
    3. Words and Phrases — “Man” and “Boy.”
    The word “boy” is applied to a male person under 21 years of age. "Man” is a noun used to designate one over 21 years of age.
    [Ed. Note. — For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 1, p. 855; vol. 5, pp. 4315-4316.]
    4. Criminal Daw (§ 1144) — Aggravated Assault.
    In a prosecution for aggravated assault on a female, where there was no evidence to show the age of accused, it cannot be presumed that he was ah adult over the age of 21 years.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 273ffi-27Sl, 2901, 3016-3037; Dee. Dig. § 1144.]
    Appeal from District Court, Hill County; C. M. Smithdeal, Judge.
    Ed White was convicted of aggravated assault, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    J. E. Clarke, of Hillsboro, for appellant. C. E. Dane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
    
      
      For other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   HARPER, J.

Appellant was prosecuted, charged with assault with intent to rape, and, when tried, was convicted of an aggravated assault.

The recognizance entered into is not in compliance with articles 900 and 903, and the case must be dismissed because of said defects. It does not state the punishment assessed against him, etc.

The appeal is dismissed.

On Motion for Rehearing.

At a former day of this term this case was dismissed on account of a defective recognizance. Appellant files a motion to reinstate, and accompanies his motion with a recognizance in conformity with law and the rules of this court as announced in Burton v. State, 48 Tex. Cr. R. 544, 90 S. W. 498, and the motion is granted. Appellant was prosecuted, charged with assault with intent to rape, and, when tried, was convicted of an aggravated assault, and his punishment assessed at 18 months confinement in the county jail.

The court instructed the jury that “an assault becomes aggravated when committed by an adult male upon the person of a female.” And the charge on aggravated assault is predicated on this subdivision of the provision of the Code defining aggravated assault alone. Appellant earnestly insists that there is no testimony in the record that appellant is 21 years of age, or was of that age when the offense was alleged to have been committed. The evidence would support the verdict that he is guilty of an assault, but whether aggravated or simple assault would depend upon his age. If he is less than 21 years of age, he would be guilty of simple assault only. We have searched the record in vain for some evidence upon which to base a conclusion that he is 21 years old, and we find none. The unvarying rule in this court appears to have been announced in Hartsell v. State, 55 Tex. Cr. R. 389, 116 S. W. 1159, Judge Brooks rendering the opinion. He says: “Appellant’s only contention is that the evidence fails to show that he is an adult male; the assault alleged being made upon a female. The prosecutrix, in her testimony, in speaking of appellant, uses this language: T know John Hartsell, the defendant, like any other boy, in passing.’ Then, in another portion of her testimony, in speaking of the appellant, she uses this language: T saw the defendant the next day. I identified him as the man who assaulted me that night.’ In the ease of Davis v. State, 76 S. W. 467, in passing upon a similar question, will be found the following language: ‘We are not authorized to indulge any presumption against appellant. If he is convicted of any offense, it must be upon evidence; and here we find no evidence to sustain the fact that he was an adult male, either of a positive or circumstantial character.’ In this case we have the prosecuting witness speaking of appellant as a boy in one place and a man in another place. The word ‘boy’ is always applied to a male person under 21 years of age. ‘Man’ is a noun used to designate one over 21 years of age. For a diseussion of similar questions, see Davis v. State, 6 Tex. App. 133; Gaston v. State, 11 Tex. App. 143; Tucker v. State, 43 S. W. 106. From the record before us we cannot tell whether appellant is a boy or man. By the record alone we are governed. If appellant is a boy, then it could not be aggravated assault. If he is a man, it could. The record on this question ought to have been made more explicit. We are not authorized to indulge presumptions against appellant, but must pass upon the ease on the record as made.”

We do not deem it necessary to discuss the other questions, but, on account of the above error, this ease is reversed and the cause is remanded.