Case ID: sw2d_26/html/0919-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CHRISTIAN, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

LEONARD v. STATE.
    No. 13070.
    Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    April 2, 1930.
    Callaway & Callaway, of Brownwood, for appellant.
    A. A. Dawson, State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.
   CHRISTIAN, J.

The offense is murder; the punishment confinement in the penitentiary for fifty years.

It was not alleged in the indictment that the killing was done with malice aforethought. Hence the state was not authorized to seek a penalty in excess of five years. Swilley v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 25 S.W.(2d) 1098, delivered December 11, 1929. The jury assessed the penalty at imprisonment in the penitentiary for fifty years. If a penalty in excess of five years is to be sought, a new indictment should be returned.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.

PER CURIAM.

The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the court. *