Case Name: RATCLIFF v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1921-04-13
Citations: 229 S.W. 857
Docket Number: No. 6188
Parties: RATCLIFF v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 229
Pages: 857–857

Head Matter:
RATCLIFF v. STATE.
(No. 6188.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
April 13, 1921.)
1. Burglary <@=22, 28(6) — Allegation of possession and ownership held at variance with proof of agent’s possession.
Where the proof showed that the owner of a store at the time of a burglary was in the hospital, and an employee had full control, carrying on the Business of buying and selling during the owner’s absence, possession was in the employee, and both ownership and possession were alleged to be in the owner, thei^e was a variance, for possession should have been laid in the agent.
2. Criminal law <@=>511 (10) — One accomplice cannot corroborate another.
One accomplice cannot corroborate another.
Appeal from District Court, Bexar County; W. S. Anderson, Judge.
Searcy Ratcliff was convicted of burglary, and he appeals.
Reversed, and cause remanded.
See, also, 225 S. W. 53.
C. M. Oureton, Atty. Gen., and C. L. Stone, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
LATTIMORE, J.
Appellant was convicted of burglary in the Thirty-Seventh District court of Bexar county, and his punishment fixed at two years in the penitentiary.
Ownership and possession of the alleged burglarized house and the property therein, was charged in W. E. Smith. The undisputed proof on the trial showed that Mr. Smith, about five days prior to the said burglary, had an accident, from which he was confined in the hospital five weeks, and then at his home for three weeks additional. During the first three weeks of said confinement his condition was so serious as that no one mentioned business or consulted him with regard to same. During said time and at the time of this burglary his store and business was conducted by one Enck, who had the actual care, management, and control of same. Appellant presented the question of a variance between the allegations and proof, in various ways. We think that his contention is sound. The question of proper allegation of ownership and possession in burglary and theft cases has been so often discussed by this court and in so many decisions that little could be added. Under the record before us the ownership and possession of this house and the property therein should have been laid in Enck, or such ownership in Smith and possession in Enck. The relation of the latter to the property was not that of a mere servant whose possession is confined to custody, without right of disposition. Daggett v. State, 39 Tex. Or. R. 7, 44 S. W. 148, 842. Apparently the business of buying and selling in connection with said store was carried on the same while Mr. Smith was confined to the hospital unable to give same any attention, as when he was there personally.
On the question of accomplice testimony, the trial court, upon exception to his charge for failure so to do, should have charged the jury that one accomplice cannot corroborate another; it appearing that three of the state witnesses were accomplices, and that said fact was so stated in the charge. Harrison v. State, 17 Tex. App. 442; Eddens v. State, 47 Tex. Or. R. 529, 84 S. W. 828; Eranklin v. State, 53 Tex. Or. R. 549, 110 S. W. 909.
Eor the errors mentioned, the judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded.