Case Name: JOHNSON v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1912-11-06
Citations: 150 S.W. 936
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOHNSON v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 150
Pages: 936–936

Head Matter:
JOHNSON v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Nov. 6, 1912.)
Bigamy (§ 11 ) — Foemer Marriage — Proof —Confessions.
In a prosecution for bigamy, defendant’s prior marriage cannot be established by confessions or admissions of the defendant alone.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Bigamy, Cent. Dig. §§ 50-53; Dec. Dig. § 11. ]
Appeal from District Court, Franklin County; P. A. Turner, Judge.
B. Johnson was convicted of bigamy, and he appeals.
Reversed and remanded.
Wilkerson & Wilkerson, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Rolston & Ward, of Mt. Pleasant, for appellant. C. E. Lane, 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.
Appellant was indicted and convicted of bigamy, and sentenced to two years in the penitentiary.
The state made proof that appellant married Bessie Cherry in Texas the 22d day of October, 1911. The only proof that defendant had a former living wife at the time he married Bessie Cherry is statements made by defendant. Several witnesses testified that defendant had told them, prior to marrying Bessie Cherry, that he had a wife and two children at Pleasant Gap, Ala.; that he had married Fannie Alexander, and had two children by her. No other proof was offered of his former marriage to Fannie Alexander, except his statements.
Can the first marriage be proven by confessions or admissions of a defendant alone? In the case of Dumas v. State, 14 Tex. App. 467, 46 Am. Rep. 241, this question is discussed at length by Judge White, and the authorities extensively cited, and in that case it was held that the first marriage could not be established by a confession alone; but a confession, together with cohabitation and other circumstances, would sustain a conviction. In this case, as there is no other evidence or circumstance shown, other than the mere confession offered to show a former marriage, the proof is insufficient to sustain the verdict. Harris v. State, 28 Tex. App. 308; Brady v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 264, 22 S. W. 924; Follis v. State, 46 Tex. Cr. R. 202, 78 S. W. 1069; Layton v. State, 52 Tex. Cr. R. 513, 107 S. W. 819; Nolan v. State, 60 Tex. Cr. R. 5, 129 S. W. 1108, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 1248.
We do not deem it necessary to discuss the other questions raised.
Reversed and remanded.