Case ID: sw_201/html/0179-01.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

O’BRIEN v. STATE.
    (No. 4895.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Feb. 13, 1918.)
    Criminal Law <@=>507(1) — Evidence — “Accomplice’ ’ — Corroboration.
    Within the rule as to corroboration, one living in a house, by procurance of the proprietress, for immoral purposes, is an “accomplice” of the proprietress charged with keeping a disorderly house.
    [Ed. Note. — For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, First and Second Series, Accomplice.]
    Appeal from Wichita County Court; Harvey Harris, Judge.
    Ethel O’Brien was convicted, and appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    T. F. Hunter, of Wichita Falls, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   DAVIDSON, P. J.

Appellant was convicted of keeping a disorderly house. The state’s case depends upon the evidence of thei witness Maude Davis and evidence showing the general reputation of the house. In substance, she stated she was at defendant’s house, and had been for two days and three nights when appellant was arrested; that she had an understanding with appellant when she went there that she was to stay and receive men for money and divide revenues, and at that time appellant had two other women and five men boarders. At the time she went to this house she says:

“I had an understanding with- her [appellant] and she with me that I was to prostitute myself there in that house; that I was to receive men and to charge them for their relations, and was to divide the money with Mrs. O’Brien.”

She collected $6 from three men while there, and on the third morning she had trouble with appellant, who asked her for half of the money she had received, and she refused to give it; that appellant had agreed to give her $2.50 a week for work she did around the house, and when appellant demanded this a fight started. She testified to other facts showing there were other men and women there, three girls besides herself. Further details of her testimony are deemed unnecessary. All of her testimony was emphatically denied by such parties as she named and could be used on the trial.

A question suggested for reversal is that the court failed to charge on accomplice testimony, and refused to give special requested instructions submitting that question in the charge. Appellant complied strictly with the law in objecting to the court’s charge, and in presenting’ his special requested instructions. We are of opinion the court was in error. Such charge ought to have been given. The facts called for it, and appellant brought herself strictly within the law with reference to presenting this question. Dooms v. State, 77 Tex. Cr. R. 206, 178 S. W. 334; Denman v. State, 77 Tex. Cr. R. 256, 178 S. W. 332; Williams v. State, 53 Tex. Cr. R. 399, 110 S. W. 63; Tracey v. State, 42 Tex. Cr. R. 495, 61 S. W. 127; Stone v. State, 22 Tex. App. 185, 2 S. W. 585; Bush v. State, 68 Tex. Cr. R. 290, 151 S. W. 554.

Appellant also suggests that the evidence is not sufficient, especially with reference to showing that appellant was only the lessee or tenant of the house. With the exception in the most inferential way, the evidence is silent as to her relations to the house. There is evidence that she kept a boarding house and had boarders. Outside of this there is no testimony that shows she was the lessee or tenant. There was no evidence offered to show her relation to it outside of the facts stated. Her relations to that house should be shown. If she was the lessee or tenant, the fact, it occurs to us, might be easily obtained.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.