Opinion ID: 2405986
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: money and envelope

Text: Tucker testified to the taking of a brown envelope containing $50. The officers testified to the finding of an envelope containing money on Coleman. Tucker's identification of the envelope was based in part, on the name Joe and the notation $50 which he had written on it before it had been taken. Objection, based on the best evidence rule, was made to testimony concerning writing on the envelope. Objection was also made to testimony as to the amount of money taken from defendant, again on the basis of the best evidence rule. The best evidence rule requires that to prove a writing, the writing itself must be produced, unless it is not feasible, whenever the purpose is to establish the terms of the writing. 4 Wigmore on Evidence (3rd ed.) § 1178, p. 316. Insofar as the envelope was concerned, the notations about which Tucker testified were significant only from the standpoint of identification of the envelope returned to him. Instead of a distinctive color or shape, the presence of his writing was the basis of Tucker's identification of the envelope. The object of his testimony was not to establish as a relevant matter what had been written on the envelope. In these circumstances the best evidence rule is not applicable. In State v. Elgin, Mo.Sup., 391 S.W.2d 341, relied upon by appellant, oral testimony that defendant was the beneficiary on an insurance policy, on his deceased wife, was held inadmissible, under the best evidence rule. However, such evidence bore on the issue of motion of the defendant on a charge of murdering his wife and the object of the testimony was to establish the contents of the non-produced policy. 391 S.W. 2d 344-345 [10-11]. Here, we are concerned only with an issue of identification. The objection that the money taken from Coleman should have been produced, rather than permitting the officer's testimony on the subject, is without merit. In Kilrain v. State, 166 Tex.Cr.R. 265, 313 S.W.2d 299, 300 [2], a similar contention was raised and answered: Appellant next contends that the court erred in permitting the officers to testify as to the money which they found because the money itself was the best evidence. In Dixon v. State, 108 Tex.Cr.R. 650, 2 S.W.2d 272, 273, Judge Lattimore said, `We do not think the man who testifies that he found a horse must produce the horse before the jury before his testimony will be received.'