Ex parte Bobbitt

Decision Date21 October 1953
Docket NumberNo. 26721,26721
Citation159 Tex.Crim. 213,262 S.W.2d 416
PartiesEx parte BOBBITT.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

No attorney on appeal for appellant.

Wesley Dice, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

MORRISON, Judge.

This is an original application for a writ of habeas corpus brought by the relator Vernon M. Bobbitt, seeking his release from the Texas Prison System.

The record shows that the relator was, on January 31, 1949, in cause No. 60,682 in Criminal District Court No. 2 of Harris County, Texas, sentenced to serve a term of two years. On March 3, 1949, in cause No. 60,352 in Criminal District Court No. 2 of Harris County, relator was sentenced to serve not less than 2 not more than 5 years. This sentence contains the following order: 'Sentence cumulative with No. 60,682 as to defendant Vernon Bobbitt only.' On March 18, 1949, in cause No. 56,651 in Criminal District Court of Harris County, relator was sentenced to serve 2 years. This sentence contains the following order: 'This sentence cumulative No. 60,352 in the Criminal District Court No. 2 of Harris County.'

Relator contends that both cumulations are vague and indefinite and relies on Bland v. State, 145 Tex.Cr.R. 267, 167 S.W.2d 761, and Ex parte Johnson, Tex.Cr.App., 218 S.W.2d 200.

In Ex parte Collier, Tex.Cr.App., 243 S.W.2d 177, we discussed Ex parte Snow, 151 Tex.Cr.R. 640, 209 S.W.2d 931, 932.

The case at bar is distinguishable from the Snow case in one respect, and we therefore concluded it wise to docket this cause and write an opinion.

In the Snow case, the two sentences were pronounced on the same day in the same court, and we held that a reference one to the other by number only was sufficient. There we said, 'Had there been cases from different courts, and far removed in dates, a serious question would [have been] presented.'

The relator herein was sentenced in different courts on different dates, but the two cumulations before us possess the the following elements:

1. One Harris County Criminal District Court cumulating the sentence of another, less than a month elapsing between sentences, and referring to the number of the cause and the number of the court.

2. On Harris County Criminal District Court cumulating one of its own sentences, less than a month elapsing between sentences, and referring to the number of the cause only.

We hold both cumulations valid and hereby extend the rule announced in the Snow case, supra.

The relief prayed for is...

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4 cases
  • Ex parte Ogletree, 31395
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
    • November 4, 1959
    ...operate. Appellant concedes that under the holdings of this Court in Ex parte Snow, 151 Tex.Cr.R. 640, 209 S.W.2d 931; Ex parte Bobbitt, 159 Tex.Cr.R. 213, 262 S.W.2d 416 and Ex parte Lee, 161 Tex.Cr.R. 398, 278 S.W.2d 137 where sentences are pronounced on the same day in the same court, a ......
  • Ex parte Sadler, 27913
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
    • November 2, 1955
    ...certain. The court, the number of the case, and the name of the convict are all clearly stated and deemed sufficient. Ex parte Bobbitt, 159 Tex.Cr.R. 213, 262 S.W.2d 416; Ex parte Collier, 156 Tex.Cr.R. 377, 243 S.W.2d 177; Ex parte Meadows, 156 Tex.Cr.R. 417, 243 S.W.2d The other question ......
  • Ex parte Pruitt
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
    • December 9, 1964
    ...District Court No. 2, Tarrant County, Texas has ceased to operate.' The cumulative provisions appear to be sufficient. Ex parte Bobbitt, 159 Tex.Cr.R. 213, 262 S.W.2d 416 The three sentences authorize appellant's confinement by the Texas Department of Corrections until he has credit for a t......
  • Ex parte McClain, 27608
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
    • April 20, 1955
    ...concludes with this order: 'Sentence cumulative with 57655, tried in Criminal District Court, Harris County, Texas.' In Ex parte Bobbitt, Tex.Cr.App., 262 S.W.2d 416, we held valid an order of cumulation which referred to the number of the cause and the name of the court in which the prior ......

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