Davis v. State, 23135.

Decision Date30 May 1945
Docket NumberNo. 23135.,23135.
Citation188 S.W.2d 177
PartiesDAVIS v. STATE.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Appeal from District Court, Smith County; Otis T. Dunagan, Judge.

Luther Davis was convicted of burglary, and he appeals.

Affirmed.

Alex P. Pope, of Tyler, for appellant.

Ernest S. Goens, State's Atty., of Austin, for the State.

BEAUCHAMP, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of burglary and sentenced to life imprisonment under the habitual criminal statute.

The proceeding is regular and the evidence is sufficient. Three bills of exception are presented in the case, upon which we are asked to reverse the judgment of the trial court.

The appellant was not represented by counsel on the trial of his case and while the Assistant County Attorney was testifying in behalf of the State in presenting a written confession, the appellant sought to examine him. The questions which he asked were not questions but statements of fact and they elicited from the District Attorney the remark which the bill seeks to bring before us on a complaint that it had reference to his failure to testify. No exception was taken to the remark at the time. Appellant employed counsel, filed a motion for new trial, and introduced evidence which, among other things, sought to raise the question and give basis for a bill of exception. It is our conclusion that the bill at that time could not bring the question before us and we make no comment on the merits of the bill in the event timely objection had been made.

Bill of Exception Number Two complains of the introduction of the written confession. This bill is in a similar situation as Bill Number One. No objection was made to the introduction of the confession at the time it was presented. No evidence was introduced on the trial of the case to contradict the voluntary character of the statement. It was sought to introduce this evidence on motion for a new trial. No error could be presented based on the introduction of evidence at this time.

Bill Number Three raises a question of law as to the sufficiency of the prior convictions to support the life sentence. One of the prior convictions was for transporting whiskey. At the time of the former conviction this was a felony. Since that time the law has been amended so that the offense would be a misdemeanor. It is now contended that, because of such amendment, the prior conviction would not support a life sentence. The contention will not be sustained. Article...

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4 cases
  • State v. Lott
    • United States
    • New Mexico Supreme Court
    • December 23, 1963
    ...as the prior conviction would have been a felony in this state. People v. McConnell, 20 Cal.App.2d 196, 66 P.2d 720; Davis v. State, 148 Tex.Cr.R. 452, 188 S.W.2d 177; Hill v. State, 182 Tenn. 313, 186 S.W.2d 333; People v. Klein, 305 N.Y. 766, 113 N.E.2d We judicially notice that burglary,......
  • Cantrell v. Goldberger
    • United States
    • Arkansas Supreme Court
    • June 24, 1974
    ... ... be in conflict (with) or to repeal or to prevent proceedings under any act or statute of this State which may have otherwise defined any specific act of any person as a crime or misdemeanor of any ... ...
  • State v. Youngstrom
    • United States
    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • January 11, 1974
    ...58; Salatte v. Bowers, 185 Misc. 858, 57 N.Y.S.2d 571; State ex rel. Grandstaff v. Gore, 182 Tenn. 94, 184 S.W.2d 366; Davis v. State, 148 Tex.Cr.R. 452, 188 S.W.2d 177; People v. Kerschman, 283 App.Div. 811, 128 N.Y.S.2d 411; Igo v. State (Okl.Crim.), 267 P.2d 1082. We find no cases holdin......
  • Ex parte Davis
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • June 10, 1964
    ...the court refused. Petitioner appealed his conviction to this Court and the judgment of the trial court was affirmed in Davis v. State, 148 Tex.Cr.R. 452, 188 S.W.2d 177. In this opinion it was observed that petitioner was not represented by counsel and that he personally attempted to exami......

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