Case Name: KIRBY v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1911-01-11
Citations: 133 S.W. 682
Docket Number: 
Parties: KIRBY v. STATE.
Judges: PRENDERGAST, J., not sitting.
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 133
Pages: 682–682

Head Matter:
KIRBY v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Jan. 11, 1911.)
1. Weapons (§ 7 ) — Unlawful Carrying— Defenses.
In a prosecution for unlawfully carrying a pistol, evidence that accused was a bartender, and had been cleaning up the saloon just prior to his arrest, and was taking the pistol home with him to sell it, if believed, constituted a defense.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Weapons, Cent. Dig. § 6; Dec. Dig. § 7. ]
2. Criminal Law (§ 1158 ) — Review—Trial ' by Judge.
AVhere a jury is waived, and accused is tried by the judge, it being the judge’s duty to determine the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony, a conviction will not be set aside on appeal, if there is sufficient testimony to authorize a conviction.
[Ed. Note. — For other eases, Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3061-3086; 1158. ] see Criminal Dec. Dig. §
Appeal from Dallas County Court at Law; W. M. Holland, Judge.
Charles Kirby was convicted of unlawfully carrying a pistol on or about his person, and he appeals.
Affirmed.
Crawford, Walker & Williams, for appellant. John A. Mobley, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
For other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
HARPER, J.
The defendant was tried in the county court of Dallas county at law, charged with the offense of unlawfully carrying on and about his person a pistol. He was convicted, and his punishment assessed at 30 days' imprisonment in the county jail.
The only error assigned is that the evidence was insufficient and does not support and sustain the judgment. The state offered two' witnesses, who testified that at the time defendant was arrested a pistol was taken from his person. The defendant admits this, but says that he was a bartender, and. had been down cleaning up the saloon (it being Sunday), and was taking the pistol home to sell it. If the trial court had believed the appellant's testimony, he should not have been convicted. A jury having been waived and the case tried before the judge, he was the judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given the testimony. He saw them, their manner of testifying, and it has been the rule in this court not to disturb the verdict and judgment, when there are no errors in the record, and there is sufficient testimony to authorize a conviction.
In the case of Crow v. State, 33 Tex. Cr. R. 264, 26 S. W. 209, Judge Hurt says: "When the trial judge has ruled the law correctly pertaining to the trial, and has instructed the jury properly, the indictment being sufficient, this court will turn to the statement of facts to ascertain if the guilt of the appellant appears with reasonable certainty. If it does, the judgment will be affirmed. And in passing upon the sufficiency of the evidence, which supports the verdict, we do not pass upon the credibility of the witnesses. Again, if there be conflicting theories, one presenting guilt and the other innocence, or creating doubt of guilt, rejecting the others, this court will not reverse, if the evidence supporting be sufficiently cogent as to render the guilt of the defendant reasonably certain. In such a state of case all theories, except that presenting guilt, being in conflict therewith, will be rejected by this court."
Finding no error in the record, the judgment is affirmed.
PRENDERGAST, J., not sitting.