Purcell v. State

Decision Date29 October 1958
Docket NumberNo. 30000,30000
Citation317 S.W.2d 208
PartiesVernie Earl PURCELL, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

King Fike, Dalhart, for appellant.

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

MORRISON, Presiding Judge.

The offense is driving while intoxicated; the punishment, 45 days in jail and a fine of $300.

Our able State's Attorney confesses error, and we agree. Bill of exception No. 1 recites that the complaint was not sworn to before any official or person in authority. Barrington v. State, 116 Tex.Cr.R. 11, 32 S.W.2d 837, is authority for the holding that 'as a basis for the prosecution upon an information, a complaint supported by affidavit is essential.' See also Addison v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 283 S.W.2d 55, and the cases there cited.

The judgment is reversed and the prosecution is ordered dismissed.

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6 cases
  • State v. Pierce
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Appeals
    • 25 Septiembre 1991
    ...to constitute a basis for a valid conviction. Nichols v. State, 171 Tex.Crim. 42, 344 S.W.2d 694 (1961) (citing Purcell v. State, 317 S.W.2d 208 (Tex.Cr.App.1958)); see also Eldridge v. State, 572 S.W.2d 716, 717, n. 1 (Tex.Cr.App.1978); Wheeler v. State, 172 Tex.Crim. 21, 353 S.W.2d 463 (1......
  • Morey v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Appeals
    • 13 Enero 1988
    ...765, 766 (Tex.Crim.App.1937). If one was not sworn to before an official or a person in authority, it is not valid. Purcell v. State, 317 S.W.2d 208 (Tex.Crim.App.1958). Since the requirements of 21.22 may not be met by swearing to a complaint after an information has been presented, see Ma......
  • Smola v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Appeals
    • 9 Septiembre 1987
    ...of Hill to so act. Appellant correctly points out that this renders the complaint and information based thereon void. Purcell v. State, 317 S.W.2d 208 (Tex.Cr.App.1958); Johnson v. State, 154 Tex.Cr.R. 257, 226 S.W.2d 644 (1950). 1 In the absence of a valid information and complaint, appell......
  • State v. Bishop, 04-95-00259-CR
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Appeals
    • 27 Marzo 1996
    ..."If one was not sworn to before an official or a person in authority, it is not valid." Morey, supra; see also Purcell v. State, 317 S.W.2d 208 (Tex.Crim.App.1958). The issue in this case was addressed in Morey where we held that a complaint signed by a secretary but not in the presence of ......
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