Case Name: COTHREN v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1940-05-22
Citations: 141 S.W.2d 594
Docket Number: No. 20983
Parties: COTHREN v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 141
Pages: 594–595

Head Matter:
COTHREN v. STATE.
No. 20983.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
May 22, 1940.
Rehearing Denied June 26, 1940.
J. Mitch Johnson, of San Saba, for appellant.
G. A. Walters, Co. Atty., of San Saba, and Lloyd W. Davidson, State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
BEAUCHAMP, Judge.
Appellant was convicted in the County Court of San Saba County on a charge of liquor law violation and, under an enhanced penalty clause, was assessed a fine of $200, from which he appeals.
We have examined this record carefully and it is doubtful that any question is presented to this court properly for its consideration. However, it may be stated that he was charged with selling to an employee of the Liquor Control Board a pint of whiskey and two cans of beer on the 24th day of June, 1939. A former conviction for a similar offense was alleged and proven on the 30th day of November, 1928, in San Saba County. Appellant attacks this suit in , a manner, apparently taking the view that he was being twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. Art. 61 of the Penal Code providing for the enhancement of penalties first appears in our statute in 1857. Similar provision is found in practically all of the states of the Union. It has been so many times approved by this court that we do not consider it a question for our discussion at this time.
Appellant complains of the refusal of the court to define the word "sale". In the absence of fact issue raising a question for the consideration of the jury, it would be unnecessary to do so. Branch's Penal Code, Sec. 1243.
Further complaint is made because of the action of the trial court in refusing appellant's oral request for a continuance in order that he may make application for a subpoena for a witness. There is nothing in the record to show what the appellant intended to prove by this witness, if anything, and it, therefore, does not appear that any harm resulted from the court's action, even though it should be held to be irregular in some respects. This complaint brings no error to this court for our consideration. No error appearing in the trial court, the judgment is affirmed.