Case ID: sw_275/html/1009-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BAKER,- J. PER CURIAM. .MORROW, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WYNNE v. STATE.
    (No. 9177.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    June 3, 1925.)
    1. Criminal Iawi&wkey;>I 169(11) — Admission of evidence of other like charges pending against defendant held harmless, in view of his and1 his mother’s testimony as to same facts.
    Where defendant and his mother, without objection, testified on cross-examination íd trial for theft that he had been arrested before for theft, error in admitting deputy county clerk’s testimony and record evidence as to misdemean- or theft charges pending against him. in county court was harmless.
    On Motion for Rehearing.
    2. Witnesses <®=»337(6) — Proof of defendant’s indictment for theft in other cases held admissible as bearing on his veracity as witness.
    Defendant having testified in his own behalf in trial for theft, proof of Ms indictment for theft in other cases was admissible as bearing on. his veracity.
    other cases see same’topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes •
    Commissioners’ Decision.
    Appeal from Criminal District Court, Dallas County; Felix D. Robertson, Judge.
    Hugh Wynne was convicted of theft, and appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Jas. D. O’Connor, of Dallas, for appellant.
    ■ Shelby S. Cox, Crim. Dist. Atty., and William McCraw, Asst. Dist. Atty., both of Dallas, and Tom Garrard, State’s Atty., and Grover C. Morris, Asst. State’s Atty., both of Austin, for the State.
   BAKER,- J.

The appellant was tried and convicted in the criminal district court of Dallas county upon a plea of guilty, with the offense of theft of personal property over the value of $50, and his punishment assessed at three years’ confinement in the penitentiary.

The only complaint urged by appellant in this court is to the action of the trial court in permitting the state, over Ms objection, to prove by the deputy county clerk of Dallas county that the appellant was charged in the county court at law No. 2 with theft cases, and in permitting record testimony to that effect. Upon cross-examination by the state the appellant testified to having been arrested for theft, and that he did not know how many cases of misdemeanor theft wore pending against him in the county court; that he knew of one case, but did not think that it was then pending; and that there was another charge against him for being along with another boy. The statement of facts further develops that the appellant’s mother upon cross-examination testified that he had been arrested once before that she knew of for some manner of theft.

In view of the facts of this case, in that the appellant practically admitted the charges, pending against him in the county court on cross-examination, and the testimony of his mother to the same effect, without objection, and defendant’s plea of guilty, if there was any error in the court permitting the deputy county clerk to testify and permitting the state to introduce the records showing misdemeanor theft charges pending against appellant, then such actions of said trial court became harmless, and the record fails to show any ground for reversal of this case.

Eor the reasons above stated, we are of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be and same is hereby affirmed.

PER CURIAM.

The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the court.

On Motion for Rehearing.

.MORROW, P. J.

The state’s evidence was sufficient to show the appellant’s guilt of the offense of theft of an automobile. He entered a plea for a suspended sentence, became a witness in Ms own behalf, and gave evidence in support of his plea; also to facts tending to mitigate the punishment. On Ms cross-examination he admitted that he had been arrested for theft, and had pending against him one case; that he had been prosecuted for misdemeanor theft. He also admitted the theft on the present occasion, and said that he was ready to “make amends.” His mother testified in his favor touching Ms habits, etc. Appellant’s wife also testified in his behalf. In rebuttal, the state introduced evidence to the effect that there were three cases pending against the appellant in which he' was charged with receiving and concealing stolen property. There was also testimony that his reputation as a law-abiding citizen in the community was very bad. Appellant having testified as a witness in his own behalf, proof of his indictment for theft in other cases was admissible as bearing upon Ms veracity, gee West v. State, 93 Tex. Cr. R. 288, 247 S. W. 534.

The motion for rehearing is overruled.