Case Name: Arthur Green v. State
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1952-06-25
Citations: 157 Tex. Crim. 546
Docket Number: No. 25,902
Parties: Arthur Green v. State.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Criminal Reports
Volume: 157
Pages: 546–548

Head Matter:
Arthur Green v. State.
No. 25,902.
June 25, 1952.
Rehearing Denied October 15, 1952.
Hon. Louis B. Reed, Judge Presiding.
N. C. Outlaw, Post, for appellant.
George P. Blackburn, State’s Attorney, Austin, for the state.

Opinion:
DAVIDSON, Judge.
The conviction is for murder without malice; the punishment, five years in the penitentiary.
The former appeal of this case will be found reported in 156 Tex. Cr. Rep. 22, 238 S. W. 2d 775.
In view of the questions presented for review, it is deemed sufficient to say that the killing occurred as the result of and in the course of an argument resulting in appellant inflicting a stab wound under the left arm of deceased with a knife not shown to be a deadly weapon per se.
The defensive theory was self-defense and accident.
Appellant placed in issue his reputation for being a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, and supported same by the proof.
Complaint is made of the action of the trial court in refusing to charge the jury, in connection with such testimony, that "such evidence is to be considered by you as any other evidence in determining whether or not guilt of the defendant has been established beyond a reasonable doubt." In other words, appellant requested that the jury be instructed that testimony as to his good reputation was to be considered in determining his guilt or innocence.
Obviously, such is not the law. Reputation is based upon hearsay, and does not establish any fact. Specific acts may not be shown on examination of witnesses-in-chief to prove good or bad reputation. Prater v. State, 104 Tex. Cr. R. 669, 284 S. W. 965. The trial court correctly refused to thus charge the jury, as requested.
Appellant complains of the action of the trial court in refusing his special charge submitting the defense of accident, as also the relative strength and size of the parties.
Our examination of the court's main charge shows that the charges as requested were given. If the charges were erroneous, such were invited by the appellant.
As we read the trial court's charge, only murder without malice was submitted, for the jury was expressly restricted to assessing a punishment of not less than two nor more than five years' confinement in the penitentiary.
We are unable to agree, therefore, with the appellant that murder with malice was submitted to the jury. To the contrary, if such was submitted, appellant was not injured thereby or his punishment assessed for that offense.
No reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.
Opinion approved by the court.