Case Name: DAVIS v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1913-01-29
Citations: 153 S.W. 319
Docket Number: 
Parties: DAVIS v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 153
Pages: 319–320

Head Matter:
DAVIS v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Jan. 29, 1913.)
1. Vagrancy (§ 3 ) — Evidence—Admissibility.
In a prosecution for vagrancy, it was error to admit evidence that a keeper of a place, about which defendant loafed, had attempted to bribe peace officers to permit gambling in such place, and was being prosecuted for bribery.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Vagrancy, Cent. Dig. § 3; Dec. Dig. § 3. ]
2. Vagrancy (§ 3 ) — Evidence—Admissibil- ■ ITY.
The admission of evidence, in a vagrancy case, that the keeper of the place about which defendant loafed and another had no license to sell intoxicating liquors there was erroneous.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Vagrancy, Cent. Dig. § 3; Dec. Dig. § 3. ]
Appeal from Dallas County Court, at Law; W. F. Whitehurst, Judge.
John Davis was convicted of vagrancy, and he appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
Seay & Seay, of Dallas, 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

Opinion:
ÉRENDERGAST, J.
Appellant was convicted of vagrancy, and fined $25. He was prosecuted under subdivision "C" of article 634 of the Penal Code, charging that he was a person who had no visible and known means of a fair, honest, and reputable livelihood, and was able to work, but did not work, and had no property to support himself. While the evidence was not very strong against him, if illegal and improper evidence had not been introduced against him, it might have been held sufficient to' sustain the conviction. However, appellant introduced testimony that he did work, showing the work he did, with whom he worked, and for whom he worked. In other words, it was a controverted issue.
The testimony of the state was to the effect that he was repeatedly seen during the months of August, September, October, and November, 1911, at what is called Minter's Place, and that occasionally, as an officer would pass this place from time to time, they saw him sitting on a box, and that he would get out of the way, and apparently or really leave and keep out of sight of the officer, after he was discovered. What Minter's Place is, the evidence with no certainty discloses. The officers show that he was arrested because he hung around Minter's Place. The court then permitted the state to prove by two officers that during the early part of August, 1911, Minter attempted to bribe two of them to permit gambling or gaming to go on in his place; that the officers reported that to the police commissioner, and he suggested that they go ahead, and, whenever the money was offered, to take it and immediately arrest Minter for bribery; that Minter did give them the money a few days later; and that they arrested him, and were prosecuting him for bribery. All this testimony was admitted over objections by. appellant, and he saved the question properly by bill of exception. It was not shown that appellant was present or had any knowledge or had any connection whatever with this attempted bribery, or bribery, of these officers by Minter. Under the circumstances, the admission of this evidence against appellant, over his objections, was error.
Appellant also objected to the proof made by the state that Minter and another had no license to sell intoxicating liquors at the place called Minter's Place. Under the state of the proof in this ease, and the charge against appellant, we cannot see how such testimony was admissible against appellant. With the charge against appellant that was made and on which he was convicted, and the state of the evidence as shown by this record, it was error to admit this testimony. Under some character of charge against appellant for vagrancy, it might be admissible to make such proof, but not under the charge against appellant in this case.
For the errors in admitting the testimony above stated, the judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.