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16 Tex. Ct. App. 215

J. D. Gartman v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas

Decided May 17, 1884

Court of Appeals of Texas · decided 1884-05-17

Tried below before the Hon. B. W. Rimes. The appellant in this case was convicted of the offense of perjury, and was awarded a term of five years in the penitentiary as punishment. The State introduced R. H. Turner as its first witness.

Decided 1884-05-17

Will soy, Judge,

¶1’"In trials for perjury no person shall be convicted except upon the testimony of two credible witnesses, or of one credible witness corroborated strongly by other evidence, as to the falsity of the defendant’s statement under oath, or upon his own confession in open court,” (Code Crim. Proc., Art. 746.)

¶2In this case, the defendant not having confessed his guilt In open court, it. was incumbent upon the trial judge to instruct *221the jury that they could not convict except upon the testimony of two credible witnesses, or of one credible witness corroborated strongly by other evidence, as to the falsity of defendant’s statements under oath. This was a part of the law of the case, and a very material part, and its omission was fundamental error. But even if it Avas not fundamental error, it was error which Avas excepted to by the defendant at the time of the trial, and must therefore necessarily cause a reversal of the judgment. (Clark’s Crim, Law, p. 516, cases cited in note.)

¶3We are of the opinion that the indictment is a good one, and, except the above named omission in the charge of the court, there is no error apparent of record. Because of that error alone, the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.

¶4Reversed and remanded.

¶5Opinion delivered May 17, 1884.

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