Case ID: sw_201/html/0183-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MORROW, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

DENTON v. STATE.
    (No. 4909.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Feb. 20, 1918.)
    1. Physicians and Surgeons <§=>6(10)) — Certification and Registration — Burden of Proof.
    Under Pen. Code 1911, art. 750, making it unlawful to practice medicine without registering authority with district clerk in county of residence and providing that absence of such record is prima facie evidence of want of such certificate, the state must prove such absence from the record.
    2. Physicians and Surgeons <⅞=>6(11) — Evidence — Occupation—Question of Fact.
    Appellant’s claim that the evidence shows he was engaged as a masseur and exempted under Pen. Code 1911, art. 754, from the provisions of article 750 requiring registration for practice of medicine, held not sustained as a matter of law; his occupation being a question of fact for the jury (citing- Words and Phrases, vol. 3, Second Series, p. 113).
    Appeal from Floyd County Court; E. P. Thompson, Judge.
    W. B. Denton was convicted of practicing medicine in violation of law, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    A. P. McKinnon and Kenneth Bain, both of Floydada, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   MORROW, J.

Appellant’s conviction was for practicing medicine in violation of article 750, P. C., which makes it unlawful for any one to practice medicine “who has not registered in the district clerk’s office of the county in which he resides, his authority for so practicing, * * * verified by oath.” The statute also contains a statement that the clerk shall indorse upon the certificate the fact that the oath has been made and recorded, and concludes as follows:

“The holder of the certificate must have the the same recorded upon each change of residence to another county, and the absence of such record shall be prima facie evidence of the want of possession of such certificate.”

There was no evidence introduced to the effect that appellant’s authority had not been registered as required by the statute. It is not unlawful to practice medicine, but it. is unlawful to do so without compliance with the statute. The offense is the practice of medicine without compliance with the statute, and the burden is upon the state to prove the offense. There will be found decisions of other states holding, under certain circumstances, the burden of making proof of authority to practice medicine is not upon the state because a fact within the peculiar knowledge of the accused. 30 Cyc. 1567. Such is not the case here, as the statute itself prescribes a rule of evidence making the absence of the record prima facie evidence of the want of such certificate, and requiring that the certificate be recorded in the county in which the accused is residing at the time renders it easy for the state to make the proof of records of the particular county. The failure to make the proof in this instance characterizes the evidence as insufficient.

The appellant’s suggestion that the evidence shows that the occupation in which he was engaged was that of a masseur and exempted by article 754, P. C., from the provisions of article 750, P. C., cannot, we think, be sustained as a matter of law. The character of his occupation was a question of fact. See Words and Phrases, vol. 3, Second Series, p. 113; Newman v. State, 72 Tex. Cr. R. 367, 163 S. W. 427; Dankworth v. State, 61 Tex. Cr. R. 157, 136 S. W. 788.

The judgment, of the lower court is reversed, and the cause remanded. 
      ©nnEor other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes