Case ID: sw_147/html/0235-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HARPER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

McINDOO v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    April 24, 1912.
    Rehearing Denied May 22, 1912.)
    1. Judges (§ 47*) — Disqualification — Grounds.
    . A county judge is not disqualified from acting in a criminal case, because he is attorney for plaintiff in a civil action against accused in the district court.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Judges, Cent. Dig. §§ 214-219, 222, 223; Dec. Dig. § 47.*]
    2. Criminal Law (§ 1159*) — Appeal —Review — Matters of Fact.
    The jury being the judges of the credibility of witnesses, where accused’s testimony is directly contradicted by that of two other witnesses, a finding of the jury will not be disturbed on appeal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3074r-3083; Dec. Dig. § 1159.*]
    3. Criminal Law (§ 1090*) — Appeal — Review — Reservation of Errors.
    Error in the admission of evidence or in permitting improper questions by the district attorney cannot be reviewed on appeal, where no bill of exceptions was reserved.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2789, 2803-2827, 2927, 2928, 2948, 3204; Dec. Dig. § 1090.*]
    
      4. Criminal Law (§ 886*) — 'Trial—Verdict.
    A verdict, in a prosecution for unlawfully carrying a pistol, is not erroneous, because it finds that accused should pay the costs, as these would be assessed against him, regardless of the verdict.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. § 2901; Dec. Dig. § 886.*]
    5. Criminal Law (§ 1090*)— Appeal — Review — Reservation oe Errors.
    The action of the trial judge in permitting the jury to separate during the noon hour, without instructions, cannot be reviewed on appeal, where no bill of exceptions was reserved.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2784, 2803-2827, 2927, 2928, 2948, 3204; Dec. Dig. § 1090.*]
    6. Criminal Law (§ 1056*) — Appeal —Review — Exceptions—Necessity.
    On appeal from a conviction of a misdemeanor, the failure to give special instructions cannot be reviewed, where no exception was taken to such failure.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2668, 2670; Dec. Dig. § 1056.*]
    7. Criminal Law (§ 829*) — Trial—Instructions — Repetition.
    The failure to give a special instruction is not error, where it was covered in all essential particulars by the charge given by the court.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. § 2011; Dee. Dig. § 829.*]
    Appeal from Jim Wells County Court; Walter R. Perkins, Judge.
    W. C. Mclndoo was convicted of unlawfully carrying a pistol, and he appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Suttle & Todd, of Corpus Christi, for appellant. C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   HARPER, J.

Appellant was prosecuted under complaint and information charging ■him with unlawfully carrying a pistol on and about his person, was tried, convicted, and his punishment assessed at a fine of $100.

Hon. W. R. Perkins is .county judge of Jim Wells county, and when this case was called for trial appellant filed a motion, suggesting that he was disqualified, and should not preside in the trial of this ease; the grounds of the disqualification alleged being that the judge was attorney for R. N. Wood in a certain suit pending in the district court, wherein R. N. Wood is plaintiff and this appellant is defendant. That the county judge was attorney for R. N. AYood in a suit in district court, wherein appellant was sued for the possession of certain premises, would not disqualify him from serving as county judge in a case in county court, wherein appellant was charged with a criminal offense. Article 5, § 11, of the Constitution, and article 606 of the Criminal Code of 1895, and decisions cited in section 649, White’s Ann. Code of Proc.

Two witnesses swear on a given occasion they saw appellant with a pistol; he swears he had none. The jury found against his contention; and we would not be authorized to disturb their verdict, as they are the judges of the credibility of the witnesses.

The grounds in the motion, complaining of certain questions asked by county attorney and certain testimony admitted, cannot be considered on appeal, as no bill of exceptions was reserved.

The jury, in addition to finding appellant guilty and assessing his punishment at a fine of $100, also found by their verdict he should pay the costs. This presents no error, as the costs, under the law, would be assessed against him anyway.

We cannot consider the ground complaining that the jury separated at the noon hour. No bill of exceptions was reserved, if they separated, or the judge failed to give them any instructions'; consequently it is not verified in a way to bring this matter before us for review.

No exception was reserved to the failure of the court to give the special charge requested. This is a misdemeanor; and, if it is desired that we review this action of the court, it should have been excepted to. However, it would present no error, as the special charge is covered by the charge given by the court in all essential particulars.

The judgment is affirmed.