Case Name: NOWELLS v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1923-06-06
Citations: 252 S.W. 550
Docket Number: No. 7700
Parties: NOWELLS v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 252
Pages: 550–550

Head Matter:
NOWELLS v. STATE.
(No. 7700.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
June 6, 1923.)
1. Indictment and information <&wkey;d 10(31) — Indictment n.eed not follow exact statutory description of liquor.
A description in an indictment charging sale and possession for the purpose of sale of “liquor capable of producing intoxication” is sufficiently exact, though the statute prescribes a more accurate wording.
2. Criminal law <&wkey;878(I) — Conviction of more than one felony in same trial held reversible error.
A conviction based upon an erroneous instruction that accused could be convicted of two distinct felonies on the same trial under one indictment constituted reversible error.
Appeal from District Court, Palo Pinto County; J. B. Keith, Judge.
Roy Nowells was convicted of sale and possession of intoxicating liquor, and he appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
Moyers & Creighton, of Mineral Wells, for appellant.
W. A. Keeling, Atty. Gen., and C. L. Stone, Asst. At'ty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
HAWKINS, J.
Conviction is for violation of certain provisions of what is known as the Dean Liquor Law (Vernon's Ann. Pen. Code Supp. 1922, art. 58814 et seq.), punishment being assessed at two years' confinement in' the penitentiary.
The indictment charges in the first count that appellant sold "liquor capable of producing intoxication" ; in the second count he is charged with being in the possession for the purpose of sale of "liquor capable of producing intoxication." It will be observed that in neither count' is the statutory description of the liquor followed; that is, there is no allegation that the liquor Vas either spirituous, vinous, or malt. The indictment is an exact copy of the one in Tucker v. State (No. 7575) 251 S. W. 1090. The Tucker Case was affirmed at a former day of this term, and motion for rehearing overruled June 6, 1923. The identical question is discussed at some length in the latter case, and we refer thereto for our conclusions.
A reversal becomes necessary because appellant was convicted of two separate and distinct felonies. In submitting the case to the jury the court not only submitted each count separately, but gave this additional charge:
"Or if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty under both counts in the indictment, then you will find him guilty as charged under both counts in the indictment and assess his punishment at confinement in the penitentiary of this state for any term of years not less than one nor more than five, in your discretion."
Following this instruction, the jury returned a verdict finding appellant guilty under both counts and assessed his punishment at two years' confinement in the penitentiary. The judgment' follows the verdict and condemns him to be guilty of the offenses of. both selling intoxicating liquor and with having same in his possession for the purpose of sale. We do not discuss the matter further than to refer to former opinions of this court holding that an'accused cannot be convicted of two felonies upon one trial under one indictment. Banks v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 246 S. W. 377; Knott v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 247. S. W. 520, 522; Zilliox v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 247 S. W. 523; Wimberley v. State (No. 7285, opinion March 21, 1923) 249 S. W. 497; Huffhines v. State (No. 7226, opinion May 2, 1923), 251 S. W. 229.
For the error pointed out the judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded.
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