Case ID: sw_160/html/0711-01.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

VEHERANA v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Nov. 12, 1913.)
    1. Criminal Law (§ 995) — Judgment and Sentences — Showing Conviction.
    In view of the verdict of guilty, as charged, copied in the judgment, and the indictment properly charging the engaging in and pursuit of the business of selling intoxicating liquors after the prohibition law was properly and legally put in force, held, the judgment and sentence, when taken together, were not insufficient, as not showing that defendant had been convicted of any offense.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2518, 2521, 2523-2526, 2528½, 2530, 2536-2543; Dec. Dig. §, 995.]
    2. Criminal Law (§ 1184) — Appeal — Correcting Judgment and Sentence.
    Even if the judgment and sentence be insufficient, as not showing defendant had been convicted of any crime, the court on appeal should, under the power given by Code Or. Proc. 1911, art. 938, to reform and correct the judgment, enter the proper judgment and sentence.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3199, 3200; Dec. Dig. § 1184.]
    3. Criminal Law (§ 1159) — Appeai^-Review oe Verdict.
    The testimony for the state, if believed, being sufficient to sustain the conviction, the verdict cannot be disturbed on appeal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3074-3083; Dec. Dig. § 1159.]
    Appeal from District Court, Reeves County; S. J. Isaacks, Judge.
    Thomas Veherana was convicted, and appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Ben Palmer, of Pecos, for appellant. C. E. Lane, 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
    
   PRENDERGAST, P. J.

Appellant was convicted for unlawfully engaging in and pursuing the business of selling intoxicating liquors in Reeves county, after prohibition had been legally put in force therein, and his punishment fixed at the lowest — two years in the penitentiary.

Appellant makes but two questions by his brief. The first is, he claims the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict. The next is, he claims the judgment and sentence are void because neither shows that the defendant has been convicted of any offense.

The verdict of the jury found the defendant guilty as charged in the indictment. The judgment copies the verdict and then adjudges appellant guilty of engaging in the business of selling intoxicating liquors as found by the jury. The indictment correctly followed the statute and charged that appellant unlawfully engaged in and pursued the occupation and business of selling intoxicating liquor in Reeves county after the prohibition law, prohibiting the sale of such liquor in said county, was properly and legally put in force. The sentence, among other things, states that appellant was brought into open court for the purpose of pronouncing sentence against him in accordance with the verdict and judgment theretofore rendered, and then proceeds to order that, as the defendant had been adjudged to be guilty of engaging in the business of selling intoxicating liquors and his punishment assessed at two years’ confinement in the penitentiary, he be immediately delivered by the sheriff to the superintendent of the penitentiary and confined therein for the period of two years in accordance with the provisions of law. Taken altogether the judgment and sentence are sufficient. Even if they were not, this.court, under the law, would have the power and authority, and it would be its duty, to enter here and now the proper judgment and sentence. Article 938, C. C. P.

The testimony of the state, if believed by the jury, which was evidently done in this case, was amply sufficient to sustain the conviction. The appellant’s contention and his testimony was sufficient, if believed, for the jury to have found that he did not make the sales, but that he purchased, as the agent only from third parties, intoxicating liquor which he delivered to the alleged purchaser. This question was pointedly submitted by the court'in his favor, and the jury were told that if he did not sell the liquor to the alleged purchaser, but that he acted as her agent in purchasing from third parties and delivering to her, that they would find him not guilty. No complaint is made of the charge of the court in submitting this question to the jury. The jury found against appellant, and their finding is supported by the evidence, and we are not authorized to disturb the verdict.

There is nothing else requiring discussion.

The judgment will be affirmed.