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23 Tex. Ct. App. 264

Koblenschlag v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas

Decided April 13, 1887

Court of Appeals of Texas · decided 1887-04-13

Tried below before the Hon. Griffin Ford, County Judge. The conviction was for the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor to a minor, and the penalty imposed was a fine of twenty-five dollars. The age of the purchaser was shown to be fifteen years at the time the liquor was sold to him by the defendant, but there was no proof that his minority was known to the defendant.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently January 1918

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1887-04-13

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Hurt, Judge.

¶1This was a conviction for selling liquor to a minor. Upon the trial the State’s counsel propounded to the witness the following question: “From physical appearance in last August, was W. C. Strong a minor, or did he appear to be so to a man of ordinary observation?” To which the witness answered: “At that time a person of ordinary observation and intellect would have taken him to be a minor, from his physical appearance.” Counsel for appellant objected to both the question and the answer. Both were improper, and in permitting both or either there was error. The age, appearance, etc., of the minor might very properly be shown; but it is not permissible for the witness to give his opinion as to how others would be impressed by these physical marks of age. It was the province of the jury to determine whether from these the defendant knew that the party was in fact a minor.

*265Opinion delivered April 13, 1887.

¶2For this error the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded.

¶3Reversed and remanded.

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