Case Name: JACKSON v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1921-10-19
Citations: 235 S.W. 882
Docket Number: No. 6320
Parties: JACKSON v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 235
Pages: 882–884

Head Matter:
JACKSON v. STATE.
(No. 6320.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 19, 1921.
On Motion for Rehearing. Nov. 30, 1921.)
1. Criminal law &wkey;l 144(18) —In absence of evidence, appellate court must assume court properly overruled motion for new trial.
Where, according to a motion and affidavit for new trial on the ground the verdict was received in defendant’s absence, defendant attended the trial, but was outside the courthouse, a few feet from the door, when the verdict was received, and in the order overruling the motion it was stated that evidence was heard, the Court of Criminal Appeals, in the absence of a statement of such evidence, must assume that the facts supported the court’s action in receiving the verdict, which would have been justified, under Laws 1907, c. 19, if defendant was voluntarily absent.
On Motion for Rehearing.
2. Assault and battery &wkey;>56, 96(8) — instruction that use of shotgun in threatening manner constitutes assault, and refusal of instruction correctly defining “deadly weapon,” held error.
In a prosecution for aggravated assault, by cocking and presenting a shotgun with threatening words and manner, the court erred in instructing the jury that a shotgun is a deadly . weapon, but that merely having one in one’s possession, or carrying it in the ordinary manner, does not constitute an assault, unless used in a threatening manner, or presented in shooting position, and in refusing an instruction that a deadly weapon is one which in the manner used is likely to produce death or serious bodily harm, for a shotgun, when merely used to alarm, is not a “deadly weapon,” as correctly defined in the instruction refused, whether loaded or unloaded, and its use for such purpose constitutes only a simple assault, under Yemon’s Ann. Pen. Code 1916, art. 1013, subd. 3.
[Ed. Note. — For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, First and Second Series, Deadly | Weapons.]
Appeal from Angelina County Court; John F. Robinson, Judge.
W. T. Jackson was. convicted of aggravated assault, and he appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
Fairchild & Redditt, of Lufkin, for appellant.
R. H. Hamilton, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
MORROW, P. J.
Conviction is for aggravated assault; punishment fixed at a fine of $25. The alleged ground of aggravation is the use of a deadly weapon.
While Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Jackson were conversing over the telephone, a party line, Scroggins picked up the receiver, and, hearing the conversation, made a remark which was construed by Mrs. Jackson as offensive, though Scroggins claimed that it was not so intended. Later, while Scroggins and two companions were riding horseback along the road, passing the home of the appellant, W. T. Jackson, he accosted them, and, according to the state's testimony, commanded the separation of Scroggins from his companions, and, in an angry manner and tone, leveled his gun or pointed it at Scroggins, telling him that, if he did not go to the house and apologize to Mrs. Jackson, he would be killed by the appellant. Accompanying this action, or preceding it, a noise was heard indicating the cocking of the gun. Scroggins complied with the demand, and the appellant held the gun on him while he went to the house and made the apology.
Appellant's theory is to the effect that, upon seeing Scroggins and his companions, he got his gun and went to the road and accosted them, and demanded that Scroggins should go to the house and apologize to Mrs. Jackson; that Scroggins, without hesitation, did so, the appellant following him without presenting his gun, which, according to his testimony, he carried for protection, understanding that Scroggins was in the habit of going armed.
The court instructed the .jury thus:
"A shotgun is a deadly weapon, but merely having a shotgun in one's possession, or carrying one in the ordinary manner or way one may or is usually carried, does not constitute an assault, and only becomes the means of an assault when used in a threatening manner or presenting it in a shooting position."
Appellant requested an instruction that a deadly weapon was one which, "in the manner used, is likely to produce death or serious bodily harm," and complains of the refusal of this charge.
The real issue was whether an assault was committed. If appellant cocked and presented a shotgun with threatening words and manner, as described by the state's witnesses, he committed an assault with a deadly weapon. Such is the holding of this court in Lockland's Case, 45 Tex. Cr. R. 89, 73 S. W. 1054, and others. See Myers v. State, 72 Tex. Cr. It. 680, 163 S. W. 432; Ford v State, 51 Tex. Cr. R. 443, 102 S. W. 404; Forrest v. State, 3 Tex. App. 232; Burton v State, 3 Tex. App. 408, 30 Am. Rep. 146. There is no evidence that the instrument was used otherwise than as a firearm. If it was not in condition to shoot, it devolved upon the appellant to furnish evidence of this fact; it being peculiarly within his knowledge. Cromwell v. State, 60 Tex. Cr. R. 183, 131 S. W. 595; Crow v. State, 55 Tex. Cr. R. 200, 116 S. W. 52, 21 L. R. A. (N. S.) 497; Lockland v. State, 45 Tex. Cr. R. 87, 73 S. W. 1054.
If the facts were as claimed by appellant, he made no assault. As we conceive it, the question was not whether the instrument was a deadly weapon in the manner used, but whether it was used at all. The charge given, we think, was better adapted to guide the jury in deciding this issue than the special charge requested. If the state's theory was true, there was no occasion to define a "deadly weapon." Martinez v. State, 56 S. W. 58; Wheeler v. State, 56 Tex. Cr. R. 550, 121 S. W. 166; Lofton v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. It. 270, 128 S. W. 384; Kosmoroski v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. R. 296, 127 S. W. 1056. Under the charge given, unless the state's theory was believed, it was the duty of the jury to acquit. It was not contended that, if the instrument was used as the state claims, there was a lack of intent to injure such as would classify the offense as a simple assault. Teague v. State, 84 Tex. Cr. R. 169, 206 S. W. 193, and Hall v. State, 230 S. W. 690, are cases in which there was affirmative evidence that the demonstration made with the firearm was without intent to injure. Such issue is not in the ease in hand.
A new trial was sought on the assertion that the verdict was received in appellant's absence. According to the motion and affidavit attached, he attended the trial, but at the time the verdict was received was outside of the courthouse, a few feet from the door. In the order overruling the motion, it is stated that evidence was heard. We have before us no statement of the evidence heard on the motion, and, in its absence, must assume that the facts adduced support the court's action. If appellant was voluntarily absent, the court's action in receiving the verdict was justified. Laws 1907, c. 19.
No error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.
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