Case Name: DEARY v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1911-05-17
Citations: 137 S.W. 699
Docket Number: 
Parties: DEARY v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 137
Pages: 699–700

Head Matter:
DEARY v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
May 17, 1911.)
1.Criminal Daw (§ 656 )—Misconduct of Trial Judge—Invading Province of Jury.
The action of the court during the examination of a witness for accused in leaving the bench and walking to the witness, and asking her a question, and remarking after the answer by the witness, “That is all I want to know,” and going back to the bench, was violative of the statute as indicating- to the jury its belief about the testimony of the witness.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 1524-1533; Dec. Dig. § 656. ]
2. Criminal Daw (§ 721 )-l-Improper Argument of Prosecuting Attorney.
The statement of the county attorney that accused had put no witness on the stand to deny the testimony of a witness for the state, made after the court had told him that his argument that accused was the only man that could deny certain testimony of a witness for the state, and' had not done so, was improper, was an allusion to the failure of accused to testify, and was ground for reversal.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. § 1672; Dec. Dig. § 721. ]
3. Criminal Daw (§§ 510, 511 )—Accomplice Testimony—Corroboration.
To convict on the testimony of an accomplice, the jury must find that the testimony of the accomplice is true, and that the accomplice has been corroborated.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. §§ 1124-1126; Dee. Dig. §§ 510, 511. ]
4.Criminal Daw (§ 507 ) — Instructions — Testimony of Accomplice.
On a trial for fornication, the female is an accomplice, and the court at the request of accused must charge that the jury, to convict, must find her evidence true and corroborated, or the-conviction will be set aside.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Criminal Daw, Cent. Dig. § 1090; Dec. Dig. § 507. ]
Appeal from Rains County Court; O. H. Rodes, Judge.
Fred Deary was convicted of fornication, and he appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
D. M. Rodes and I-I. W. Hunt, for appellant. C. E. Dane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
For other oases see same .topic and section NUMBER in Dee. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
DAVIDSON, P. J.
This conviction was for fornication.
1. The second bill of exception recites that while Ann White, who had qualified as an expert midwife, was testifying in behalf of the appellant, the court left the bench, walked around by said witness, and remarked to her, "Do you mean to' tell this jury that, when this baby was horn, you could tell whether it ivas this defendant's child or not?" to which the witness answered "Yes." The court then remarked, "That is all I want to know," and went back to the bench. This bill is approved by the trial judge without qualification. This is clearly violative of the statute. The court is not permitted to indicate to the jury his conclusion or belief about the testimony or to comment upon its weight. It seems from results it was about all the jury wanted to know.
2. Another bill recites that, while the county attorney was discussing the case to the jury, he used the following .remarks: "Wm. Trimble, father of Willie Trimble, testified that the defendant, Fred Deary, came to his house and nursed Willie's baby and called himself papa to it; that the defendant is the only man that could deny it, and he has not done so." Exception was properly reserved. The court then told the county attorney that his argument was improper, and should not be made, and instructed the jury not to consider the remarks for any purpose. The county attorney then said: "Gentlemen of the jury, the defendant has put no witness on the stand to deny the testimony of Wm. Trimble." Proper exception was reserved to these matters. This was clearly an allusion to the failure of the defendant to testify. The record shows that he did not take the witness stand in his own behalf.
3. Appellant requested the court to instruct the jury that, although they might believe the testimony of the witness Willie Trimble that the defendant is guilty, they will find him not guilty, unless there is other evidence of habitual acts of carnal intercourse between the defendant and Willie Trimble corroborating said Willie Trimble. Another charge was asked in which the jury were instructed that they must not only believe the testimony of Willie Trimble, but they must find also that her testimony had been corroborated by other evidence tending to show the commission of the offense and the connection of appellant with it. These charges were refused, and exceptions were properly taken. The court's charge in regard to accomplice testimony is as follows: "You are instructed that a conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice, unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed, and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense." The remainder of the charge in regard to this phase of the case is a definition of the term as to who should be regarded as an accomplice when used as a witness.
It has long been the settled rule of law that the jury must find the evidence of the accomplice true as well as that such accomplice is corroborated. The court did not embody this idea in its charge. It was embodied in the requested instructions.
It being a part of the law of accomplice testimony, and appellant having availed himself of it as authorized by law, the question is properly presented. The requested instructions should have been given. Willie Trimble was the alleged paramour, and, having testified for the state, was necessarily an ac complice. This being true, under tbe facts, and the court haying failed to charge this phase of the law, and appellant having properly presented it, the court was in error in refusing it.
For the errors indicated the judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded.