Case ID: sw_170/html/0303-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DAVIDSON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GUY v. STATE.
    (No. 3222.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Oct. 14, 1914.)
    Weapons (§ 6) — Carrying Weapons — Elements 02T OFFENSE.
    Where defendant and two other boys were riding along together, and one of the others handed defendant a pistol and told him to fire it, which defendant did, and thereafter immediately dropped the pistol, the defendant was not guilty of unlawfully carrying a pistol.
    [Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Weapons, Cent. Dig. § 5 ; Dec. Dig. § 6.]
    Appeal from Polls County Court; P. R. Rowe, Judge.
    Henry Guy was convicted of carrying a pistol, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    Campbell & Campbell, of Livingston, for appellant. C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
    
      
      For other oases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   DAVIDSON, J.

This conviction was for a violation of the pistol law. Penal Code 1911, §§ 475-480. There seems to be no conflict in the testimony. The facts disclose that appellant was riding a mule bareback in company with two other youngsters. They were traveling the road, and near the residence of McGowen two pistol • shots were fired and immediately the third. McGowen was inside of his house at the time, but immediately went out, and says the defendant fired the third shot and immediately fell off his mule in about 30 steps of his gate. The pistol was picked up and given to one of the other parties named Bass. Appellant was assisted in getting upon his mule, and the three, defendant, Bass, and Wyatt, rode away. It is shown that the three parties were traveling together. It is further shown that the pistol belonged to Bass, and when they reached the point where the pistol was fired Bass handed appellant the pistol and told him to shoot it. , Appellant took the pistol and fired it three times, and then fell off his mule, the pistol going one way and the defendant the other when he fell. Wyatt picked up the pistol and handed it to Bass. It is shown by the witnesses that defendant did not have the pistol before reaching the spot where it was fired, nor after leaving there. Appellant’s entire and only connection with the pistol was as stated, Bass handing it to him, and he fired it three times. This is the case on the facts. Under the authorities this does not constitute carrying a pistol. See Fretwell v. State, 52 Texas Cr. R. 499, 107 S. W. 837; Sanderson v. State, 23 Tex. App. 520, 5 S. W. 138; Cathey v. State, 23 Tex. App. 492, 5 S. W. 137; Fuller v. State, 58 Texas Cr. R. 449, 126 S. W. 569; Baker v. State, 28 Tex. App. 5, 11 S. W. 676.

There are other questions in the case which would require a reversal for refusal to give requested charges; but, in view of the fact that the evidence does not show an unlawful carrying of the pistol within the contemplation of our statute, the other questions are not discussed.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.