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33 Tex. 341

Robinson v. State

Texas Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1870

Texas Supreme Court · decided 1870-07-01

Tried below before the Hon. Thos. M. Paschal. The appellant, on the faith of his representation that B. F. Ficklin owed him $100 or more, borrowed five dollars from one Weber, with whom he was boarding for the time being. Ficklin told Weber that he owed the appellant nothing, and on being so informed Weber had the appellant arrested for swindling. The appellant then went with Weber and the officer to see Ficklin, and still claimed to be entitled to $100 or more from him.

Decided 1870-07-01

Walker, J.

¶1An indictment for swindling, under the law of this State, as defined in Article 2428, need not charge that the offense was committed feloniously or with a felonious intent.

¶2The indictment in this case is good, but we cannot say so much for the evidence. It is apparent that this is another one of those cases where the criminal court has been resorted to for the purpose of gratifying private malice, or forcing the collection of a very small debt.

¶3If grand jurors will prefer such indictments, the courts and district attorneys should take care that in the midst of these frivo- . lous prosecutions they neglect not the weightier matters of the law.

¶4The judgment below is reversed and the cause dismissed.

¶5Reversed and dismissed.

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