Court Opinion

ID: 4999471
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-30 16:41:55.656548+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:03.815482
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
LATTIMORE, J.
This ease was reversed because the record showed that appellant and another were tried together, and there was nothing before us to show what disposition was made of appellant’s eodefendant. The record has been corrected so that at this time it appears said codefendant was found guilty, but given a suspended sentence, hence did not appeal. Having made said correction, and thus jpet the proposition upon which the case was reversed, the state files its motion for rehearing asking that .the judgment of reversal be set aside and that the conviction be now affirmed.
The charge in the indictment was the transportation of intoxicating liquor. The state introduced the sheriff of Austin county, who testified that on the occasion of a dance he saw a number of people who appeared to have been drinking, and that he looked around and found some liquor in a Ford coupé; that he secreted himself and watched said car, and presently saw appellant and Raymond Henneke come to the car and get-in same. They stepped on the starter, and witness said he walked up at that time and stopped them. There were two' half gallon jars, each over half full o"f whis-ky, and a gallon bottle with a little whisky in it; the whole amount of whisky being estimated at about three quarts. This witness further testified that the car had not started when he went to it; that the car did not move at all during the time he observed it. Witness said the two defendants both denied that the whisky in the car was theirs, and said they did not know anything about how it came there. This constituted the state’s case. For the defendant, witness Person testified that he saw appellant and his companion in the Ford coupé the afternoon before they were arrested; that they had a flat tire, and lie helped them fix it, and got the tools, etc., out of the car, and looked all through it; and that there were not any jars or jugs or anything containing whisky in the car at that time. Appellant’s father testified that he had been in bad health, and, when 'appellant and his companion started to the dance, he requested them, if they could get any whisky, to bring him some, and gave to appellant a $10 bill to be used in purchasing whisky, if he could find any. Appellant’s codefendant testified that he went to the dance with appellant,-and that theyhad'no whisky, but while at the dance appellant told him he had bought some whisky and put 'it in the car, and when they came out to get in the car to leave the sheriff arrested them [.before the ear^was moved. Appellant testified substantially to the same facts.' Both admit that they told the sheriff that they did not have anything to do with the whisky, and explained that they told this falsehood because they were scared. The good reputation of appellant as being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen was proven.
The above facts do not make out a’ case of transporting intoxicating liquor. Neither by circumstances nor by direct testimony is there any proof showing that said liquor was moved or transported by appellant from or to any place. While our original opinion was based on the legal necessity for a reversal because no disposition was shown of the charge against appellant’s codefendant, the conclusion there reached must be again announced; that is, that the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded. This being true, the state’s motion for rehearing will be overruled.