Case Name: REID v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1916-11-08
Citations: 189 S.W. 483
Docket Number: No. 4278
Parties: REID v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 189
Pages: 483–484

Head Matter:
REID v. STATE.
(No. 4278.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Nov. 8, 1916.)
1. Assault and Battery <®=86 — Evidence-Reputation for Violence.
In a prosecution for assault, where self-defense was an issue in the case from the danger as it reasonably appeared to the defendant at the time from the acts and conduct of the injured party, proof of the fact that the injured party had the reputation of being a violent and dangerous man when drinking was admissible.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Assault and Battery, Cent. Dig. § 131; Dec. Dig. <&wkey;86.]
2. Assault and Battery &wkey;>86 — Evidence-Isolated Acts of Violence.
In a prosbeution for assault, evidence as to isolated acts of violence by the injured party was inadmissible, where there was no evidence that accused was aware of such acts prior to the assault.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Assault and Battery, Cent. Dig. § 131; Dec. Dig. <@=386.]
Appeal from Tyler County Court; Tom F. Coleman, Judge.
Sam Reid was convicted of assault, and he appeals1.
Reversed and remanded.
W. E. Adams and J. A. Mooney, both of Woodville, for appellant. C. C. McDonald, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
HARPER, J.
Appellant was convicted of an assault on B. C. Wheat, and prosecutes this appeal from such judgment.
After proving by Laurence McAlister that he "was with B. C. Wheat about noon on the day of the injury and late in the evening of the same day, a short time before he was injured, and at each time he [B. C. Wheat] took a big drink of whisky out of my bottle," appellant proposed to prove by J. E. Wheat and others that they knew the general reputation of B. C. Wheat as a peaceable, law-abiding, or a violent and dangerous man whén drinking, and that his reputation when drinking was that of a violent and dangerous man. The court sustained. the state's objection to such testimony. Appellant, by his testimony and the testimony offered in his behalf, raised the issue that, while he struck the blow as alleged, he did so to prevent Mr. Wheat from striking him with a hammer he then had in his hand, raised in a striking position. The court in his1 charge submitted the issue of self-defense. It seems from the decisions of this court that, when self-defense is an issue in the case" from danger as it reasonably appeared to defendant at the time from the acts and conduct of the injured party, proof of the fact that the injured party had the reputation of being a violent and dangerous man is admissible, and the court erred in excluding the testimony. Moore v. State, 15 Tex. App. 16; Daniels v. State, 58 Tex. Cr. R. 569, 126 S. W. 1153; Horbach v. State, 43 Tex. 242; West v. State, 18 Tex. App. 651; Wharton's Crim. Ev. § 63a; Com. v. Tircinski, 189 Mass. 257, 75 N. E. 261, 2 L. R. A. (N. S.) 103, 4 Ann. Cas. 337 and cases cited.
There was no error in excluding the testimony as' to isolated acts of violence, as there is no evidence appellant was aware of such acts prior to the time of this assault. If on another trial it should develop that appellant was aware of such acts prior to this difficulty, then proof of such acts will be admissible; otherwise, all evidence in regard thereto should be excluded.
The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.