Case Name: PHILLIPS v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1953-10-21
Citations: 263 S.W.2d 159
Docket Number: No. 26523
Parties: PHILLIPS v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 263
Pages: 159–161

Head Matter:
PHILLIPS v. STATE.
No. 26523.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 21, 1953.
Rehearing Denied Dec. 9, 1953.
No attorney on appeál.
Wesley Dice, State’s Atty., Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
BELCHER, Commissioner.
Appellant was convicted for unlawfully hunting wild deer by the aid of a spotlight at night, and his punishment was assessed •at thirty days in jail and a fine'of $100'.
Emmett Woldorff testified that he was a .game warden, and while with Game Warden Koleffel between 12:00 and 1:00 o'clock a. m. on March 1, 1953, in Colorado County, Texas,'they saw some m'eri travelling'in:a car along a- road; that they followed theta until the men stopped and shined a spotlight into a field on some- deer';' that while they were about 100 yards from the men, they heard a loud report and saw the flash from & 'gun barrel, which was'fired from' the driver's side of the car; that they went immediately to the car and found appellant Royce Phillips standing on the ground near the steering wheel, Elroy Heinrich and Marvin Pleinrich standing nearby; that 'these men fled in the car and were overtaken about two miles away and arrested; that they found rifles of the type used for Irunting deer, other gunS, ammunition for these guns, and an electric light in the car; that there wás a spotlight on the driver's side of the car. tie further testified 'that they found a small' wil'd- deer in the trunk •of the car which 'had bedn dead about two hours; that they went out into'an1 oat patch •at the place and in" the "direction in 'which they had seen the flash -of the -gun and there, found a dead deer-that' had been recently shot with a rifle,
Appellant did not testify and offered no testimony in his behalf- other than two •character witnesses. .
Appellant contends that the court erred in allowing a: special prosecutor to participate in the trial of the. case over his' objection. '
Counsel other-than the district or county attorney may appear, and prosecute <or assist in the prosecution of a' cause in behalf of the State. 15 Tex.Jur., p. 388, Sec. 5.
Appellant complains of the action of the court in overruling his motion for a severance from the cases separately pending against his two -companions growing out of the same transaction.
It is observed that the motion was orally presented, and failed to meet the terms of the statute requiring his affidavit. Art. 651, Vernon's Ann.C.C.P.
Appellant further contends that the court erred in admitting in evidence the results of the search <?f the, car upon the ground thát the officers were without a search warrant.
The facts of this tase do not show an illegal search. Art. 923d, Vernon's Ann.P. C.; Renfroe v. State, 140 Tex.Cr.R. 418, 145 S.W.2d 883.
'The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. '
Opinion approved by the Court.