Case Name: Ex parte LOVELL
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1916-11-15
Citations: 189 S.W. 486
Docket Number: No. 4301
Parties: Ex parte LOVELL.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 189
Pages: 486–487

Head Matter:
Ex parte LOVELL.
(No. 4301.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Nov. 15, 1916.)
Bail &wkey;>51 — Grade of Offenses — Evidence —Financial Condition.
Where the state’s evidence, if accepted by the jury, would make a case of murder in the first degree, the bond should not be nominal, even though the evidence offered by the defendant would show the lower grade of offense, or a justifiable homicide, and, in such case and notwithstanding the relator was possessed of but little property, his bond would be fixed at the sum of $7,500.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Bail, Cent. Dig. §§ 209, 210, 212; Dec. Dig. &wkey;51.]
Appeal from District Court, 'Shelby County; W. C. Buford, Judge.
Habeas corpus by Henderson Lovell. Relator remanded to custody of the Sheriff, and he appeals.
Reversed, and bail granted.
W. I. Davis, of Center, and Beeman Strong, of Nacogdoches, for appellant. C. C. McDonald, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
HARPER, J.
Appellant was indicted for murder. He sued out a writ of habeas corpus before Hon. W. C. Buford, who, after hearing the evidence, remanded relator to the custody of the sheriff. After a careful review of the testimony, we think the judge was in error in refusing bond. However, bond should not be granted in the nominal sum requested by relator. It may be true that he may be possessed of but little property; but, in passing on the question of amount of bond required, we should take into consideration the character of case made by the evidence for the state as well as that made by the testimony offered in behalf of defendant. And when the state's evidence, if accepted by the jury, would make a case of murder in the first degree, the amount of the bond should not be nominal, even though the evidence offered in behalf of defendant would show a lower grade of offense, or a justifiable homicide. Taking into consideration appellant's financial condition, and the evidence as a whole, his bond is fixed at the sum of $7,500, upon the giving of which in the terms of the law he will be released.
The judgment is reversed, and bail granted.
. — other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes