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19 Tex. 340

Nutt v. State

Texas Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1857

Texas Supreme Court · decided 1857-07-01

Tried below before the Hon. John H. Reagan. Indictment for wilfully and maliciously killing a bull, on the first day of August, 1856, the property of one Cicero Waits, of the value of twenty-five dollars.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently September 1908

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1857-07-01

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Wheeler, J.

¶1It does not appear that the witness’s knowledge of the ownership of the animal depended upon his knowledge of the brand. The animal had been left in his charge by the owner ; and his knowledge, thus derived, was certainly sufficient to enable him to testify, as he did, to the ownership of such an animal. What was said about the brand was doubtless induced by the statement of the defendant to the witness ; and it was immaterial whether the brand was the one thing or the other. It was not necessary to prove a brand ; it was sufficient that the witness knew and testified to the ownership of the animal.

¶2If, as counsel for the appellant suppose, the indictment had been founded upon article 520 of the Digest, it would have been necessary to aver and prove “ the intent to injure the owner ” of the animal; as that is made by the Statute an ingredient in the offence there defined. But the indictment was founded upon Article 560 of the Digest, which defines the offence differently, and prescribes a different and a milder punishment. Under the provision of that Section of the Statute, the intention to injure the owner is not an ingredient in the offence ; *343and consequently need not be averred or proved. The charge of the Court therefore was correct; and it was right to refuse the instructions asked.

¶3It was a matter addressed to the discretion of the Court, whether evidence of the value of the animal should be received after the evidence was closed ; and the admission of it is not a ground for reversing the judgment.

¶4Judgment affirmed.

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