Case Name: Tom Lindsey v. The State
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1925-10-07
Citations: 101 Tex. Crim. 606
Docket Number: No. 9348
Parties: Tom Lindsey v. The State.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Criminal Reports
Volume: 101
Pages: 606–610

Head Matter:
Tom Lindsey v. The State.
No. 9348.
Delivered October 7, 1925.
Rehearing Denied November 4, 1925.
1. — Possession of Intoxicating Liquor — Indictment—Held Sufficient.
Where the appellant was indicted for the possession of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale, and the indictment" did not allege the quantity of liquor, his motion to quash was properly overruled. While the law provides that the possession of more than one quart shall be prima facie evidence that it was for the purpose of sale, this provision of the statute need not be pleaded, as it is merely a rule of the quantum of evidence which’ will support a conviction, subject to rebuttal by the appellant.
2. —Same—Bill of Exception. — Incomplete—Not Considered.
Where a bill of exceptions complains of the introduction of a judgment of the county court, and does not set out such judgment, nor state the contents of same, no error is pointed out in such bill, and same cannot be considered. Following James v. State, 63 Tex. Crim. Rep. 75 and other cases cited. Also see Branch’s P. C. Sec. 207 for collation of many decisions.
3. —Same—Bill of Exception — Question and Answer Form — Not Considered.
We are again called upon to announce that bills of exception in question and answer form, by virtue of Art. 846 of our C. C. P. and authorities too numerous for citation, cannot be considered by this court, our reaffirmaince of this rule being called for by bills of exception Nos. 4, 5, and 6 presented in the record of this eaise.
ON REHEARING.
4. —Same—Indictment—Sufficiency of — Held, Sufficient.
On rehearing we cannot agree with appellant’s contention that our former opinion holding the indictment sufficient was error. The possession of any quantity of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale is an offense, if such purpose is proven, but where possession of more than a quart is proven on the trial the law declares such proof to be prima f&'cie sufficient to show that the possession was for the purpose of sale, unless rebutted. In no case is it necessary for the indictment to allege1 the quantity, ais that is a matter of evidence, which cannot be properly pleaded. Distinguishing Hewitt v. State, 25 Texas 722; Duke v. State, 42 Texas, 445; Williams v. State, 12 Tex. Crim. App. 395.
5. —Same—Statute Construed- — Held Vplid.
Sec. 2e, Ch. 22, 2nd C. S. 38th Leg. was not repealed, nor made inoperative by Sec. B of said Act. Sec. 2e is declared to be an amendment of Secs. 1 and 2 of Chap. 61, 1st C. S. of the 37th Leg. The caption of the amendatory act of the 38th Leg. which added Sec. 2e states the purpose of the act to be an amendment of Secs. 1 and 2 of Chap. 78 of the 2nd C. S. 36th Leg. as amended by Chap. 61 of thfe 37th Leg. by adding thereto Sec. e. The act does not repeal Secs. 1 and 2 but amends by re-writing both, and by adding thereto Sec. e.
Appeal from the District Court of Bowie County. Tried below before the Hon. Hugh Carney, Judge.
Appeal from a conviction for the possession of intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale; penalty, one year in the penitentiary.
The opinion states the case.
Sid Crumpton, for appellant.
Sam D. Stinson, State’s Attorney, and Nat Gentry, Jr., Assistant State’s Attorney, for the State.

Opinion:
BAKER, Judge.
Appellant was indicted and convicted for unlawfully possessing intoxicating liquor for sale and his punishment assessed at one year in the penitentiary.
Appellant assails the validity of the indictment by motion to quash and in several other ways because the indictment alleges the de fendant had whiskey in his possession for sale, that the law made possession of more than one quart of whiskey prima facie evidence of guilt, that the proof of the State would and did show appellant had more than one quart in his possession, that the law required everything necessary for proof to be alleged in the indictment and that the indictment failing to allege more than one quart there was a variance in the allegation and proof, etc. We are unable to agree with this contention. The law makes the possession of any amount of whiskey for sale a violation by law and attempts only to regulate or affect the question of proof where it is shown more than one quart is found in defendant's possession. We fail to find any error in the ruling of the trial court in refusing to quash the indictment nor in refusing to instruct a verdict by reason of the allegations thereof or in admission of evidence relative thereto.
In bill of exception No. 2, complaint is made to the introduction of alleged judgment of the county court, but said bill fails to set out said judgment nor state the contents of same, and therefore, is so defective we are unable to tell whether any error was committed or not. This court has repeatedly held it cannot consider such bills: Branch's P. C., Sec. 207, citing James v. State, 63 Tex. Cr. Rep. 75, 138 S. W., 61; Hubbard v. State, 251 S. W., 1054, and many other decisions.
Bills of exceptions four, five and six, are made up of question and answer from which the statute prohibits this court from considering. C. C. P., Art. 846.
Bill of exception nine, complains of the refusal of the court to give a special charge based upon the argument of the district attorney; this bill as qualified by the judge fails to show any error.
We have carefully examined the record of this case and are of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed, and it is accordingly so ordered.
Affirmed.
The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.