Case Name: DANIELS v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1917-10-24
Citations: 198 S.W. 147
Docket Number: No. 4637
Parties: DANIELS v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 198
Pages: 147–148

Head Matter:
DANIELS v. STATE.
(No. 4637.)
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 24, 1917.)
1. Witnesses <§=>337(5) — Impeachment — Scope.
Where accused takes the stand, he may be cross-examined as to his conviction of other offenses, for the purpose of impeaching his credibility as a witness.
2. Witnesses <§=>357 — Examination—Leading Questions.
A witness testifying in impeachment of another may be asked the precise question put to the witness sought to be impeached in laying a foundation, and the question is not objectionable because leading.
Appeal from District Court, Harrison County; P. O. Beard, Judge.
Matthew Daniels was convicted of theft, and he appeals.
Affirmed.
Lane & Lane, of Marshall, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Opinion:
PRENDERGAST, J.
Appellant was convicted of cow theft, and the lowest punishment assessed against him. The evidence was amply sufficient to sustain the verdict, and the court gave a correct charge, submitting every issue raised.
There are but two questions raised. One is his complaint that for the purpose of im- penciling Ms veracity the state was permitted to ask Mm, and he reqMred to answer, that on April 10, 1912, he had been convicted in the district court of said county of forgery under the name of Prank Charles and served a term in the penitentiary. It has always been held that such evidence of impeachment was admissible in this state. 1 Branch's Ann. P. C. § 167, where a large number of cases are collated.
The other hill shows that he objected to certain leading questions propounded by the state to its witness Jemison. The bill is wholly insufficient to show that the court erred in permitting the leading questions under Carter v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. R. 75, 127 S. W. 215, and other cases cited in 1 Branch's Ann. P. C. § 159. But in this case the court qualifies his bill by showing that these leading questions were permitted to be asked the witness Jemison and Ms answers given because his testimony was in direct impeachment of appellant when he denied making to Jemi-son the statements which Jemison said he did make to him; and the court in his charge limited the testimony of said Jemison in answer to said questions for impeachment purposes only. Hie ruling of the court was based upon the rule of law which is well established and accurately stated in 40 Cyc. 2751:
"The usual and most exact method of examining an impeaching witness is to ask the precise question put to the witness sought to be impeached in laying a foundation, and such question is not objectionable because of its leading character."
To the same effect is 5 Jdnes on Evidence, P. 211. It is unnecessary to cite other authorities.
The judgment is affirmed.
<S=íFor other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes