Court Opinion

ID: 3938758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:02:53.737875+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:17.802346
License: Public Domain

Appellant was convicted of burglary, his punishment being assessed at two years confinement in the penitentiary.
There were no exceptions reserved to the charge at the time of or before same was read to the jury. Two special charges were requested but refused by the court. If they could be considered, then we find there is nothing presented requiring a reversal by either charge. The first was to the effect that the court was requested to instruct the jury that if the testimony raised a reasonable doubt as to whether or not the door of the burglarized house was closed at the time of the alleged entry, and they should find defendant did enter the house, they should acquit him. There is no evidence supporting this charge or requiring it. Two witnesses who testified, the alleged owner and his wife, state positively that the door was closed and fastened, and was entered during the night and property taken from the house. There seems to be no evidence suggesting that the door was not closed. The second charge was to the effect that in order to find a verdict of guilty on circumstantial evidence the jury must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant and no otherperson committed the offense charged. The charge is not applicable to the facts, for the testimony shows that there were two parties engaged in the burglary. Had there been but one party engaged in it there might have been some force in appellant's *Page 636 
contention, but the charge as requested did not properly present that issue. It was not necessary for the jury to conclude that defendant alone burglarized the house when the facts showed there were two. On such state of facts if appellant, in connection with another, committed the burglary, he would be equally guilty; and under the facts the charge requested would be misleading. The evidence, we think, fully justified the finding of the jury.
The judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.