Case Name: HENDRIX v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1920-06-09
Citations: 222 S.W. 980
Docket Number: No. 5850
Parties: HENDRIX v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 222
Pages: 980–981

Head Matter:
HENDRIX v. STATE.
(No. 5850.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
June 9, 1920.
Rehearing Denied June 25, 1920.)
1. Burglary <@==>46(8) — Defendant’s testimony held not to require instruction on reasonable explanation of possession of stolen property on first opportunity.
Where defendant, when arrested on charge of burglary, was silent as to his possession of the goods, his testimony that later, while in jail he was asked for money taken, and returned it, and offered to return the . clothes, saying they were given to him by his companion, who was there in jail, it was not error to refuse an instruction on reasonable explanation of his possession at first opportunity.'
2. Burglary <@x=46(7) — Instructions held to sufficiently present defendant’s theory of non-participation.
Instructions that, if defendant’s companion burglarized a residence, and if there was a reasonable doubt whether defendant was not present and did not participate, he should be acquitted, though he afterwards came into possession of some of the stolen property, held to sufficiently present defendant’s theory that he did not participate.
Appeal from District Court, Ellis County; F. L. Hawkins, Judge.
W. H. Hendrix was convicted of burglary of a residence, and appeals.
Affirmed.
Adair Dyer, of Ennis, for appellant.
Alvin M. Owsley, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
DAVIDSON, P. J.
Appellant was convicted of burglary of a private residence and allotted five years in the penitentiary.
This is a case of circumstantial evidence. Davis and appellant, were traveling in an auto through Ellis county from the city of Dallas to the city of Temple. En route they camped near the residence of W. B. Banks for two or three days. The reason assigned for this by appellant's testimony is that when they reached that point the gasoline tank of their auto "sprung a leak and they were out of gasoline"; their purpose being to repair the car and secure gasoline. While there Banks' residence was burglarized. Appellant and Davis were arrested; appellant being found in possession of some of the stolen property. His testimony is to the effect that he did not steal the goods or enter the house, and knew nothing of it until after he had received the goods from Davis; that Davis left the car, the casing of which appellant was repairing, for the purpose of securing gasoline, and on his return had the stolen goods, and gave him some of them; that he knew nothing of the burglary, had no connection with it, and was not aware the goods were stolen. The state's evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction. It is not deemed necessary to detail it.
Appellant asked and was refused a charge to the effect that if appellant, when his possession was first challenged, gave an account which was reasonable and probably true, or there was a reasonable doubt of it, the jury should acquit. He also excepted to the court's charge, because it did not submit this issue. The facts upon which appellant's requested charge is based are recited by him in his bill of exceptions No. 2, as follows:
"When I was arrested out there, no one asked me anything about the stuff, and I didn't say anything about it. I remember Mr. Banks coming to see me at the jail. He called me over to the door, and I went over to the door, and he asked for the money, and I gave him the money that was in the pockets. There was about 30 cents. That was about all Mr. Banks said to me. Well, Mr. Banks said that he didn't want the clothes; he didn't need them. I offered him the clothes. I asked him if they were his clothes; if they were, I would give them to him. I told him that I got the clothes from Davis. Davis was there in the jail at the time."
As we understand the doctrine of reasonable explanation, this testimony does not bring the question within that rule. His statement excludes the idea that he gave an account of it on the first opportunity. He says that,'when he was arrested, no one asked him anything about the stuff, and he himself did not say anything about it. When he was arrested, charged with this Offense, it was called to his attention. His right to possession of the property was then called in question. This was not within the doctrine of reasonable account of possession of stolen property.
Appellant testified on the trial substantially as his statement above quoted. The court charged the jury with reference to this, if they should find from the evidence that Davis burglarized the private residence of Banks, but that the defendant was not present and participating with him at the time, or if the jury should have a reasonable doubt upon this issue, it would be their duty to acquit defendant of the charge of burglary, although they may believe from the evidence that he afterwards came into possession of some of the property taken from the alleged burglarized house, and was in possession of the same at the time of his arrest. This we understand was his testimony upon the trial and his theory of the case. The court also gave appellant's requested in- • struction to the effect that if Davis burglarized the house of Banks, and appellant at the time remained in an automobile or on the road, and waited for Davis, and did not take any part in the burglary, and did not in any way assist in the perpetration of the same, and was not present encouraging such perpetration, or if the jury should have a reasonable doubt as to whether such facts are true or not, then in such event they should find appellant not guilty. These charges aptly and pertinently applied the law to the facts of this case, and give defendant the full benefit of all that he claimed with reference to his connection or want of connection with the burglary of the house and possession of the goods that came from it. This is practically the only question presented by appellant's appeal.
Finding no reversible error in the record, the judgment will be affirmed.
<g=^For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in ail Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes