Court Opinion

ID: 4904461
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-03 05:54:25.393462+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:03.488347
License: Public Domain

White, J.
Appellant was indicted in the lower court for the theft of a horse and buggy from one R. B. Baer. The indictment was brought upon the latter clause of Article 2385, Paschal’s Digest, which is as follows: “But if the taking, though originally lawful, was obtained by any false pretext, or with an intent to deprive the owner of the value thereof and appropriate the property to the use and benefit of the person taking, and the same is so appropriated, the offense of theft is complete.”
The horse and buggy, in this case, were hired by Warrington, as alleged in the indictment, upon the false pretext “that he (defendant) wanted the horse and buggy for *171the purpose of riding a short distance in the country to-look at some land on Bray’s bayou.”
The rules of pleading, under the Article above quoted (2385) and Article 2426, Paschal’s Digest, in regard to-swindling, which is similar in character, are the same so far as “ the false pretext ” in the one and “ the false pretenses ” in the other are concerned. In both the matter alleged to be false should be fully set out and described in the indictment. The State v. Baggerly, 21 Texas, 758. Not only so, but the indictment, to be good, must by positive averment negative the existence of the facts or truth of the matters alleged to be false. See Marada and Ortise v. The State, Tyler term, January 25, 1876. “ But though this is requisite, yet, to authorize the conviction, it is not necessary to prove all the pretenses laid in the indictment to be false, unless all are material to constitute the offense-charged.” The People v. Haynes, 11 Wend. 557 ; State v. Mills, 17 Me. 211.
“ But the rule that it is sufficient to prove any of the pretenses, if the property were obtained thereby, must be confined to those cases where such part is a separate and independent pretense.” Roscoe on Cr. Ev. 473.
Following the above rule, the district attorney negatived the false pretext in this case by alleging that “ he, the said Taylor Warrington, did not want said horse and buggy to ride a short distance in the country, and in truth and in fact said Warrington did not want said horse and buggy to ride out to look at land on Bray’s bayou.”
There were two instructions which defendant’s counsel asked to be given to the jury, which were refused by the court. They were:
“ 1st. If the jury believe from the evidence that the* defendant did not obtain the property charged to have been-stolen upon the pretext alleged in the indictment, but obtained the same upon the recommendation of Capt. Chew,. *172■and that he could not have procured it without such recom.mendation, then you will find for defendant.
“ 2d. When the fraudulent pretext alleged in the indictment is to look at some land on Bray’s bayou, then it is incumbent upon the state to prove such pretext as alleged in the indictment; and if in this case this has not been done, then yon will find for defendant.”
The judge indorsed his refusal in these words : “ For the reason that I think the general charge covers the ground, and goes as far as the law warrants, I refuse the above •charge.” In the general charge the jury were instructed: “ It is not necessary to prove the false pretext precisely as .alleged, but substantially.”
So far as the 1st charge asked as above by defendant is concerned, its refusal by the court was not error. The gist -of the offense was the criminal intent of the defendant in procuring Baer to part with the possession of the horse and buggy, in order that the defendant might appropriate it to his own use; and whether he accomplished his purpose by means of a recommendation from Capt. Chew, or not, does not affect the question of his guilt, but, under the circum:stances developed in evidence, would tend rather to aggravate it.
We think, however, that the court erred in that portion • of the charge above quoted, and, consequently, in refusing "the 2d charge asked by defendant. The distinct, positive, substantive false pretext alleged and negatived in the indictment was that defendant wanted to go “ a short distance in the country to look at land on Bray’s bayou.” If the pleader had so chosen, he might have left out the words ■“ Bray’s bayou,” and the indictment would have been a •good one. But, having alleged them, can they be treated -as surplusage, and would the failure to make the proof in exact accordance with the allegation be such a variance as would not support a verdict and judgment of convictionV *173Mr. G-reenleaf defines variance to be “a disagreement, between the allegation and the proof in some matter which, in point of law is essential to the charge or claim.” 1 Greenl. on Ev., sec. 63.
The distinction between variance and surplusage is laid down with great perspicuity by Mr. Justice Story in The United States v. Howard, 3 Sumn. 14,15. He says : “ Two-questions generally arise. The 1st is, what allegations must be proved and what may be disregarded in evidence ? The-2d is, what is sufficient proof of allegations which cannot be disregarded in evidence? The former includes the consideration of what constitutes mere surplusage in an indictment ; the latter, what constitutes variance. Mere surplus-age will not vitiate an indictment, and need not be established in proof. The material facts which constitute the-offense charged must be stated in the indictment, and they must be proved in evidence. But allegations not essential to such a purpose, which might be entirely omitted without affecting the charge against the defendant, and without detriment to the indictment, are considered as mere surplus-age and may be disregarded in evidence. But no allegation,, whether it be necessary or unnecessary, whether it be more or less particular, which is descriptive of the identity of that which is legally essential to the charge in the indictment, can ever be rejected as surplusage.” 3 Sumn. 15.
In still other words, says Mr. Bishop, “ wherever there is a necessary allegation which cannot be rejected, yet the pleader makes it unnecessarily minute in the way of description, the proof must satisfy the description as well as the main part, since the one is essential to the identity of the other.” 1 Bishop on Cr. Pro., sec. 485; and he cites United States v. Keen, 1 McLean, 429 ; The State v. Jackson, 30 Me. 29 ; United States v. Brown, 3 McLean, 233 ; United States v. Howard, 3 Sumn. 12 ; The State v. Noble, 15 Me. 476 ; Dick v. The State, 30 Miss. 631.
*174In addition to these authorities, see United States v. Foye, 1 Curt. 364; Commonwealth v. Atwood, 11 Mass. 93 ; Commonwealth v. Tuck, 20 Pick. 356; Commonwealth v. Hope, 22 Pick. 1; Hill v. The State, 41 Texas, 253; Gorman v. The State, 42 Texas, 221; Collins v. The State, 43 Texas, 577.
Mr. Wharton says: “ An allegation in an indictment which describes, defines, or limits a matter material to be charged, is a descriptive averment, and must be proved as laid.” 1 Whart. Am. Cr. Law, sec. 629.
In view of these authorities we are of opinion that the -court erred in giving that portion of the general charge quoted above, and in refusing the 2d instruction asked by defendant.
Por the reason, also, that the state failed to prove the •allegation in the indictment, the court erred in not granting •a new trial.
The judgment of the lower court is reversed and the ■cause is remanded.
Reversed and remanded.