Case Name: TUCKER v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1923-04-04
Citations: 251 S.W. 1090
Docket Number: No. 7575
Parties: TUCKER v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 251
Pages: 1090–1091

Head Matter:
TUCKER v. STATE.
(No. 7575.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
April 4, 1923.
Rehearing Denied June 6, 1923.)
1. Intoxicating liquors <9=»236(6'/2)— Evidence held sufficient to sustain conviction for unlawful possession.
In, a prosecution for the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor, evidence held, sufficient to sustain conviction.
2. Intoxicating liquors <S=»2I6 —• Indictment charging unlawful possession of “liquor” capable of producing intoxication held sufficient; “intoxicating liquor.”
An indictment charging that defendant did unlawfully possess liquor capable of producing intoxication for the purpose of sale held sufficient, under Acts 37th Leg. (1921) 1st Called Sess. c. 61, amendatory of Acts 36th Leg. (1919) 2d Called Sess. c. 78 (Vernon’s Ann., Pen. Code Supp. 1922, art. 588% et seq.), de-' nouncing the offense and describing the articles prohibited as spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor, or medicated bitters, capable of producing intoxication or any other intoxicant' whatever, and declaring that the words intoxicating liquors or liquors used in the act should be held to include and comprehend all liquors referred to therein, and of the fact that the. tq^m “liquor” in prohibition laws has often been treated as synonymous with intoxicating liquor (citing 3 Words and Phrases, Second Series, Intoxicating Liquors). ■
[Ed. Note. — Eor other definitions, see Words and Phrases. Eirst and Second Series, Liquor.]
3. Criminal law <§cm730( 14) — Improper remark by prosecuting attorney ,ln argument held not ground for reversal.
In a prosecution for the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquors for the purpose of sale, the remark by the prosecuting attorney in argument, that he knew the jury would convict accused if they followed the precedent heretofore laid down by them, held not reversible error, for the reason that the jury had been trying similar cases and had rendered verdicts of guilty, in view of the fact that the court rebuked counsel, admonished the jury that the remarks were improper and withdrew it from their consideration, and was not verified by the trial judge as a matter of fact.
Appeal from District Court, Palo Pinto County; J. B. Keith, Judge.
Kitrell Tucker was convicted of tbe unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor, and be appeals.
Affirmed.
Elam & Manning, ’ of 'Mineral Wells, and Preston Martin, of Weatherford, for appellant.
R. G. Storey, Asst. Atty. Gen., for tbe State.

Opinion:
MORROW, P. J.
Conviction is for tbe unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor; punishment fixed at confinement in tbe penitentiary for a period of two years.
Appellant conducted a cold drink stand. A search of his premises revealed that there were four one-gallon bottles of whisky in his possession. The witness Woodall called at the appellant's place of business and told him that Jimmie Binson wanted a pint of whisky. Appellant delivered t'o Woodall a bottle filled with liquid which had the appearance of whisky, and he received from Woodall in payment therefor the sum of $3. Woodall then delivered the bottle to Binson, who was a negro porter at a certain hotel. Massey, a guest of the hotel, asked Binson to get him some whisky and gave him a $5 bill for that purpose. Binson returned with a pint of whisky which he delivered to Massey. Binson gave Massey no change.
The evidence is deemed sufficient to sustain the finding by the jury that the appellant possessed intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale.
The indictment charged that the appellant "did unlawfully possess liquor capable of producing intoxication, for the purpose of sale." It is claimed that the indictment charges no offense. The statute denouncing the offense describes the articles prohibited in these words:
" Spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, or medicated bitters, capable of producing intoxication, or any other intoxicant whatever."
See Acts 37th Leg. 1st Called Sess. c. 61. That chapter is amendatory of certain sections of chapter 78, Acts 36th Leg. 2d Called Sess. (Vernon's Ann. Pen. Code Supp. 1922, art. 588% et seq.) in which the prohibited articles are described in the same manner. In one of the sections of that act it is declared:
"The words 'intoxicating liquors' or 'liquors' hereafter used in this act shall be held to include and comprehend all liquors referred to in the first and second sections of this act." Vernon's Ann. Pen. Code Supp. 1922, art. 588%aa.
The term "liquor" in prohibition laws has often been treated as synonymous with intoxicating liquor. See Words and Phrases, Second Series, vol. 3, p. 153; Carswell v. State, 7 Ga. App. 198, 66 S. E. 488; Austin v. Shelton, 122 Tenn. 634, 127 S. W. 446; People v. Myers, 185 N. Y. 558, 77 N. E. 1193.
The necessity of the pleader departing from the language of the statute is not perceived. This practice often leads to confusion and reversals, and always to the pres entation of additional questions for decision on appeal. In the present instance, however, we are of the opinion that the indictment charges an offense.
The prosecuting attorney, in the course of his argument, said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, I know you will convict the defendant if you follow the precedent you have heretofore lain down."
Appellant's counsel interposed an objection, and the court stopped the prosecuting officer, rebuked him for using the language, and instructed the jury that it was improper. It was withdrawn from: their consideration. It is stated in the bill that exception was reserved to the remarks, for the reason that the jury had been trying similar cases and ¡had rendered verdicts of guilty. This is simply stated as a ground for the objection, and is not verified by the trial judge as a matter of fact. We do not regard the matter as presented in the bill as one authorizing a reversal of the judgment.
No errors appearing, the judgment is affirmed.
«SamFor other oases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes