Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

32 Tex. Crim. 277

22 S.W 876

Simms v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1893-06-17

<p>Omitting formal parts, the charging portion of the indictment was as follows: “ That before the presentment and filing hereof, with force and arms, in the county and State aforesaid, one F. A. Simms, on the 10th day of October, A. D. 1890, did unlawfully, knowingly, and fraudulently pass as true to Henry Lacy a forged instrument in writing, to the tenor following:</p> <p>“ Oct. 10, 1890.</p> <p>“ This is to certify, that I have sold the note I hold against H. A. Lacy to the said F. A. Simms.</p> <p>“ W. D. Russell.</p> <p>“Which said instrument in writing the said F. A. Simms then and there knew to be forged, and did then and there pass the same as true, with the intent to injure and defraud, against the peace and dignity of the State.”</p> <p>A statement of the facts is unnecessary, in view of the disposition made of the case on this appeal.</p>

Decided 1893-06-17

DAVIDSON, Judge.

¶1 This conviction was for passing a forged instrument.

¶2 1. Two bills of exception recite that the State offered to prove certain facts. Objections interposed by defendant were overruled. The bills do not state, nor is it shown by them, the offered evidence was admitted to go to the jury. For this omission they are fatally defective. We can not look to the statement of facts to ascertain or determine this fact. Burke v. The State, 25 Texas Cr. App., 172; Jacobs v. The State, 28 Texas Cr. App., 79; Jackson v. The State, 28 Texas Cr. App., 143.

¶3 2. The evidence does not support the allegations of the indictment. The instrument declared on reads as follows, to-wit: “ October 10, 1890. This is to certify, that I have sold the note I hold against H. A. Lacy to H. A. Simms. W. D. Russell.” It is shown by the testimony of Russell and Lacy that Lacy did not owe Russell a note of any description. This constitutes a, fatal variance.

¶4 *279 3. We are further of opinion, that the indictment should have alleged .directly, and not by way of inference, that II. A. Lacy had executed and delivered to W. D. Russell a note, setting it out, or was indebted to him on an account, as the case may be, and then assign the forgery upon the transfer of the instrument set out in the indictment and alleged to have been forged. Looking upon this indictment, it does not appear therefrom that the instrument upon which forgery is assigned created, increased, diminished, discharged, or defeated any pecuniary obligation, etc. Under this state of case, the rules laid down in Hendricks v. The State apply, and must be observed. Hendricks v. The State, 26 Texas Cr. App., 176; Shannon v. The State (Ind. Sup.), 10 N. E. Rep., 87; Hobbs v. The State, 75 Ala., 1; 1 Whart. Crim. Law, 8 ed., sec. 740; 2 Bish. Crim. Law, 7 ed., sec. 545. The judgment is reversed, and the prosecution dismissed.

¶5 Reversed and dismissed.

¶6 Judges all present and concurring.

/32/texcrim/277 · .json · Public domain