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36 Tex. 336

Bergstrom v. State

Texas Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1872

Texas Supreme Court · decided 1872-07-01

<p>Appeal from Bexar. Tried below before the Hon. G. H. Noonan.</p> <p>There is no occasion for a statement of the facts.</p>

Decided 1872-07-01

Ogden, J.

¶1The charge of the court to the jury in this case was not applicable to the facts proven on the trial, and was therefore calculated to mislead, and probably did mislead the jury in their verdict.

¶2There was no evidence before the jury that appellant slaughtered the animal, as charged in the indictment, or that he in any way aided or assisted in slaughtering the same, nor that the animal was slaughtered with the knowledge or consent of appellant. But, on the contrary, it was proven positively that appellant did not kill, nor assist in killing, the animal as charged, and had no knowledge of the killing. It was, therefore, error *337iii the court to charge the jury, that if they believed the defendant killed the beef for market, or authorized it to be done, and that he failed to exhibit the hide for inspection, etc., then they should find him guilty.

¶3The third charge of the court is still more obnoxious to criticism, as it assumes, without any evidence to support the assumption, that defendant and Jagge did kill the animal as charged, and it instructs the jury, that if they believe the defendant and Jagge were partners, and that they failed to exhibit the hide, make the report with bill of sale, then they should find the defendant guilty.

¶4For these errors in the charge the court should have granted a new trial; and for the error in refusing to grant a new trial the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.

¶5Beversed and remanded.

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