Court Opinion

ID: 5013617
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 03:13:38.642158+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:31.435218
License: Public Domain

DAVIDSON, Judge.
In the exercise of its police power to protect the public health, the Legislature, by Art. 709, P.C., Vernon’s Ann.P.C. art. 709, made it unlawful for any person to sell an article of food to which has been added sulphite. The statute is a valid exercise of legislative power.
Appellant stands here convicted of a violation of that statute under an indictment charging that he "did, then and there unlawfully sell to W. A. Welch an article of food, to-wit, meat, to which had been added sulphite.” The punishment was assessed at a fine of $100.
The indictment was attacked 'by motion to quash, because of the absence of an allegation that the appellant knowingly or wilfully sold meat containing sulphite, it being insisted that knowledge or wilfulness is an essential of the offense.
With this contention we do not agree. Under the express provisions of Art. 709, P.C., the sale of an article of food containing sulphite is made unlawful. Neither knowledge nor intent is a part of that offense. Lack of knowledge on the part of the accused that the article of food contained sulphite arises only as a matter of defense under the general statute relating to the defense of mistake of fact. Art. 41, P.C.
 Ordinarily, an indictment drawn in the language of the statute creating and defining the offense is sufficient. 23 Tex. Jur., Sec. 34, p. 635. This the indictment did, in the instant case, and it is therefore deemed sufficient.
In support of his contention appellant cites the cases of Vaughn v. State, 86 Tex.Cr.R. 255, 219 S.W. 206, Morris v. State. 93 Tex.Cr.R. 99, 245 S.W. 915. and Ham v. State, 118 Tex.Cr.R. 271, 40 S.W.2d 152. In those cases, knowledge became an essential element of the offense by reason of the wording of the statute prescribing the penalty.
No such provision is found in Art. 717, P.C. prescribing the penalty for the offense here charged.
The undisputed facts show that appellant was the owner and operator of a meat market in the City of Tyler. He sold to a State pure food inspector a half pound of ground meat which he took from a pan in a meat display box or case in the market. The meat so sold contained a considerable amount of sulphite.
Such facts showed appellant guilty, as charged, and established a prima facie case for the State. ^
Appellant’s defense was a lack of knowledge on his part that the meat contained sulphite.
That defense, which was rejected, the trial court pertinently submitted to the jury in his charge.
No reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.
Opinion approved by the Court.