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5 Tex. Ct. App. 492

McGee v. State

Court of Appeals of Texas

Decided July 1, 1879

Court of Appeals of Texas · decided 1879-07-01

<p>Appeal from the County Court of Lavaca. Tried below before the Hon. T. A. Hester.</p> <p>The opinion, states the case.</p>

Decided 1879-07-01

Ector, P. J.

¶1The information in this case charges that-defendant did make an aggravated assault upon one William McCauley, with a deadly weapon, to wit, a wagon-box, and? did then and there inflict serious bodily injury upon him with said wagon-box.

¶2The evidence in the statement of facts shows, substantially, that defendant commenced a quarrel with McCauley, who tried to avoid a difficulty. Defendant finally slapped McCauley with his hand. McCauley, with a piece of iron with which he was lighting his pipe in the blacksmith-shop, punched defendant off. McCauley left the shop and went into the yard, and defendant then threw an iron drill at McCauley. Defendant then threw a pick at McCauley, who dodged it, and seized the pick and advanced *493■with it upon defendant, who got hold of a wagon-box. McCauley then dropped the pick, and started to run. The ■defendant then threw the wagon-box at McCauley, and struck him with it a severe blow. The defendant then •attempted to strike with a rock, but was prevented.

¶3The court charged the jury, not only as to the circumstances of aggravation mentioned in the information, but also instructed them that an assault became aggravated when •committed with premeditated design, and by the use of means calculated to inflict great bodily injury; which last instruction was improper. The information did not charge that the assault was made with premeditated design, and by the use of means calculated to inflict great bodily injury. The charge of the court was excepted to by the defendant, at the time. Kouns v. The State, 3 Texas Ct. App. 13.

¶4We believe that the court ought to have given the first special instruction asked by the defendant, which is as follows, to wit: “ That the defendant is charged with having committed an assault with a wagon-box, and that the defendant cannot be convicted by proof of an assault with a pick, a drill, or anything else.” This charge the court refused to give.

¶5For these errors, the judgment of the County Court is reversed and the cause remanded.

¶6Reversed and remanded.

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