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166 Tex. Crim. 613

Miller v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Decided November 5, 1958

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1958-11-05

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1960

1 state decisions

Relies on 165 Tex. Crim. 449 - Thompson v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1958-11-05

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WOODLEY, Judge.

¶1The offense is giving a check in the sum of $25 without sufficient funds, with intent to defraud; the punishment, fifteen days in jail and a fine of $150.

¶2The evidence shows that appellant, on December 24, 1957, cashed a $25 check at a “7-11” store in Houston.

¶3, The check was drawn on “Fidality Trust Bank of Houston.” It was presented in due course at “The Fidelity Bank and Trust” and was returned unpaid with the notation “Unable to locate account.”

¶4Upon’the return of the unpaid check, Eldon P. Holly, the employee who had cashed it, paid the amount of the check to the owner of the store and a few days later appellant paid Mr. Holley the $25 and Holly, with the approval of his superior Mr. Spruce, issued a receipt.

¶5There is nothing in this record to show that appellant was *614notified of the non-payment of the check prior to his going to the store and paying the $25 to Holly.

¶6In the absence of any notice to the drawer of the check, as provided in Sections 2 and 3 of Art. 567b V.A.P.C., the state did not have the advantage of the prima facie evidence of intent to defraud.

¶7The recent case of Thompson v. State, 165 Texas Cr. Rep. 449, 308 S.W. 2d 512, appears to sustain appellant’s contention that the evidence is insufficient to establish an intent to defraud in the giving of the check.

¶8Also, we fail to find any testimony from which it might even be inferred that the bank to which the check was presented for payment and of which the witness Baccariss was assistant cashier was the bank upon which the check was drawn. It is not shown to be a Houston Bank (or “of Houston”). The record does not so much as show that the witness Baccariss was a resident of Houston or of the Houston area.

¶9Because the evidence is insufficient to sustain a finding of an intent to defraud, the conviction cannot stand.

¶10The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

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