Case Name: SOAPE v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1912-10-23
Citations: 150 S.W. 612
Docket Number: 
Parties: SOAPE v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 150
Pages: 612–612

Head Matter:
SOAPE v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 23, 1912.)
Gaming (§ 72 ) — Offenses—“Residence.”
The house in which accused and others played cards was in the inclosure of the dwelling house of H., one of the participants, but was an outhouse about 250 yards therefrom, in a field, and various vegetables and implements were stored therein. The outhouse was closed, but not locked, and contained no furniture. No betting was done at the games. Pen. Code 1911, art. 548, makes it an offense to play cards at any outhouse where people resort, or at any other place, except a private residence occupied by a family. Article 550 exempts the state from proving that any money or article of value was bet at such game. Held, that the outhouse was not H.’s “residence,” within the statutes, and accused was guilty of the offense of gaming.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Gaming, Cent. Dig. §§ 168-186; Dec. Dig. § 72.
For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 7, pp. 5151-5161; vol. 8, p. 7788.]
Appeal from Panola County Court; W. R. Anderson, Judge.
Ñute Soape was convicted of gaming, and he appeals.
Affirmed.
'Brooke & Woolworth, of Carthage, for appellant. C. E. Dane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
For other eases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dee. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
PRENDERGAST, J.
Appellant was convicted of gaming, and given the lowest penalty, a $10 fine.
The complaint and information are made in two counts; the first .charging that on November 9, 1911, appellant, in said state and county, did then and there unlawfully, and not at a private residence occupied by a family, play a game with cards. In the other it is charged that on the same date and place he did unlawfully play at a game with cards in an outhouse where people did then and there resort.
' The evidence is uncontradicted. It shows that on said date appellant, with two other persons, played two or three games with cards-; that the house at which it occurred was about 250 yards from the dwelling house where Hutto and his family lived, but in the same inclosure. It was shown to be in Hutto's field, and between his dwelling house and this outhouse various crops were in cultivation; that in the outhouse where the games were played were sweet potatoes, cotton seed, goobers, plows, and plow tools, which were usually kept, and with which said Hutto fed his stock, and used for provisions for his family. This outhouse was kept closed, but not locked. The family frequented the house to get provender for their stock and for their own- use. No one slept in the outhouse and there was no furniture therein. Hutto and his wife at the time gave these parties permission to play these games of cards, and both Hutto, his wife, and the •witness who testified were present at the time, but did not participate in the game. The witness never saw any other games played, and so far as he knew no others were played. The appellant lived a half mile from this outhouse, and the other two who were engaged in the game only about 250 yards from this outhouse. No betting was done on the games.
Appellant's only contention in the case is that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdict, and that this outhouse was in law a part of the said Hutto's residence, where his family lived. .The statute (P. C. art. 548 [379]) makes it an offense for any person to play at any game of cards in any outhouse where people resort; also at any place, except a private residence occupied by a family. Article 550 (381), P. C., expressly provides that it shall not be necessary for the state to prove that any money or article of value, or the representative of either, was bet at such game.
The evidence clearly establishes that the appellant was guilty under both of these provisions of the statute. The outhouse where the gaming occurred was not said Hutto's residence, where his family resided, or any part of it, within the meaning of the gambling act. Wheelock v. State, 15 Tex. 253; Sisk v. State, 28 Tex. App. 432, 13 S. W. 647.
The judgment is affirmed.