Case Name: Ex parte BROOKS
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1935-01-16
Citations: 78 S.W.2d 183
Docket Number: No. 17427
Parties: Ex parte BROOKS.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 78
Pages: 183–183

Head Matter:
Ex parte BROOKS.
No. 17427.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Jan. 16, 1935.
Jackson & Street, of Denton, for appellant.
Lloyd W. Davidson, State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
HAWKINS, Judge.
This appeal is from an order of the dis-iriet judge fixing bail in the sum of $4,000.
The record shows that appellant had been charged by complaint filed before W. A. Matthews, justice of the peace, with the robbery of Harry Owens by using and exhibiting a firearm, and taking from Owens the sum of $262. The justice of the peace, sitting as an examining court, placed appellant's bond at $7,500. His wife had made some effort to secure bail for him in that amount, but without success. She then made application to Hon. B. W. Boyd, district judge, for a writ of habeas corpus, averring that the amount of bail fixed by the justice of >tbe peace was unreasonable, and that appellant was unable to make bond in said amount, "or in any other large amount." The writ was granted, and after a hearing the said district judge reduced the amount of bail to $4,000. Without'making any effort to secure bond for the latter sum, notice of appeal was given to this court. There should be some showing of effort to make bond in the sum fixed by the district judge; if unable to make it, a motion might then be made before the judge setting up the facts, and requesting a further reduction in the bond. See Ex parte Thompson, 92 Tex. Cr. R. 291, 243 S. W. 910; Ex parte Atkinson, 92 Tex. Cr. R. 296, 243 S. W. 910.
We are not to be understood as intimating that bail 'in the sum of $4,000 is excessive. The ability or lack of ability to make bond does not alone control. Ex parte Jones, 107 Tex. Cr. R. 438, 296 S. W. 886; Ex parte Turner, 119 Tex. Cr. R. 149, 45 S.W.(2d) 1016. The circumstances of the alleged crime and the punishment permitted are to be considered. Ex parte Nelson (Tex. Cr. App.) 69 S.W.(2d) 126. The punishment of death may be inflicted for the offense of robbery with firearms. Article 1408, P. C.
For ,the reasons given, the relief prayed for is denied, and the judgment fixing bail at $4,000 is affirmed.