Case ID: sw_133/html/0885-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DAVIDSON, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SARGENT v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Dec. 7, 1910.
    On Motion for Rehearing, Jan. 18, 1911.)
    1. Criminal Law (§§ 1092, 1099) — Appeai>-Record — Filing of Statements of Facts and Bill of Exceptions.
    Though the indorsement on the statement of facts and bill of exceptions, “Filed September, 1909,” does not show that they were filed within 30 days of the adjournment of the trial court, August 21st, so as to entitle them to consideration, this may be aided by affidavit showing the time of filing.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Dec. Dig. §§ 1092, 1099.]
    2. Criminal Law (§ 1099) — Appeal—Statement of Facts — Failure to Approve.
    One who, through no fault of his, is deprived of a statement of facts through omission of the trial judge to approve it, is entitled to a reversal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. § 2866; Dec. Dig. § 1099.]
    3. Witnesses (§ 68) — Competency—Wife of Accused.
    A wife is not a competent witness against her husband prosecuted for adultery.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Witnesses, Cent. Dig. §§ 159½ — 164; Dee. Dig. § 58.]
    Appeal from McLennan County Court; Tom L. McCullough, Judge.
    Walter Sargent was convicted of adultery, and appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    R. L. Neal, for appellant. John A. Mobley, 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
    
   DAVIDSON, P. J.

Motion is made by the Assistant Attorney General to strike out the statement of facts and bills of exception. An inspection of the record discloses that the county court adjourned on 21st of August, 1909. The statement of facts has this in-dorsement on same: “Filed September, 1909” —and has no approval of the county judge. Bills of exception Nos. 1 and 2 ana 3 are approved by the county judge, but are not filed —at least the record does not show any file mark upon them — and bill of exceptions No. 4 has the same indorsement as the statement of facts, to wit: “Filed September, 1909.” As these matters are presented, we are of opinion the motion of the Assistant Attorney General is well taken. It ought to be shown that the statement of facts was filed within 30 days from the adjournment of the court. This occurred on 21st day of August, leaving about 8 or 9 days in that month, and 30 days in September. If the filing of these papers occurred after the expiration of 30 days, it would be too late, and only two of the papers, one bill of exceptions and the statement of facts, show to have been filed at all, and the statement of facts is not approved. These being eliminated, there is no question presented for review by this court.

Therefore the judgment is affirmed.

On Motion for Rehearing.

At a former day of this term the judgment herein was affirmed. The statement of facts and bills of exception as then presented by the record were in such condition they could not be considered for want of proper filing. Since the affirmance appellant has filed a motion for rehearing accompanied by the affidavit of his attorney, Mr. Neal, showing that he presented the bills of exception and statement of facts to the trial judge on the 18th day after the term adjourned. The state does not controvert this affidavit and showing made therein. This would bring him clearly within the statute which allows 30 days in which to secure his statement of facts and bills of exception. The court approved the bills in ample time, and handed them to the clerk before the expiration of the 30 days. The clerk neglected, as shown by the record, to place the date of filing on them, but does file them "September, 1909.” The court adjourned on the 21st of August, 1909. The affidavit of the attorney shows that they were in fact handed to the clerk and placed among the filed papers within the 30 days allowed by law with the file mark as above indicated without specifying the day of filing. The statement of facts has the same file mark as the bills of exception, to wit, “September, 1909.” That document is agreed to by the attorneys, and was so agreed to at the time it was handed the judge, who agreed to approve the same; but it seems from the record and the affidavit that he failed to do so. The statement of facts was left with the judge, and the attorney interviewed the judge on several occasions after the document was handed to him urging his approval. He agreed to approve the same, but, so far as the affidavit is concern1 ed, as well as the record, failed to do so. Under our statute as construed by the decisions, this would entitle appellant to a reversal of the judgment in order that he might have an approved statement of facts upon which his case may be reviewed by this court. It was no fault of his that the statement of facts was not approved. We are led to believe that it was an omission on the part of the judge. There being diligence on the part of appellant and his counsel to obtain a proper statement of facts, he is entitled to a reversal because he did not obtain the same. Among the later cases upon this question are those of Shaffer v. State, both reported in 127 S. W. 206, 207. See those cases and authorities collated.

We have, however, looked into the bills of exception, thinking perhaps as they were filed, and under the affidavit of the attorney, within time, and having been approved by the judge, the matters therein contained might be considered. If they could not be considered, this would be an additional reason for reversing the judgment in order that he might have the matters stated in the bills revised or reviewed. If considered, two of the bills present errors which are clearly reversible. It is unnecessary to go into a detailed statement of these matters. It is sufficient to state that the state used the wife of appellant against him as a state’s witness. Objection was urged to testimony elicited from her, which was overruled, and she testified. The conviction of appellant was for adultery. It has been settled in this state by a long unbroken line of decisions that in adultery the husband or wife of the party charged is not a competent witness against him or her, as the case may be. For collation of decisions, see White’s Ann. Pen. Code, § 552. Under our' statute the wife is not permitted to testify against the husband except in a criminal prosecution for an offense committed against her by her husband. See White’s Ann. Code Cr. Proc. art. 755. see, also, Brock v. State, 44 Tex. Cr. R. 335, 71 S. W. 20, 60 L. R. A. 465, 100 Am. St. Rep. 859; Moore v. State, 45 Tex. Cr. R. 234, 75 S. W. 497, 67 L. R. A. 499, 108 Am. St. Rep. 952; Hobbs v. State, 53 Tex. Cr. R. 71, 112 S. W. 309; Marsh v. State, 54 Tex. Cr. R. 144, 112 S. W. 322; Knapp v. State, 54 Tex. Cr. R. 633, 114 S. W. 836, 130 Am. St. Rep. 903.

So, whether we consider the statement of facts or not, this judgment should be reversed.

The motion for rehearing is granted, the affirmance is set aside, and the judgment is now reversed, and the cause remanded.