Court Opinion

ID: 3948302
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:10:44.575807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:31.157124
License: Public Domain

At a former day of this term the appeal was dismissed. An amended transcript having been filed supplying the omissions in the original transcript the appeal is reinstated. The term of court at which the trial was had adjourned May 7th, 1921. The statement of facts and bill of exception were not filed in the lower court until after the expiration of ninety days from adjournment, hence cannot be considered.
The question is raised in this court that the verdict returned by the jury is insufficient to support the judgment of conviction. The verdict as copied in the judgment reads:
"We, the jury find the defendant guilty of murder and his punishment to be eleven years in State penitentiary. (Signed) A.L. Green, Foreman."
It is shown that the original verdict read:
"We as a juror find the defendant guilty of murder and his imprisonment to be (eleven) years in State penitentiary. A.L. Green as foreman."
The clerk should have copied the verdict as returned, and not made changes therein; but if the verdict as actually returned will support the judgment the case ought not to be reversed, but the judgment corrected and an affirmance entered. In Sec. 840, Branch's Crim. Law is the general rule as to construction of verdicts as follows:
"Verdicts should receive a liberal construction, and if finding of jury can be reasonably ascertained, the verdict should be held good as to form. The object should be to ascertain the intention of the jury."
The soundness of the rule is supported by the cases collated under the section referred to. We find no difficulty in arriving at the intention of the jury from an inspection of the verdict. We discuss the matter no further, but refer to the many cases cited by Mr. Branch, and those collated under Art. 770, Vernon's C.C.P., notes 6, 8, 13, 17 and 19.
The judgment is reformed, and entered on the verdict as returned into court, (Art. 938, Vernon's C.C.P.) and as so reformed, the same is affirmed.
Affirmed. *Page 118