Court Opinion

ID: 9667742
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:53:56.623382+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:40.342543
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing
YOUNG, Justice.
Appellees re-argue at length the sufficiency of their motion for summary judgment, Rule 166-A, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, overruled by the trial court-; an aspect of the litigation not discussed in original opinion. Attached thereto were affidavits and certified copies of court records to effect that, prior to the instant controversy, appellant, in cause No. 2143, Criminal District Court of Dallas 'County, had been tried and convicted of keeping and exhibiting a gambling device (two-year sentence, probated), involving one of the same marble machines described in these jury issues. It is contended that by such criminal proceedings the status of both machines has been.finally adjudicated as gambling devices per se; and that under Art. 634, P.C., the owner is precluded from maintaining any action for their recovery.'-.The mentioned judgment of conviction, though admitted by appellant, was not. .conclusive of the issues presented by . Art. .619, 'P.G. (whether the machines in .question were exhibited or used'for the purpose of. gaming)!, in-this, a civil'suit. -.26 T.J:, p. 64; Landa v. Obert, 78,Tex. 33, 14 S.W. 297; Pittman v. Stephens, Tex.Civ.App., 153S.W.2d 314; Fire Ass’n of Philadelphia v. Coomer,. Tex. Civ.App., 158 S.W.2d. 355.
Further, in view of the affirmative answers to issues 1 and 3,. appellees urge that we give conclusive effect to Williams Mfg. Co. v. Prock, 5 Cír., 184 F.2d 307, where, under evidence adduced, it was held that amusement devices so constructed as that free games resulted from the attaining- of certain scores, constituted gambling devices per se. The fact situation, of the cited case is clearly distinguishable. There the machines were constructed so as to automatically pay off in free games, while here, .as pointed out by Associate Justice Cramer, “The most the evidence shows is- that the machines -were so constructed that by certain mechanical changes and/or electrical connection changes, the machines could be made to pay off automatically.”
The motion for rehearing is accordingly-overruled. ’’