Case Name: HARRIS v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1914-01-21
Citations: 162 S.W. 1150
Docket Number: 
Parties: HARRIS v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 162
Pages: 1150–1151

Head Matter:
HARRIS v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Jan. 21, 1914.)
1. Criminal Law (§ 823*) — General Charge —Requested Specific Charges.
Although a charge by the court was too general, it was cured by the giving of special specific charges requested by defendant.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1992-1995, 3158; Dec. Dig. § 823.*]
2. Homicide (§ 340*) — Instructions—Harmless Error.
Where defendant was convicted of aggravated assault, he cannot complain of the submission of the issue of assault to murder, with which he was charged.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Homicide, Cent. Dig. §§ 715-717, 720; Dec. Dig. § 340.*]
3. Homicide (§ 90*) — “Deadly Weapon”— Definition.
That “a deadly weapon is one which, from the manner used, is calculated or likely to produce death or serious bodily injury” is a correct and full definition.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Homicide, Cent. Dig. § 119; Dec. Dig. § 90.*
For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 2, pp. 1853-1856; vol. 8, p. 7627.]
4. Criminal Law (§ 949*) — Appeal—Bills of Exceptions — Review.
The admission of evidence over objection, the refusal to admit certain evidence, and alleged improper argument of the county attorney, urged in a motion for new trial as grounds therefor, where there are no bills of exception and the grounds of the motion are not verified, cannot be reviewed on appeal.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2337, 2339-2344; Dec. Dig. § 949.*]
Appeal from District Court, Grayson County ; Jolm C. Wall, Special Judge.
J. G. Harris was convicted of crime, and lie appeals.
Affirmed.
C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for tlie State.

Opinion:
DAVIDSON, J.
Appellant was convicted of aggravated assault under an indictment charging him with assault to murder; his punishment being assessed at a fine of $50 and 30 days' imprisonment in the county jail.
He excepted to the charge of the court, first, because it was too general in submitting the issue of self-defense, and it did not submit to the jury the specific facts upon which defendant relied for his right of self-defense; second, to that portion of the charge where the court submits the issue of assault to murder ; third, for the reason that the charge nowhere gives to the jury the definition of what is a deadly weapon.
•[1] With reference to the first exception, if, as a matter of fact, the court's charge was too indefinite, this was covered: by the special charges requested by appellant and given by the court. In those charges the court submits specifically the facts upon which defendant relied.
In regard to the second proposition, where the court submits the issue of assault to murder, it may be stated that the jury acquitted him of that offense.
As to the third (that is, that the court did not give the jury the definition of what it takes to constitute a deadly weapon), we find this in the court's charge, which we think is sufficient: "A deadly weapon is one which, from the manner used, is calculated or likely to produce death or serious bodily injury." Section 83 of Branch's Crim. Law collates the authorities with reference to this question. The authorities support the statement in Mr. Branch's work, which is as follows: "Charge is correct which states that a deadly weapon is one which, from the manner used, is calculated or likely to produce death or serious bodily injury."
The motion for new trial sets out several grounds. The first complains that the county attorney used improper argument which was highly prejudicial to appellant. This is in no way verified; it is simply' stated as a ground of the motion. There was no bill of exceptions taken. The second ground of the' motion says the jury, after retiring to consider their verdict, discussed matters and things highly prejudicial to the appellant. There is nothing to verify this ground of the motion. The third ground alleges the court erred, in admitting the testimony of I. J. Moore, a character witness for the prosecution. ^There was no bill of exceptions reserved to this ruling. The fourth ground states that the court erred in not permitting defendant's witness A. C. Worsham, a police officer in the city of Deni-son, to testify about having seen the prosecuting witness Nichols on certain occasions in the "red light" district of Denison, etc. This is not verified by bill of exceptions. The fifth ground states the court erred in not sustaining defendant's objection to the testimony of M. Golden relative to having seen the defendant's witness Minnear in a questionable part of the city of Denison at a late hour of the night. There was no bill of exceptions reserved to this matter.
The grounds of the motion are not stated fully, but this is not deemed necessary, inasmuch as none of them are verified so that they can be considered. These are all the matters presented by the record. None of them are in such condition that would justify a reversal of the judgment; therefore it is affirmed.