Case Name: C. B. Smalley v. The State
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1925-04-15
Citations: 100 Tex. Crim. 128
Docket Number: No. 9150
Parties: C. B. Smalley v. The State.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Criminal Reports
Volume: 100
Pages: 128–131

Head Matter:
C. B. Smalley v. The State.
No. 9150.
Delivered April 15, 1925.
Rehearing denied, May 6, 1925.
1. —Transporting Intoxicating Liquor — Evidence—Admissibility of.
It was not error to permit a witness to testify that he took two suit cases, that he saw appellant carrying in the streets of Beaumont, and that they contained twelve bottles each, and that he opened one of them, tasted and smelled it, and knew that the bottles contained whisky, all of them. Having testified affirmatively that all the bottles contained whisky, witness’ means of ascertaining that fact was a question touching the weight of his testimony rather than its admissibility.
2. —Same—Bill of Exception — Incomplete.
Where a bill of exception merely complains of a question propounded a witness, without setting out the answer of the witness, nor sufficiently stating the facts and surroundings so as to make it intelligible, nothing is brought before this court.
3. —Same—Evidence—Whisky Found — Properly Admitted.
It was not error to permit the state to introduce in evidence two suit cases, containing 12 quarts of whisky each, identified as the suit cases appellant was seen carrying on the streets of Beaumont. A long line of cases by this court have uniformly held such evidence admissible in this character of cases.
4. —Same—Evidence—Held Properly Admitted.
The condition of appellant’s clothing and shoes at the time of his arrest, under the facts of this case, was material, and it was not error to admit this testimony.
5. —Same—Evidence—Statements of Defendant — Bills of Exception.
Where complaint is made of the admission of testimony as to a remark made by appellant, at the time of his arrest, and the bill of exception does not affirmatively show that the arrest had been made at the time, nor any other fact showing its inadmissibility, it presents no error.
6. —Same—Evidence—Rebuttal by State.
Where appellant testified that he was regularly employed by the Houston Construction Company, and had been so employed for about six months, it was proper to permit the state to rebut this, by showing that appellant was not so employed, but kung around the streets, played hotels, and loafed around a taxicab company.
ON REHEARING.
7. — Same—Facts Sufficient.
The identification of the two suit cases each containing 12 quarts of whisky as- being in the possession of appellant, was complete, this fact together with other circumstances given in evidence, removes any possible doubt as to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction.
Appeal from the District Court of Jefferson County. Tried below before the Hon. J. D. Campbell, Judge.
Appeal from a conviction for transporting intoxicating liquor; penalty, five years in the penitentary.
The opinion states the case.
O. M. Lord, of Beaumont, for appellant.
Tom Garrard, State’s Attorney, and Grover C. Morris, Assistant State’s Attorney, for the State.

Opinion:
BERRY, Judge.
Appellant was convicted in the district court of Jefferson County for the offense of transporting intoxicating liquor and his punishment assessed at confinement in the penitentiary for a term of five years.
The chief witness for the State testified that on or about January 2, 1924, at about 5:30 o 'clock in the morning, he saw appellant coming from the safety stop of a railroad on which a train had just arrived from Louisiana. He identified the defendant as having a red suitcase and a black one. He testified to seeing him go to a local hotel in Beaumont and afterwards went and arrested him there, examining the suitcases, and testified that the two suitcases contained twenty-four quarts of whiskey. Appellant testified in his own behalf, denying that he either possessed or transported any whiskey or suitcases, and claimed that he was employed and had been for about six months by the Houston Construction Company in Beaumont.
By bill of exceptions No. 1 appellant complains because the State was permitted to prove by a witness that he took from appellant two suitcases, containing twelve bottles each, and that he opened one of them, tasted and smelled it, and knew that the bottles contained whiskey — all of them. . Appellant's contention seems to be that as the witness had examined only one bottle he should not have been allowed to state that all of the bottles contained whiskey. This objection would go to the weight of the witness' testimony, rather than to its admissibility. There is no statement of fact in the bill to the effect that the witness merely gave his opinion as to the other bottles; but, on the contrary, the bill affirmatively shows that the witness swore that all of the bottles contained whiskey. Under this state of the record the bill shows no error.
By bill No. 2 appellant complains because the State asked C. E. Kennedy the following question: "Mr. Kennedy, do you remember of receiving some liquor from the police department in connection with the Smalley case in the early part of this year?" The bill fails to disclose the answer of said witness, and does not sufficiently state the facts to show error.
Bill of exceptions No. 3 complains that the court allowed the State to introduce in evidence before the jury suitcases containing twenty-four quart bottles, one of them being opened and the others being sealed and corked as whiskey. His contention in this regard is answered by the statement that the suitcases were identified as the same suitcases that the State's witness claimed to have seen appellant carrying on the streets of Beaumont, and the contents were identified as those found in said suitcases when appellant was arrested and the suitcases searched.
Bill No. 4 complains because the county attorney asked defendant what year he spent in the State penitentiary of Oklahoma. This bill fails to show the answer of the witness, and, for aught the bill shows, it was entirely legitimate cross-examination.
Bill No. 5 complains because the arresting witness testified for the State that when he arrested appellant his shoes were muddy and his trousers wet and that it had rained the night before. We think this testimony was entirely proper, as explanatory of the surroundings of the appellant as the time the offense is alleged to have been committed.
Bill No. 6 complains of the testimony of the said witness that at the time of the arrest appellant said, "You needn't do nothing to me, I have been here in bed all night." The bill wholly fails to show either that the arrest had been made at the time of the statement or any other fact showing its inadmissibility.
What has been said with regard to bill No. 6 is equally applicable to bill No. 7, and same shows no error.
Bills of exceptions 8, 9 and 10 complain that the court permitted two witnesses for the State to testify that appellant hung around the streets, played hotels and loafed around a taxicab company. The court qualified these bills by stating that said testimony was in rebuttal of the testimony of the defendant. Appellant accepted the bills with this qualification, and is bound by it. An examination of appellant's testimony shows that he "testified that he was regularly employed by the Houston Construction Company and that he had been so employed for about six months prior to the time of the alleged offense. Under this state of facts the State was entitled to show the falsity of this testimony, if it could do so, and the testimony complained of tended strongly to accomplish this purpose.
This disposes of all of appellant's assignments; and, finding no error in the record, it is our opinion that the judgment should be affirmed, and it is so ordered.
Affirmed.
The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.