Court Opinion

ID: 3969464
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:28:28.535471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:17:45.917304
License: Public Domain

This conviction was for murder in the second degree. The court charged the jury on the question of self-defense, that "If from the evidence you believe defendant killed the said Neal Seely, but further believe that at the time of so doing deceased had made an attack on him which, from the manner and character of it and the relative strength of the parties and the defendant's knowledge of the character and disposition of the deceased, caused him to have a reasonable expectation or fear of death or serious bodily injury, and that acting under such reasonable expectation or fear, defendant killed deceased, then you will acquit him. * * * If from the acts (if any) of the deceased, or from his words coupled with his acts (if any) at the time of the homicide it reasonably appeared to defendant, viewing the facts from defendant's standpoint at the time, that he was in danger of losing his life or of suffering serious bodily injury at the hands of deceased, and you find that defendant, acting under such apprehension, shot and killed deceased, then and in that event defendant would be justified. * * * If, however, you find from the evidence, after viewing the facts from the defendant's standpoint, that it did not reasonably appear to defendant that he was in danger of losing his life nor of suffering serious bodily injury at the hands of deceased, then and there at the time he fired the shot, then if you should so find, you will find against his plea of self-defense." Exception was reserved to the charge as given; that the actual attack had not been made upon appellant but that it was only a threatened attack; that this charge submitted the case upon a false theory; that the evidence showed that at the time deceased was only advancing *Page 575 
upon appellant and threatening an attack. The State's case makes it clear that appellant would be guilty of murder. Appellant, however, through his own testimony, supported by other witnesses, shows that deceased was in the restaurant under the influence of intoxicants at the time defendant entered; that deceased became boisterous and profane, finally directing his profanity at appellant, and subsequently caught or caught at appellant, but was prevented from catching him by a bystander; that appellant began retreating, followed by the deceased, who was cursing him and threatening to kill him; that as he passed out the door of the restaurant, deceased followed, still continuing his abuse, with threats to kill; and finally threw his hand back as if to get a pistol, and appellant shot. Under these peculiar facts, we believe the charge with reference to an attack made was proper. The transaction all occurred in a moment or so of time, and so connected from beginning to conclusion that it was continuous and uninterrupted. As we view the facts, the charge in regard to an attack was justified, and it might have been a question of criticism if the act of deceased in grabbing at appellant had been ignored in the charge. Where the evidence does not show an actual attack, but only a threatened one, a charge of this character is not permissible. The authorities on this point are practically a unit in this State. The writer is of the opinion that the latter clause of the charge above copied should not have been given. It was expressly condemned in Nix v. State, 9 Texas Ct. Rep., 98; and for the reasons stated in that opinion I believe this excerpt from the charge should not have been given. However, my brethren think the Nix case is wrong on this proposition and should be overruled.
Misconduct of the jury is also alleged for reversal. It appears from the motion and accompanying affidavits that while the jury were considering the case they passed the scene of the homicide and stepped the distance testified by the witnesses; and one of the jurors, Dixon, drew a plat of the building from what he saw at the time at the place and used the same in discussing the case in the jury room. It is also stated in the affidavit that Thad Clark, one of the jurors, stated to the jury that he knew deceased, and that he was a good negro, and he had never heard of his having trouble. These affidavits are uncontradicted and may be taken as true. The character of deceased had been attacked as being a man of bad character in regard to peace and quietude. The statute forbids the reception of testimony by the jury after they have retired to consider of their verdict. So, we have two phases of testimony considered by the jury after their retirement — first, a visit to the scene of the homicide, stepping the distance, viewing the location of the building where the homicide occurred, and using the diagram prepared after said view of the premises; and second, Clark's testimony in regard to the good character of deceased. Such conduct of the jury has been held reversible error since Smith v. State, 42 Tex. 444. *Page 576 
There can be no question but this was receiving testimony in interdiction of the statute which prohibits this after the jury has retired. The statements of the juror Clark, that deceased was a good negro, and he had never heard of his having any trouble, comes within the same category.
For the errors indicated, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.