Case ID: sw_151/html/0560-01.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

BAGGETT v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Nov. 27, 1912.)
    1. Criminal Daw (§ 595) — Continuance— Material Evidence.
    Where, in a prosecution for being an accomplice to arson, the defendant had a subpoena issued for a witness immediately after his arrest, but the sheriff had not succeeded in summoning such witness at the time of trial, a ■continuance should have been granted upon an application showing that the absent witness would have testified that he was in the defendant’s store for 45 minutes before 6 on a certain day and accompanied the defendant when he left, and that the person who committed the arson did not come into the store at 5 minutes to 6 and arrange with the defendant for its commission, as testified to by such principal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1311, 1323-1327; Dec. Dig. § 595.] '
    2. 'Criminal Law (§ 829) — Trial—Instruction — Accomplice Testimony.
    Where, in a prosecution for being an accomplice to arson, the state offered evidence corroborative only of the fact that the alleged principal burned the house, and the court charged generally as to accomplice testimony and the necessity for corroboration, a refusal of a requested charge that by corroboration, as used in the general charge, was meant that the evidence must connect the defendant with the procuring and hiring of the principal to burn the building, as charged in the indictment, and that it was not sufficient if it merely showed that such principal burned the building, was improper, as such a charge made clear the real issue.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. § 2011; Dec. Dig. § 829.]
    Appeal from District Court, Johnson County ; O. L. Lockett, Judge.
    Otis Baggett was convicted of being an accomplice to arson, and appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    Odell & Johnson, of Cleburne, for appellant. C. B. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
    
      
      For other oases see same topic and section NUMBER, in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   HARPER, J.

Appellant was prosecuted and convicted of the crime of being an accomplice to arson, and his punishment assessed at five years’ confinement in the penitentiary.

When this cause was called for trial on June 5th, defendant moved to continue the case on account of the absence of the witness J. L. Harris; it being made to appear that defendant was indicted on the 13th of May and arrested thereafter, and on the 17th day of May he had a subpoena issued for the absent witness, but the sheriff had not succeeded in summoning him at the time of trial. Brock, the state’s witness, admitted he burned the house, and says that defendant employed him to do so, that he might collect his insurance on the stock in the house. He further says that this conversation took place in defendant’s place of business about 5 minutes before the store was closed, and but a short time before the fire. Defendant, in his application for a continuance, says that Harris will testify that he (Harris) was in defendant’s place of business for about 45 minutes before the store was closed, and was there when Brock came in; that he heard all the conversation that took place between Brock and appellant, and no such conversation took place as Brock details; that he (Harris) remained until the store was closed, and went with defendant to a Christmas tree, where they were when the fire occurred. Thus it is seen that this testimony, if the witness Harris would so swear, is very material; for the allegation is that he will swear that he was present when Brock came to the store, and remained there until the store closed. Brock, of course, testifies Harris was not in the store when the trade was made with him to burn the building, but he says the trade was made only about 5 minutes before the store closed; while it is stated Harris will testify that he was at the store for 45 minutes before it closed, and was there when Brock came and left. It is upon this employment of Brock upon which it is sought to convict appellant as an accomplice of Brock. Their testimony would be in direct conflict; and if Harris so testified, and the jury believed him, it would necessarily follow that defendant would be acquitted. The alleged testimony is so material we think the court erred in overruling the application and in not granting a new trial.

The court charged the jury as to accomplice testimony and the necessity for corroboration in a form frequently approved by this court; but, as it is not contended that appellant aided in burning the house, or was present when it was burned, appellant insists that a more direct application of the law than a general charge should have been given, directing the attention of the jury to the fact that the corroboration should be as to whether defendant • employed Brock to burn the house. The state offered evidence corroborative of the testimony that he (Brock) burned the house, and appellant insists that under this general charge the jury was misled, and complains because the court failed to give his special charge, which reads: “You are instructed that by corroboration, as used in the general charge, is meant that the evidence must connect the defendant with the procuring and hiring of Dick Brock to burn the building, alleged in the indictment. It is not sufficient if it merely shows that Dick Brock burned the building.” Where a special charge is requested, directing the attention of the jury to the real issue in the case, it should be given, if the charge of the court does not aptly do so.

We do not deem it necessary to discuss the alleged newly discovered testimony, as it will not be newly discovered on another trial; nor is it necessary to discuss the other questions raised.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded.