Barnes v. State, 26110

Decision Date17 December 1952
Docket NumberNo. 26110,26110
Citation158 Tex.Crim. 93,253 S.W.2d 440
PartiesBARNES v. STATE.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Murray J. Howze, Monahans, for appellant.

John R. Lee, County Atty., Kermit, George P. Blackburn, State's Atty., of Austin, for the State.

MORRISON, Judge.

The offense is burglary; the punishment, two years.

The sole question presented for review is the sufficiency of the corroboration of the testimony of an accomplice who testified for the State.

The accomplice Fortune testified that he started off with appellant and one Mantooth in appellant's automobile for the purpose of burglary; that on the night charged in the indictment he and Mantooth broke into a store in the City of Wink (the offense involved in this prosecution) while appellant waited outside; that they took a safe therefrom and carried it several miles into the country, where they broke it open and discovered to their disappointment that it contained nothing of value and left the safe there in the sand dunes. Fortune testified further that, following this, they drove to the City of Kermit, where they attempted to burglarize a store, but were frightened away.

Sheriff Eddins testified that two or three days after the burglary he went to the place where the safe had been discovered and there found the prints of two sets of shoe tracks, and one set of cowboy boot tracks, and tracks of automobile tires. The Sheriff testified that at some undisclosed time and place he had seen the appellant's automobile, and the tires he found thereon would make the same kind of tracks as those he found near the safe. When being questioned further on the matter, the Sheriff admitted that he did not remember noticing what kind of tires they were, but thought one was different from the others; however, he did not know on which wheel the odd brand had been. No pictures were made of any of the tracks. The Sheriff also testified that some weeks after the burglary he had seen the appellant and that he was wearing cowboy boots at that time.

Constable Hodges testified that, at three or four o'clock of the same night as the Wink burglary, he had driven by a grocery store in the City of Kermit and saw the appellant sitting in an automobile like that described in the accomplice's testimony; that two other men were present, but that he did not see their faces; that, after he passed, the automobile drove away; and he followed it to the edge of town.

Hodges further testified that he had seen the...

To continue reading

Request your trial
5 cases
  • Gary v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 3 Junio 1964
    ...a finding of guilt. McCain v. State, 168 Tex.Cr.R. 407, 328 S.W.2d 295; Thomas v. State, 166 Tex.Cr.R. 331, 313 S.W.2d 311; Barnes v. State, 253 S.W.2d 440; Thompson v. State, 124 Tex.Cr.R. 661, 65 S.W.2d 299; Turner v. State, 108 Tex.Cr.R. 486, 1 S.W.2d 642; Carter v. State, 104 Tex.Cr.R. ......
  • Chavira v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 26 Noviembre 1958
    ...tends to connect accused with the commission of the offense. If so, the corroboration is sufficient; otherwise, not.' Barnes v. State, Tex.Cr.R. 93, 253 S.W.2d 440, and Turner v. State, 108 Tex.Cr.R. 486, 1 S.W.2d In 18 Tex.Jur. par. 173, page 285 is found the following language: 'Corrobora......
  • Murdoch v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 9 Diciembre 1970
    ...Tex.Cr.App., 438 S.W.2d 912. Corroboration of her testimony is therefore essential to sustain appellants' convictions. Barnes v. State, 158 Tex.Cr.R. 93, 253 S.W.2d 440. In Smith v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 363 S.W.2d 277, this Court held that a conspiracy conviction could not be sustained on th......
  • Medley v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • 15 Junio 1960
    ...and insufficient, the judgment of conviction will be set aside.' (Cases cited.) See also: 18 Tex.Jur. 263, Sec. 160; Barnes v. State, 158 Tex.Cr.R. 93, 253 S.W.2d 440; Thomas v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 313 S.W.2d A careful search of the record reveals no evidence, excluding the testimony of Cap......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT