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167 Tex. Crim. 384

Morris v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Decided February 11, 1959

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1959-02-11

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1968

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1959-02-11

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DAVIDSON, Judge.

¶1Art. 1377, Vernon’s P.C., makes it unlawful for any person to fish or hunt upon the enclosed lands of another without consent.

¶2This prosecution was for a violation of that statute and arose in justice court. Upon conviction, appeal was to the county court where conviction followed, with a punishment fixed at a fine of $25.

¶3Appellant recognizes that under Art. 53, C.C.P., this court has jurisdiction upon appeal of a case originating in justice court only when the fine imposed exceeds $100.

¶4It is insisted, however, that the above statute has no application here, because the punishment imposed is more than a fine in that, in addition to the fine imposed, appellant’s hunting license and his right to hunt within this state for a period of one year are forfeited, upon conviction. It is appellant’s contention that the forfeiture of the license and the privilege to hunt is a part of the penalty and that, therefore, the case was not' within the jurisdiction of the justice court but was in the original jurisdiction of the county court.

¶5*385If appellant’s contention be correct, then the justice court did not acquire jurisdiction of the offense in the first instance. If the justice court had no jurisdiction, then the county court acquired none by the appeal.

¶6The appeal should therefore be dismissed. Art. 60, C.C.P.

¶7Appellant’s right to attack the judgment of conviction, as being void for the want of jurisdiction in justice court, by writ of habeas corpus is not here foreclosed or determined.

¶8The appeal is dismissed.

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