Brown v. State

Decision Date02 November 1938
Docket NumberNo. 19861.,19861.
Citation120 S.W.2d 1057
PartiesBROWN v. STATE
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Appeal from Taylor County Court; Lee R. York, Judge.

Dave Brown was convicted of the sale of whisky in a dry area, and he appeals.

Affirmed.

W. E. Martin, of Abilene, for appellant.

Lloyd W. Davidson, State's Atty., of Austin, for the State.

GRAVES, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of the sale of whisky in a dry area, and fined $150 and thirty days in jail by a jury, hence this appeal.

In bill of exceptions No. 1 appellant complains because of the following occurrence: While the State's witness William Dunsmore was on the witness stand it developed that, although witness made the complained of purchase, there was another person present with him at such time. The appellant then demanded of the witness the name of such other party. The witness stated that such person was a man from Hardin-Simmons University, and, unless he was required to do so, he did not desire to reveal this person's name. The court in his qualification of such bill of exceptions states that the witness Dunsmore and such other person were working for the State Liquor Control Board, and such other party was a boy from this University, going about with Dunsmore, showing him where liquor could be purchased, Dunsmore making such purchases, while such boy was merely pointing out where such purchases could be made. It is to be noted that appellant introduced no testimony whatever. Under the circumstances we can see no useful purpose in requiring the witness to divulge the name of his companion, or in satisfying appellant's curiosity as to what his name might have been. No benefit could have resulted therefrom. It is to be noted that there is nothing in the bill to show that appellant did not know the name of such witness. There was no affirmative defense made hereto, although the testimony shows that there were other persons present at the time of the alleged offense, including appellant's wife. We see no reversible error reflected in such bill.

Bill of exceptions No. 2 complains of the fact that when appellant's attorney made the request to compel the witness to divulge the name of such boy, the county attorney said that "it would not aid the defendant any to have said other person brought in because said other person's testimony would not help the defendant but would help the State." According to the court's qualification hereto, it seems that such remarks, although made in the...

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3 cases
  • State v. Oliver
    • United States
    • New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division
    • August 23, 1966
    ...90 Ga.App. 63, 82 S.E.2d 38 (Ct.App.1954); State v. Boles, 246 N.C. 83, 97 S.E.2d 476 (Sup.Ct.1957); But cf. Brown v. State, 135 Tex.Cr.R. 394, 120 S.W.2d 1057 (Ct.Crim.App.1938). The reported New Jersey decisions, although recognizing the force of the Roviaro case as a precedent in this ar......
  • Dixon v. State, 4 Div. 368
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • August 19, 1958
    ...show the innocence of the accused. Parsons v. State, 251 Ala. 467, 38 So.2d 209; Underhill, Crim.Evid., 5th Ed., § 327; Brown v. State, 135 Tex.Cr.R. 394, 120 S.W.2d 1057; Hudson v. State, 156 Tex.Cr.R. 612, 243 S.W.2d 841, 245 S.W.2d We have examined the entire record as required by statut......
  • Davenport v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 29, 1973
    ...show the innocence of the accused. Parsons v. State, 251 Ala. 467, 38 So.2d 209; Underhill, Crim.Evid., 5th Ed., § 327; Brown v. State, 135 Tex.Cr.R. 394, 120 S.W.2d 1057; Hudson v. State, 156 Tex.Cr.R. 612, 243 S.W.2d 841, 245 S.W.2d 259.' (Emphasis In McCray v. State of Illinois, 386 U.S.......

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