Case Name: TIMBERLAKE v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1934-12-19
Citations: 78 S.W.2d 599
Docket Number: No. 17074
Parties: TIMBERLAKE v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 78
Pages: 599–601

Head Matter:
TIMBERLAKE v. STATE.
No. 17074.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Dec. 19, 1934.
Rehearing Denied Feb. 13, 1935.
F. R. Gray, of San Saba, for appellant.
Llóyd W. Davidson, State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
LATTIMORH, Judge.
Conviction for violating Sunday Law; punishment, a fine of $20.
Appellant was charged with being a merchant and a grocer, and a dealer in wares, merchandise, and provisions, and that he did sell certain merchandise and provisions on Sunday after 9 o'clock a. m.; also did then and there on said date and after 9 o'clock a. m. permit his place of business to be open for the purpose of traffic.
We find in the record four bills of exception, each of which, as we understand it, presents the question of the insufficiency of'the testim'ony in various ways. Bill No. 1 complains of the overruling of the motion for new trial predicated on the lack of evidence. Bill No. 2 sets up a special charge given by the court instructing the j'ury that, before they could convict, they must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was a merchant, and a dealer in wares, merchandise, and provisions, and did make the sale alleged, or kept his place of business open for traffic as alleged, and, in the event they had a doubt as to same, they should acquit; and that the jury did not regard the instructions of the court, but wholly ignored same, and that the evidence is insufficient. Bills Nos. 4 and 6 present in substance the same complaint.
Appellant's attorney has a brief in this case showing care and effort in the preparation and presentation of authorities upon the questions raised on behalf of the defense. The authorities cited have been examined with care and interest. It may be stated in general that one charged as an individual merchant, dealer, etc., may be held liable, though the record show that he has one or many partners, it being sufficient to show that he was in fact the owner or part owner, and,' if such fact be shown, and that he was present when the place of business was open for traffic, it is immaterial whether he in person make the sales or some one otherwise connected with the business. See Moncla v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 70 S. W. 548; Morris v. State, 48 Tex. Cr. R. 562, 89 S. W. 832. It is also held that, if the place of business is open for traffic on Sunday, it is immaterial whether a sale was made or. not. Brown v. State, 38 Tex. Cr. R. 597, 44 S. W. 176; Armstrong v. State, 47 Tex. Cr. R. 510, 84 S. W. 827. Appel lant's principal contention seems to be that the evidence is not sufficient to show that he was either in part or in whole the owner of the business in question.
The state introduced the tax assessor, who testified that he knew where the Timberlake grocery store was located; that it was in the city of San Saba, and that the stock of goods in said store was rendered by this appellant; that he did not render the building, but did render the stock of goods. Mr. Oliver testified that on Sunday morning January 28, 1934, after 9 o'clock a. m., he walked down the street in San Saba to a point just across the street from Timberlake grocery and filling station, and that while there he saw Johnnie McKown go into Timberlake's and buy groceries and come out. He also testified, that he saw several people going in and out of Timberlake's store; that they would come out with sacks. He also saw some girls ride up to the store on bicycles, go into the store, and come out with something. Witness then made contact with Decker Bostick, and gave him 25 cents with which to go and buy 25 cents worth of sugar from Timberlake. Decker Bostick testified that on said Sunday he did get 25 cents from Mr. Oliver, and that he did go into Timberlake's store and buy 25 cents worth of sugar. Appellant waited on him. He also bought a sack of smoking tobacco. He said this was on Sunday and somewhere around 11 o'clock. He was acquainted with appellant; had traded with him at other times at said store. He had not traded there since January 2Sth, because he heard that the Timberlake boys were going to whip him. Johnnie McKown testified that he lived in San Saba and knew appellant, and had been in his store and bought groceries, but he was unwilling to state that he had ever bought groceries on Sunday. Appellant offered no testimony.
In Santikos v. State, 90 Tex. Cr. R. 81, 233 S. W. 848, the proposition of the introduction of an assessment of taxes was discussed; said assessment being offered on the question of ownership. We held the admission of the evidence for said purpose proper. It is true in that case, apparently, the assessor's record was offered and was under discussion. In the present case the assessor testified that he had in his hand the record of his assessment and that it was made by appellant in person. There was no objection to this testimony, and we think it competent to go before the jury to be considered by them as bearing upon the proposition of ownership. We have quoted from the testimony at some length in order that i,t may appear that this appellant not only rendered the taxes, but that he was present at different times and engaged in the management of the business, and appears to be one of the proprietors thereof. The fact that it was Timberlake's grocery store and that H. O. or Harry Timberlake, this appellant,rendered the goods, wares, and merchandise in the store, and was there in person keeping the place open and conducting .business on the Sunday morning in question, would seem sufficient to justify the jury in their conclusion that he was the owner and proprietor, or one of them. A special charge on this issue was given at the request of appellant. We see no need for discussing at length the various authorities cited in the able brief of appellant.
Believing the evidence sufficient, the judgment will be affirmed.