Case ID: sw_256/html/0919-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "MORROW, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ARNOLD v. STATE.
    (No. 7970.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Dec. 19, 1923.)
    1. Criminal law &wkey;>1170-1/2(1) —Answer of state’s witness that defendant had reputation of “worst bootlegger in Washington couhty” was reversible error.
    Where, to state’s question whether he knew the general reputation of defendant as a law-abiding citizen, the sheriff testifying for the state said, “He had the reputation of being the worst bootlegger in Washington county,” and when rebuked by the court said, “Yes, I know his reputation; it is bad,” the error required reversal.
    2. Criminal law &wkey;»723 (5) — State’s argument urging rejection of testimony of colored men held improper.
    The state’s attorney should not urge in his argument rejection of the testimony of defendant and his witnesses because they were colored men.
    Appeal from District Court, Washington County; R. J. Alexander, Judge.
    Will Arnold was convicted of transporting intoxicating liquors, and he appeals.
    Reversed.
    W. W. Searcy and B. F. Teague, both of Brenham, for appellant.
    Tom Garrard, State’s Atty., of Midland, and Grover C. Morris, Asst. State’s Atty., of Devine, for the State.
   MORROW, P. J.

The offense is transporting intoxicating liquor; punishment fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a period of one year.

The evidence is voluminous and conflicting. Appellant testified to facts which, if true, would have exculpated him. The sheriff, testifying as a witness upon behalf of the state, said with reference to the appellant: “He had the reputation of being the worst bootlegger in Washington county.” The court then stated to the witness that this was not the proper way to answer the question, whereupon the witness replied: “Yes, I know his reputation; it is bad.” It seems that counsel for the state asked 'the witness a proper question, that is, whether he knew the general reputation of the appellant, as a law-abiding citizen, to which inquiry he gave the answer mentioned above.

The state’s counsel in this court concedes that the statement by the sheriff was not only improper but was so prejudicial as to destroy the fairness of the trial.

Complaint is made of the argument of the prosecuting attorney upon the ground that it urged the rejection of the testimony of the appellant and his witnesses on account of the fact that they were negroes and the state’s witnesses were white men. The truth may come from members of either race, and color alone should not be urged to measure the quality of the testimony. Branch’s Ann. Tex. P. C. § 369. The bill does not make clear that the language used by the prosecuting officer was necessarily subject to the interpretation given by the appellant. However, the other ground mentioned requires a reversal of the judgment, and it is so ordered. 
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