Case ID: sw_157/html/0765-02.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

BUCKLEY v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    May 28, 1913.)
    1. Criminal Law (§, 1172*) —Instructions— Misdemeanors.
    While the court need not charge the jury in a misdemeanor case unless requested to do so, if he does give an erroneous charge, it will require a reversal, if it is excepted to and a correct charge requested.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3128, 3154-3157, 3159-3163, 3169; Dee. Dig. § 1172.*]
    2. Criminal Law (§ 815*) — Instruction-Defense.
    It is reversible error, in a prosecution for unlawfully carrying a pistol to refuse to submit to the jury the defense that defendant was taking the pistol to get it repaired, as he testified, where a special charge on that point was requested.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§, 1922, 1986; Dec. Dig. 815.*]
    Appeal from Sabine County Court; J. B. Lewis, Judge.
    R. W. Buckley was convicted of unlawfully carrying a pistol, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   HARPER, J.

Appellant was prosecuted and convicted of the offense of unlawfully carrying a pistol, from which judgment he prosecutes this appeal.

There is but one question in the record that should be reviewed: Did the court err in failing to give a special charge requested by defendant? In a misdemeanor case the court is not required to charge the jury, unless requested so to do; but, in the event he does, do so, he should correctly present the law as applicable to that case, and if he does not do so, and the error in the charge is excepted to at the time, and a special charge requested in regard to the matter, it will present such error as will necessitate a reversal of the case.

That appellant had a pistol is proven beyond question; in fact, is not denied by appellant. But he says he bought the pistol the evening before; that he was working for Mr. Howard, but his home was with his father ; that the next morning, when arrested, he was taking the pistol to his father, to get him to carry it to Bronson to get it repaired. The court refused to submit this defensive plea in his charge, and refused the special charge in regard thereto, and it is such error as will necessitate a reversal of the case.

Reversed and remanded.