Case ID: sw_216/html/1085-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "DAVIDSON, P. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(86 Tex. Cr. R. 441)
    WALKER v. STATE.
    (No. 5493.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Dec. 17, 1919.)
    1. Criminal law <§=958(6) — Evidence requiring NEW TRIAL ON ISSUE OP INSANITY.
    In a prosecution for burglary, wherein an issue of insanity had been found against defendant, affidavits on a motion for new trial on that issue held to present evidence requiring a new trial to be granted notwithstanding that such evidence was, strictly speaking, not newly discovered evidence.
    2. Criminal law <S=»938(1) — Rule as to NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE INAPPLICABLE TO ISSUE OP INSANITY.
    The rule in Texas with reference to cumulative evidence and strict diligence does not apply to the question of- insanity, viewed in the light of newly discovered testimony.
    Appeal from District Court, Henderson County; John S. Prince, Judge.
    Mose Walker was convicted of burglary, and he appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    C. M. Cureton, Atty. Gen., and C. W. Taylor, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
   DAVIDSON, P. J.

Appellant was convicted of burglary- and allotted five years in the penitentiary.

The first bill of exceptions recites the fact that one of the jurors mentioned the fact that appellant did not testify. This was controverted, and the same juror who made the original affidavit filed a counter affidavit recanting what he had said with reference to it. The court passed upon this. We are of opinion the court was not in error in his ruling under this record.

The question of insanity was an issue in the case on the trial, and there was evidence introduced pro and con not of a very satisfactory nature, and the jury found against appellant. This issue arose under the general plea. Appellant in his motion for new trial attaches the-affidavits of 35 or 40 people, who swear, nearly all of them, that appellant is crazy, and has been for a number of years, and is so regarded by all the people who knew him, and especially where he lived in Dallas and Dallas county. These affiants knew and had known him for years prior to the alleged burglary. They show that his father was insane, that a sister wás in the insane asylum, that some of his aunts wete crazy, and these seems to have been a streak of insanity running through his family. It would be entertaining to recount the statements of these witnesses, but of no practical value, to the mind of the writer; but a great many instances and occurrences and scenes connected with his life, and what he did and said, are specified in the affidavits, which, if true, would show that the man’s mind was thoroughly unbalanced. Nearly all of these affiants state that appellant is crazy and was so regarded. He imagined that he had a divine commission to preach and did preach, and where things did not go to suit him while he was delivering his' sermon he would use violent profanity. He imagined that he was John the Baptist, and a great many things that were not true, and any rational mind would have known them to be untrue and not facts. Under the testimony the man’s mind at the time of the facts enumerated was unquestionably unsound. No impartial mind could read these affidavits without reaching that conclusion. It is true that the matters enumerated happened prior to his removal to Henderson county; yet, in view of all the environments, we are of opinion that these facts should have been passed upon by the jury. Some of the witnesses, testifying before the jury in regard to the matter, stated that he would know right from wrong at times; but, in view of the facts and statements and the nature of the affidavits attached to the motion for new trial, we are of opinion the court should have granted him another trial before a jury and have these matters before the jury for their decision. This in a sense may not be said to -be newly discovered testimony, because, if it .was not known, it could have been known by reasonable diligence prior to the trial; but the rule in Texas with reference to cumulative evidence and strict diligence does not apply to the question of insanity, viewed in the light of newly discovered testimony. Mr. Branch lays down the rule, which seems to be supported by the authorities, that—

“Where the plea is insanity, the same strictness is not required as to newly discovered evidence of insanity as if some other fact was sought to be proved. A new trial should be granted for proof of facts which show insanity, although no diligence was used to obtain such evidence before the trial.” Schuessler v. State, 19 Tex. App. 472; Hill v. State, 53 S. W. 845; Horhouse v. State, 50 S. W. 361.

It is not the policy of the law to punish criminally people whose minds are demented. There would scarcely come a case where an equitable showing is more strongly made, if not strictly a legal one, than in this case. In view of the overwhelming evidence of these affiants to the effect that appellant was insane, we are of opinion that the jury should pass on it in the light of this testimony, although it • may not have been newly discovered.

For the reasons indicated, the judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded. 
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