Case Name: Ex parte WOODS
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1923-12-12
Citations: 256 S.W. 594
Docket Number: No. 8335
Parties: Ex parte WOODS.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 256
Pages: 594–595

Head Matter:
Ex parte WOODS.
(No. 8335.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Dec. 12, 1923.)
Bail &wkey;>4& — -Evidence held not to justify denial.
Evidence- in habeas corpus proceedings by relator, who conceded be killed deceased, though justifying theories of murder, manslaughter, and justifiable homicide, lield not so clear as that the transaction was a capital offense upon “proof evident” as to justify refusal of bail.
Appeal' from District Court, Montgomery County; J. M. Combs, Judge.
Habeas corpus for bail by Will Woods, who was indicted for murder. From an order denying bail, relator appeals.
Reversed, and bail granted.
R. A. Powell, of Montgomery, and Foster & Williams, of Conroe, for appellant.
Tom Garrard, State’s Atty., of Midland, and Grover C. Morris, Asst; State’s Atty., of Devine, for the State.

Opinion:
MORROW, P. J.
Indicted for murder, relator was denied bail. That he killed the deceased is conceded. In view of a trial on the merits, a review of the facts in detail is deemed inexpedient.
The deceased Moriarity was killed at the home of the relator in the presence of the wives of the deceased and the relator. Each of the wives testified, but the relator did not. The relator used a shotgun. The pistol of the deceased was at the scene of the homicide. Whether it reached there before or after the fatal shot was fired was controverted, as was also whether it was fired at the relator. There was evidence, both circumstantial and direct, supporting both of these defensive matters. Antecedent to the homicide and upon the scene of it, the wives of the relator and the deceased engaged in an altercation. Relator and the deceased appeared upon the scene and the homicide took place.
The theories of murder, manslaughter, and justifiable homicide arise from the record. The offense of murder on express malice is not made so clear by the testimony as to classify the transaction as a capital offense upon "proof evident." There is much cogent testimony tending to show self-defense and such conflict as suggests the impropriety of denying bail. See Russell v. State, 71 Tex. Cr. R. 377, 160 S. W. 75; Ex parte Stephenson, 71 Tex. Cr. R. 380, 160 S. W. 77; Ex parte Townsley, 87 Tex. Cr. R. 253, 220 S. W. 1092; Ex parte Harris, 90 Tex. Cr. R. 246, 234 S. W. 398; Ex parte Burton, 75 Tex. Cr. R. 105, 170 S. W. 308; Ex parte Lewellen, 89 Tex. Cr. R. 57, 229 S. W. 326.
The order denying bail is reversed, and bail is granted in the sum of $5,000.
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