Case Name: GEARY v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1926-03-24
Citations: 281 S.W. 1061
Docket Number: No. 9892
Parties: GEARY v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 281
Pages: 1061–1061

Head Matter:
GEARY v. STATE.
(No. 9892.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
March 24, 1926.)
O. C. McKinney, of Cooper, for appellant.
Sam D. Stinson, State’s Atty., of Austin, and Nat Gentry, Jr., Asst. State’s Atty., of Tyler, fo.r the State.

Opinion:
BERRY, J.
The offense is burglary; the punishment is two years nTthe penitentiary. A motion to quash the indictment was filed, in which it was alleged that the indictment did not charge the burglary of a private residence as it attempted to do, and that it did not charge burglary at all. The indictment as found in the record attempted to charge the burglary of a private residence. In order to do that, it is necessary to specifically allege that the residence was a room or house occupied as a residence by the party who is alleged to own the residence, and it must allege that it was so occupied at the time the entry was made. The indictment in the instant case says that the appellant unlawfully, at night, by force, threats, and fraud, did break and enter the private residence there situate and occupied by Arbuckle Martin,, but it fails to state that it was occupied by Martin as a private residence. The indictment further states that the breaking was done with the intent to commit the crime of theft, and does not allege the elements necessary to make theft.
The state's attorney confesses error in this case, and concedes that the indictment is wholly, insufficient. We have examined the authorities cited by the state and are convinced that the state's position in the matter is correct. The following authorities seem to hold beyond question that the indictment is fatally defective. Johnson v, State, 96 S. W. 45, 50 Tex. Cr. R. 116; Jones v. State, 96 S. W. 44, 50 Tex. Cr. R. 100; Lewis v. State, 114 S. W. 819, 54 Tex. Cr. R. 636; Treadwell v. State, 16 Tex. App. 643; Williams v. State, 5 S. W. 838, 24 Tex. App. 69; Fox v. State, 135 S. W. 570, 61 Tex. Cr. R. 544; Reed v. State, 14 Tex. App. 662; Robinson v. State, 160 S. W. 456, 71 Tex. Cr. R. 561.
Because the indictment is fatally defective,' the judgment of conviction is reversed, and the prosecution is ordered dismissed.
PER OURIAM.
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.