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91 Tex. Crim. 127

237 S.W 939

Speer v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas

Decided February 15, 1922

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas · decided 1922-02-15

<p>Intoxicating liquors <§=>139, 211 — Indictment charging possession must allege purpose of sale; mere possession not an offense.</p> <p>Indictment charging defendant with having possession of intoxicating liquors must allege such possession to have been for the purpose of sale, as, under Acts 36th Leg. (1919) 2d failed Sess. c. 78, as amended by the Acts 37th Leg. (1921) 1st Called Sess. e. 61, possession is not an offense unless the possession is for the purpose of sale.</p>

Relies on 90 Tex. Crim. 374 - Boone v. State · 90 Tex. Crim. 336 - U. S. Petit v. State · 91 Tex. Crim. 62 - Ex Parte Mitchum

Judgment reversed, with directions · Decided 1922-02-15

HAWKINS, J.

¶1Punishment was assessed against appellant of 1% years’ confinement in the penitentiary upon a conviction for the possession of intoxicating liquors.

¶2The indictment charged appellant with the possession of intoxicating liquor not for scientific, mechanical, medicinal, or sacramental purposes under the prohibition law prior to the Acts of the Thirty-Seventh Legislature. The law was so amended by acts of the First and Second Called Sessions of that Legislature, p. 233, that the possession of intoxicating liquor is not an offense unless such possession is for the purpose of sale. Under authority of Francis v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 235 S. W. 580, Petit v. State (Tex. Cr. App.) 235 S. W. 579, and Ex parte Mitchum (Tex. Cr. App., No. 6772) 237 S. W. 936, opinion delivered February 1,1922, the prosecution cannot be maintained under the present form of indictment.

¶3The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the prosecution ordered dismissed under the indictment in its present form.

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