Case ID: tex-ct-app_10/html/0420-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hurt, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Dave Smith v. The State.
    1. Evidence.—To justify a conviction there should he clearness and certainty in the proof,—-such as would amount to that which is morally certain.
    2. Same.—See evidence held insufficient to sustain a conviction for unlawfully carrying a pistol.
    Appeal from the County Court of Falls. Tried below before the Hon. E. C. Stuart, County Judge.
    The opinion discloses the entire case.
    
      Preston & Holland, for the appellant.
    
      H. Chilton, Assistant Attorney General, for the State.
   Hurt, J.

The appellant was convicted of carrying a pistol on or about his person. Does the evidence support the verdict, is the only question presented.

There was but one witness, and his testimony was substantially as follows: u I requested defendant to go with me to a burial, a short distance off. He went with me to the grave-yard, which was a public place. While at the grave-yard, I saw a belt around the waist of defendant. I saw, underneath the coat of defendant, what I took to be the handle of a pistol. It did not look like the handle of a knife, but like the handle of a pistol. Would not swear that what I saw was a pistol.”

This is very unsatisfactory evidence; there is no description of the thing which he saw and which looked like the handle of a pistol. We are not informed whether there was a scabbard or not. If so, was it for a knife or pistol? What was its size and shape? Was this supposed handle in the scabbard? There is no fact given upon which this witness’ opinion was based. To justify a conviction there should be clearness and certainty in the proof,—such certainty as would amount to that which is morally certain.

We cannot give our consent to a conviction supported by such evidence as the above. The judgment is therefore reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.