Case Name: HENDERSON v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1917-10-10
Citations: 197 S.W. 869
Docket Number: No. 4601
Parties: HENDERSON v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 197
Pages: 869–869

Head Matter:
HENDERSON v. STATE.
(No. 4601.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 10, 1917.)
Criminal Law <&wkey;784(l) — Instructions— Circumstantial Evidence.
Where on a trial for theft there was no testimony other than circumstantial evidence to show a taking by defendant, the court’s failure to charge and its refusal of a requested charge on the subject of circumstantial evidence was error.
Appeal from Fayette County Court; George Willrich, Judge.
Ella Henderson was convicted of theft, and she appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
John T. Duncan, of La Grange, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
PRENDERGAST, J.
Appellant was convicted' of the theft of a turkey or some turkeys. She contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction. We are inclined to think that her contention is correct. However, as the case must be reversed on another ground, it is unnecessary to decide this point. And as the case is to be reversed, we will not discuss the testimony, though we have carefully read it.
Even if the evidence could be held sufficient to sustain the conviction, then there is no testimony whatever, other than circumstantial, to show a taking by appellant. Where this is the case, it is always necessary for the court to charge on circumstantial evidence. The court did not so charge, although proper objection at the proper time was made to his charge for that reason, and a special charge on the subject was requested and refused. This was error for which, of course, the judgment must be reversed. This principle is so well settled by so many cases it is unnecessary to cite them, but see 2 Branch's Ann. P. O. § 2478, where he collates a large number of the cases.
Reversed and remanded.