Case Name: CLINE v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1916-02-16
Citations: 183 S.W. 1152
Docket Number: No. 3959
Parties: CLINE v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 183
Pages: 1152–1153

Head Matter:
CLINE v. STATE.
(No. 3959.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Feb. 16, 1916.
Rehearing Denied March 15, 1916.)
1. HosrrciDE <©=^172 — Evidence.
In a prosecution for homicide claimed to have been the outgrowth of a conspiracy to carry on a revolution in Mexico, a so-called “Manifesto,” written in, Spanish, was admissible in evidence, though defendant testified he knew nothing about it, had never seen or read it, and could not read Spanish, being a circumstance tending to show defendant’s purpose and that of his company and comrades.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Homicide, Cent. Dig. §§ 372, 373; Dec. Dig. <§=>172.]
2. Criminal Law <§=>1091 (9) — Appeal —Instructions — Exceptions—Sthtficienct.
Bills of exceptions to the refusal to give special charges, merely stating that upon trial defendant asked such a charge, quoting it, and that the court refused to give it, to which he excepted, and asked that his bill be approved, which was done by the signature of the judge, were insufficient as failing to show that the requested charges were presented to the court before its charge was read to the jury.
[Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2818, 2943; Dee. Dig. <§=> 1091(9).]
Appeal from District Court, Bexar County; W. S. Anderson, Judge.
Charles Cline was convicted of murder, and he appeals.
Affirmed.
Haltom & Haltom, of San Antonio, for appellant. C. C. McDonald, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
PRENDERGAST, P. J.
This is the second appeal in this case. The first is reported in 178 S. W. 520. The same punishment was assessed this time as was on the first trial. This is a companion case to that of Serrato and Others v. State, reported in 74 Tex. Cr. R. 413, 171 S. W. beginning at page 1133, and several other cases reported in that volume, and some other eases decided and reported in subsequent volumes. This trial was in accordance with the law as laid down in the trials of the other companion cases where applicable. None of the questions are raised on this trial upon which the former conviction was reversed. This trial was in accordance with the opinion therein rendered where applicable to this trial.
Appellant contends on this, as he did on the former, appeal, that the holding of the court as to the law of principals, conspiracy, etc., as held in companion cases and in this, is incorrect. We have thoroughly considered this question in all these cases, and we have no occasion to change our views. In fact, we are more confirmed each time of the correctness of our views. It is wholly unnecessary to again discuss these questions.
On the trial of this cause, as in several of the others, the court admitted in evidence what is called the "Manifesto," which is fully copied in the opinion in the Martinez Case, 171 S. W, 1154, over appellant's objections. In our opinion, said document was admissible notwithstanding he testified in (this case he knew nothing about it, had never seen nor read it, and could not read Spanish, it being in Spanish. That document, like all the other war munitions and the several articles found with the company of which appellant was a member, was admissible as a circumstance, together with all the others and the positive testimony, as tending to show the object and purpose of appellant and his company and comrades. This holding is in accordance with our decision on this question in all these companion cases. There is no necessity of discussing the question.
Appellant has several bills of exceptions to the refusal of the court to give several special charges requested by him. There is also in the record what is stated to be objections to the court's charge. It is in no way authenticated as having been presented to, seen by, or acted upon by, the trial judge. Not a single one of his bills or requested charges show that they were presented to the court at such a time and under such circumstances as required by our present statute and the many and uniform decisions of this court thereunder since its enactment. In each of his bills to the refusal of the court to give his special charge he merely states that upon trial of the cause, he asked such charge, quoting it, and then states that the court refused to give it, to which he excepted, and he asked that his bill be approved, which was done by the signature of the judge thereto. See Ross v. State, 170 S. W. 305, and a great many cases decided by this court since then; also Ryan v. State, 64 Tex. Or. R. 637, 142 S. W. 878; Byrd v. State, 69 Tex. Cr. R. 35, 151 S. W. 1068. A great many cases could be cited to the same effect. The decisions are uniform on this subject.
However, we will say that we have examined each of appellant's specially requested charges which were refused, and, in our opinion, the court committed no reversible error in refusing to give either of them.
Appellant's able attorneys on both appeals in this case in oral arguments and by brief have forcibly presented his contentions. We have thoroughly considered the whole matter. We see no necessity of reviewing and discussing the authorities nor in discussing the various questions raised herein. They have so many times in these companion cases been fully discussed and the authorities cited and reviewed there is no necessity of doing so again.
In our opinion, no reversible error is presented in this case, and the judgment will therefore be affirmed.
<£=3For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes