Court Opinion

ID: 3944712
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:07:47.415276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:54:53.767913
License: Public Domain

Our attention has been called to the fact that Art. 760, C. C. P. 1925, did not become effective until September of that year, and that the statement of facts in the present case was filed within the time authorized by law and allowed by the trial court before Art. 760, supra, became effective, namely, on May 30, 1925. The statement of facts is therefore properly before this court for consideration.
From the testimony of the sheriff, it appears that in the kitchen in the home of the appellant there was found a still in operation in the night time; that the appellant and his wife *Page 493 
were present; that the cook stove was used in operating the still; and that whiskey was in the process of making. The still had a capacity of about twenty-five gallons. On the premises were found three half-gallon jars full of whiskey and a quart jar half full of whiskey. A barrel about half full of mash was found some distance from the house.
Appellant introduced no testimony save that touching his good reputation. He offered, however, the testimony of his father, to the exclusion of which he complains by bill of exception. In the bill it is stated that the appellant offered to prove by the witness mentioned that on the date of the offense, the wife of the appellant was in an advanced state of pregnancy and that at the time was, and prior thereto she had been, using intoxicating liquors for medicinal purposes. It is believed that in excluding this testimony no reversible error is shown. Standing alone, as it does in the present case, it is not thought sufficient to present as an issue that the whiskey which was making at the time was for medicinal purposes. It is to be noted that there were three half-gallon jars of whiskey. How long they had been made is not revealed by the testimony.
Appellant presented an application seeking to continue the case because of the absence of his wife who, it was alleged in the application, was in an advanced state of pregnancy and unable to attend court. This the state met by showing that the wife was under indictment for the same offense and was therefore not available as a witness in favor of the appellant. See Art. 711, C. C. P. 1925. Appellant introduced testimony showing that the indictment had been filed about the same time that his application for a continuance was made, and contended that it was not obtained in good faith but to thwart his efforts to secure the testimony of his wife. The testimony of the grand jurors heard upon this subject was to the effect that the indictment had been found at a much earlier date and upon facts similar to those touching the appellant's indictment. The evidence heard was such as to justify the court in finding that the wife was disqualified as a witness for the defendant.
Appellant also sought a severance, but it being manifest that the granting of the severance would necessarily have resulted in a continuance, the court, under the statute, was right in refusing it. See Art. 651, C. C. P. 1925.
Failing to find reversible error in the record, the Court orders the motion for rehearing overruled.
Overruled. *Page 494