Case Name: HOUCHIN v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1922-11-22
Citations: 245 S.W. 246
Docket Number: No. 7187
Parties: HOUCHIN v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 245
Pages: 246–247

Head Matter:
HOUCHIN v. STATE.
(No. 7187.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Nov. 22, 1922.)
1. Larceny <&wkey;>55 — Evidence held sufficient to sustain conviction of theft.
In prosecution for theft, evidence held to sustain conviction.
2. Criminal law &wkey;»l 159(5) — Verdict conclusive upon appellate court, where jury properly instructed.
In a prosecution for theft of a ring by a clerk having access to show cases containing jewelry, the verdict of the jury, where properly instructed relative to the issue of purchase or theft, is conclusive upon the appellate court, where no reversible error exists.
,<®=»Por other oases see same topic and KEY-NXJMBBR in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
Appeal from District Court, Throckmorton County; W. R. Chapman, Judge.
T. C. Houchin was convicted of theft, and appeals.
Affirmed.
B. F. Reynolds, of Throckmorton, and I. N. Williams, of Mt. Pleasant, for appellant.
’ R. G. Storey, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
MORROW, P. J.
The offense is theft; punishment fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a period of two years.
Prom the state's standpoint, the record reveals these facts; John Patton conducted a drug store in the town of Woodson, and the appellant was his clerk. Antecedent to the Christmas holidays in 1919, they went together to Dallas, and purchasedjsome jewelry, including a number of rings. The appellant was the only person besides Patton permanently working jn the store, though others were there during the holidays. Patton brought the rings to Woodson, together with the invoice, and kept them in his safe at night and in the show case during the day. After the holidays, the invoice was missed by Patton, and appellant declared that he knew nothing of its whereabouts. Appellant ceased his connection with Patton in January, and the ring was missed by Patton some 40 or) 60 days later. A detective, Mr. Biggs, at the instance of Patton, went to Abilene, and found the ring on appellant's finger. He at the time stated that he got it from John Patton at Woodson. Biggs also got the invoice from appellant's room. Appellant exhibited the ring before he left Woodson, stating that it had been sent to him by his mother. At the time he exhibited the'ring, he took it out of his purse.
Prom the standpoint of the appellant, the testimony was that he wore the ring openly while in the employ of Patton, and that Id conversation with the witness King Patton admitted that he knew that appellant had possession of -the ring, and expected to receive pay for it. These facts came from other than the appellant's testimony. He testified that on the visit to Dallas, he selected the ring in question, and that Patton agreed to sell it to him, and that when the rings were brought to Woodson he took the ring in the presence of Patton, and put in on his finger, and continued to wear it until the time of his arrest, except when cleaning up the soda fountain, whqn he put it in his purse. Appellant claimed to have partly paid for the ring out of the salary which Patton was paying him, and introduced memorandum showing deductions from his salary, which he claimed were applied on payment of the ring. He also claimed that the invoice found in his possession was a copy of the original. Appellant was not acquainted with the combination of the safe, and, while the rings were in the show case, he and others had access to them. Appellant's testimony touching the purchase of the ring was controverted by Patton, and the deductions from his salary were explained.
We do not agree with appellant's contention that the faqts do not sustain the conviction for. theft. That the issue of embezzlement was raised by the evidence seems questionable. Appellant's employment was that of, a clerk in the store in which Patton, the owner, also spent his time. The'possession of the property apparently would be in Patton. Appellant, of course, as clerk, had the right to sell the property to any customer of the store, but we fail to discern any testimony compassing his right to take possession of the property. However, the court instructed the jury, at appellant's request, that if the property came into the possession of the appellant by virtue of his employment as clerk or as employee of Patton, and that after he so acquired possession, he formed the intention to appropriate it, an acquittal must result.
Touching the theory of purchase of the ring, the evidence of appellant and Patton were in opposition. Upon this theory, the court gave an affirmative instruction to the jury, which fairly and adequately informed them that if the appellant purchased the ring, or if upon that subject there "was a reasonable doubt, an a'cquittal must result. Whether appellant stole the ring was likewise properly submitted to the jury. These issues having been settled against him by the verdict, they are conclusive upon this court, unless it appear that in the procedure there was error requiring a reversal.
While not made on the trial, it is urged in this court that the appellant pleaded to a certified copy, and not to the original indictment. The corrected transcript before us refutes this position.
The bill of exceptions, complaining of the argument of the state's counsel, as explained by the trial judge, reveals that the argument complained of was a proper response to the remarks of the appellant's attorney, and brings the matter well within the well-known rule pertaining to invited argument.
Deeming the evidence sufficient, and finding no error in the record, an affirmance of the judgment is ordered.