Case ID: sw_180/html/0256-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PRENDERGAST, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

BEESING v. STATE.
    (No. 3816.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Nov. 10, 1915.
    
    Rehearing Denied Dec. 1, 1915.)
    1. Criminal Daw @=>829 — Instructions— Requests — Instructions Already Given.
    1 There is no error in refusing a requested charge affirmatively presenting accused’s defense, where such a charge has already been given.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. § 2011; Dee. Dig. @=>829.]
    2. Witnesses @=>37 — Character — Knowledge of Witness.
    In a prosecution for carrying weapons, it is not error to exclude testimony of a witness as to the defendant’s general good reputation, where it does not appear that the witness knew of such reputation.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Witnesses, Cent. Dig. §§ 80-87; Dec. Dig. @=>37.]
    3. Criminal Daw @=>377 — Evidence—Character Evidence — Time—Carrying Weapons.
    It is not error to exclude evidence of good character of the defendant in a prosecution for carrying weapons at the time of trial, but such evidence can only relate to the time of the commission of the offense.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 836, 837, 840; Dec. Dig. @=>377.]
    4. Criminal Daw @=>377 — Evidence—Character Evidence — When Admissible.
    Evidence of good character of accused is admissible only when guilty knowledge or criminal intention is of the essence of the offense charged.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 836, 837, 840; Dec. Dig. @=>377.]
    5. Criminal Daw @=>1091 — Record on Appeal-Bill oe Exceptions — Definiteness.
    A bill of exceptions stating that defendant offered to prove by his wife upon his return home on the day he was charged with carrying a pistol that she told him a Mexican, Gossio, had accosted her on the street and said to her, “Hello, kid, where are you going?” and followed her home, that defendant then told her he had just met the Mexican and pulled a bottle on him and he ran, and that the two bottles of beer was all she saw in his pockets, and she saw no pistol about him and that she had opportunity to observe him, is too indefinite and vague to require consideration.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2803, 2815, 2816, 2818, 2819, 2823, 2824, 2828-2833, 2843, 2931-2933, 2943; Dec. Dig. &wkey;1091.]
    6. Criminal Daw <&wkey;413, 418 —Carrying Weapons — Evidence—Admissibility.
    Evidence of what defendant’s wife told him and he told her after commission of the offense charged, is inadmissible.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 928-935, 968-972; Dec. Dig. &wkey;>413, 418.]
    7. Weapons &wkey;>17 — Carrying Weapons — Evidence — Admissibility.
    Testimony of defendant’s wife that at a time after the commission of the offense, when defendant returned home, she saw no pistol about him, and that all she saw in his pockets was two' bottles of beer, was inadmissible.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Weapons, Cent. Dig. §§ 20, 22-33; Dec. Dig. &wkey;17.]
    8. Witnesses <&wkey;37 — Carrying Weapons — Evidence — Admissibility.
    It is not error to exclude testimony of defendant’s wife as to whether he had a pistol on his return home, where she says she had an opportunity to observe him but does not say that she did in fact observe him.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Witnesses, Cent. Dig. §§ 80-87; Dea Dig. &wkey;87.]
    Appeal from Potter County Court; T. W. McBride, Judge.
    Gill Beesing was convicted of unlawfully carrying a pistol, and he appeals.
    Affirmed.
    A. M. Mood, of Amarillo, for appellant. C. C. McDonald, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   PRENDERGAST, P. J.

Appellant was convicted for unlawfully carrying a pistol, and fined $100.

Cossio, a Mexican, swore positively that in Amarillo, while he was in the- street talking to other Mexicans, appellant came by, stopped, held in his hand and poked a pistol at his chest, and, after standing there a minute or two, he, the witness, backed off and ran. He was positive that it was a pistol appellant had in his hand and poked at him. Mr. Rasmuson saw what appellant did at the time, and swore positively it was a pistol appellant presented towards Cossio at the time. Mr. Ellison, in effect, swore the same thing. Appellant swore it was not a pistol he presented and pointed at Cossio, but a beer bottle. He swore positively he had no pistol on the occasion.

The court, in his charge, required the jury to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant had a pistol on the occasion, before they could convict him, and that the burden was on the state, the presumption of innocence, and, if they had a reasonable doubt, to acquit. Also, in a separate paragraph, that, if they believed from the evidence appellant, at the time, had something in his hand that appeared to be a pistol, but if they had a reasonable doubt if it was a pistol, to acquit him. This clearly presented appellant’s only defense affirmatively, and made it unnecessary to give his special charge, in effect submitting the same thing.

Appellant has a bill complaining that he offered to prove by his sister, Mrs. Benton, his general good reputation as a law-abiding man, which he contends the court erroneously excluded. The bill in no way shows that Mrs. Benton knew his general reputation in this particular. By all the authorities, this was essential before she would be permitted to testify what it was. Again, the bill does not show that he offered to prove by her his said good reputation at the time, or before, he was charged with this offense, but at the time of the trial, which was some time subsequent. Again, it is only when guilty knowledge or criminal intention is the essence of the offense that such evidence is admissible. This court, in Jones v. State, 10 Tex. App. 558, and many other cases, established this rule, saying:

“It must be borne in mind, however, that it is not in all public prosecutions for breach of law that evidence of a party’s general character is admissible. The rule seems to be that whenever, • in a criminal prosecution, guilty knowledge or criminal intention is of the essence of the offense, evidence of the general character of the party is relevant to the issue and therefore admissible; but when a penalty is claimed for the mere act, irrespective of the intention, it is not. 3 Greenl. Ev. § 26.”

In this case appellant swore positively he had no pistol. This court has repeatedly held:

“The question of intent to violate the law for carrying a pistol does not apply, because the intention to violate the law is not made an element of the offense. The only cases when the question of good faith and intent of the appellant in a pistol case applied, as held by this court, is when he is an officer, or honestly believes he is an officer, and carries the pistol under such circumstances so believing, when it turns out he is not, under the law, an officer.” Farris v. State, 64 Tex. Cr. R. 530, 144 S. W. 249; Culp v. State, 40 S. W. 969; Clopton v. State, 44 S. W. 173; Cordova v. State, 50 Tex. Cr. R. 353, 97 S. W. 87; McCallister v. State, 55 Tex. Cr. R. 392, 116 S. W. 1154.

The only other error urged by appellant is as to the excluded claimed evidence of his wife. His bill, presenting this question, states, he “offered to prove” by his wife upon his return home on the day he was charged with carrying a pistol, that she told him said Cossio had accosted her on the street in a suggestive manner, and said to her, “Hello, kid, where are you going?” and followed her home. That appellant then told her hq had just met the Mexican and pulled a bottle on him and he ran, and that the two bottles of beer was all she saw in his pockets, and she saw no pistol about him, and that she had opportunity to observe him.

The state objects to this bill, claiming it is too indefinite and vague to require consideration, and cites White v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 635, 25 S. W. 784, Castlin v. State, 57 S. W. 828, and section 48, Branch Crim. Law. In the White Case, Judge Davidson, for this Court, held:

“A bill of exceptions recites that defendant ‘offered to prove by Walter Delaney, the little son of William Delaney, whether he and his father, William Delaney, had ever talked with one another about threats testified to have been made in the icehouse by Jim White to William Delany, in his, Walter Delaney’s, presence, about one week before Bob Ford was hurt.’ Objections interposed by the state were sustained. This bill is too indefinite to be considered. It should have stated the evidence expected to be elicited from the witness, as well as the object or purpose of seeking it. Davis v. State, 14 Tex. App. 645; May v. State, 25 Tex. App. 114 [7 S. W. 588]; Walker v. State, 19 Tex. App. 176; Counts v. State, 19 Tex. App. 450; Willson’s Crim. Stats. §§ 2368, 2516.”

In the Castlin Case, Judge Brooks, for the court, held:

“Bill 3 is defective in that it states that appellant ‘offered to prove by witness McHale,’ but does not show that said facts could have been proved, or that, it witness was permitted, he would have testified to said facts. White v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 625 [25 S. W. 784]; Moore v. State [40 Tex. Cr. R. 439] 50 S. W. 942.”

These authorities sustain the state’s contention herein. Besides, what she told appellant, and he told her, after the offense, would not be admissible. Nor that she then saw no pistol about him, and that all she saw in his pockets was two bottles of beer. It will be noted she said she “had opportunity to observe him,” but she does not say she, in fact, did observe him. The lowest punishment was assessed herein, and we think, under no circumstances, should this case be reversed because of anything shown in said bill.

The judgment is affirmed. 
      <@u=]Tor other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
     
      igz^jPor other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes