Lacy v. State

Decision Date11 December 1963
Docket NumberNo. 36294,36294
PartiesLeslie James LACY, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

William Lawrence Scarborough, Corpus Christi, for appellant.

Leon B. Douglas, State's Atty., Austin, for the State.

BELCHER, Commissioner.

The offense is driving while intoxicated; the punishment, three days in jail and a fine of fifty dollars.

The testimony of the state and that of the appellant and his wife shows that he was driving an automobile upon a public highway at the time and place alleged.

Officer Moore testified that he observed the appellant at the scene of a collision that he smelled the odor of alcohol on the appellant who told him he had drunk some beer and that appellant was unstable and staggering; that he gave his written consent to the removal of a blood specimen for a test of its alcoholic content.

Chemist Bickham testified that an analysis of the blood specimen revealed that it had an alcoholic content of 0.28 per cent by weight which is indicative of intoxication.

Testifying in his own behalf, the appellant denied that he was intoxicated, and stated that any unsteadiness on his part was due to back injuries, and the spinal fusion and treatment for his injuries. The testimony of the appellant is corroborated by that of his wife.

The jury resolved the issue of intoxication against the appellant, and the evidence is sufficient to sustain the conviction.

Appellant contends that the trial court erred in hearing, considering and overruling his first amended motion for new trial in his absence.

Formal bill of exception No. 1 recites in part that on the hearing of defendant's first amended motion for new trial, the County Attorney and the attorney for the defendant were present, and the bill further recites that 'the defendant being conspicious by his absence, and both parties having announced ready,' the motion was presented to the court. There is no further showing in the record pertaining to the absence of appellant on the hearing of said motion. The record reflects that appellant was on bond at the time of the hearing of his motion for new trial and also on appeal.

No objection appears in the record to the court hearing the motion but, to the contrary, the bill reflects that appellant's attorney was present and announced ready for trial. There is no showing that appellant desired to be present or was denied such right when the motion was presented and acted upon by the court. Johnson v. State, 163 Tex.Cr.R. 101, 289 S.W.2d 249. A consideration of the bill as a whole fails to show that it certifies...

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15 cases
  • Franklin v. State, 57348
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 24, 1978
    ...analysis of the evidence and is a reasonable deduction therefrom. See Sikes v. State, 500 S.W.2d 650 (Tex.Cr.App.1973); Lacy v. State, 374 S.W.2d 244 (Tex.Cr.App.1963). Furthermore, the argument was invited by the statements of defense counsel. See Hill v. State, 518 S.W.2d 810 (Tex.Cr.App.......
  • Cotton v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • February 6, 1985
    ...Riley v. State, 406 S.W.2d 438 (Tex.Cr.App.1966); Evans v. State, 402 S.W.2d 756 (Tex.Cr.App.1966); Hooker, supra; Lacy v. State, 374 S.W.2d 244 (Tex.Cr.App.1963); and(f) the odor of alcohol on the breath:Campos, supra; Annis, supra; Balli, supra; Heck, supra; Rangel, supra; Day v. State, 4......
  • Ries v. Quarterman
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • March 27, 2008
    ...something that I didn't feel deep in my heart was justified, and I wouldn't ask you to do anything I couldn't do."); Lacy v. State, 374 S.W.2d 244, 245 (Tex.Crim.App. 1964) ("I believe from the evidence presented here that the Defendant is guilty."). In light of these considerations, Ries's......
  • Coons v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Appeals
    • August 18, 1988
    ...desires to be present at the hearing and is denied that right. Jackson v. State, 379 S.W.2d 896 (Tex.Crim.App.1964); Lacy v. State, 374 S.W.2d 244 (Tex.Crim.App.1963). The record does not reflect that appellant requested to be present or that he was denied that right. It does not appear tha......
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