Case Name: McELROY v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1912-10-30
Citations: 150 S.W. 797
Docket Number: 
Parties: McELROY v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 150
Pages: 797–797

Head Matter:
McELROY v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 30, 1912.)
Chattel Mortgages (§ 232 ) — Criminal Responsibility-Defenses.
While, in a prosecution for fraudulently disposing of mortgaged property, it is better for the indictment to set out the mortgage or its substance, in order to be sufficient, it must at least allege that the mortgage was given to secure an indebtedness, naming the amount, and that the debt was unpaid when the property was disposed of.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Chattel Mortgages, Cent. Dig. §§ 484-487; Dec. Dig. § 232. ]
Appeal from District Court, Cherokee County; James I. Perkins, Judge.
W. E. MeElroy was convicted of fraudulently disposing of mortgaged property, and he appeals.
Reversed, and prosecution ordered dismissed.
Norman & Shook, of Rusk, for appellant. C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
For other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
HARPER, J.
Appellant was prosecuted and convicted for fraudulently disposing of mortgaged property, the indictment, omitting formal parts, alleging that appellant did on or about October 28, 1908, execute, give, and deliver to the Citizens' State Bank at Bul-lard, Tex., a valid mortgage in writing upon certain personal and movable property, to wit, two dark bay mare mules, two years old past, known as "Dr. Hunter mules," and thereafter, on or about the 3d day of February, 1909, did fraudulently and unlawfully, with intent to defraud the said Citizens' State Bank, sell the said property, to wit, two dark bay mare mules, two years old past, known as "Dr. Hunter mules," to T. S. Langston, without the consent of the said bank, which said bank was then and there the legal owner and holder of said mortgage, and the said mortgage was, at the time of the said sale of the said property as aforesaid by the said W. E. MeElroy, a valid, subsisting, unsatisfied mortgage, upon the said property, as he then and there well knew.
It will be noticed that the indictment does not set out the mortgage, nor the substance thereof, in that it fails to state the consideration for said mortgage, nor what indebtedness it was to secure. The pleading would be insufficient to secure a judgment of foreclosure in a civil suit. A mortgage would not be valid, unless it was given to secure an indebtedness or other consideration. To secure a conviction, it was necessary to prove that there was an indebtedness for a given amount, and that it was unpaid. If there was no indebtedness, or other right secured by the mortgage, a disposition of the property could and would not defraud any person. It is the better practice to set out the mortgage, or state the substance of it, in the indictment; and, to be a valid indictment, it must at least set out that it was given to secure an indebtedness, naming the amount, and that the debt was.unpaid. It is essential to prove these facts, and they should be alleged.
We do not deem it necessary to discuss the other questions raised.
«The judgment is reversed, and the prosecution is ordered dismissed.