Supina v. State, 13264.

Decision Date16 April 1930
Docket NumberNo. 13264.,13264.
Citation27 S.W.2d 198
PartiesSUPINA v. STATE.
CourtTexas Court of Criminal Appeals

Appeal from District Court, Palo Pinto County; Sam M. Russell, Judge.

John Supina was convicted for selling intoxicating liquor, and he appeals.

Reversed and remanded.

Arrington & Johnson, of Mineral Wells, for appellant.

A. A. Dawson, State's Atty., of Austin, for the State.

LATTIMORE, J.

Conviction is for the sale of intoxicating liquor; punishment, one year in the penitentiary.

The defense in this case was that of alibi. The appellant's wife and his brother testified that he was not present at the time of the alleged sale.

From the charge of the court we make the following quotation: "Now, if the evidence raises in your mind a reasonable doubt as to the presence of the defendant at the place where the offense was committed, at the time of the commission thereof, you will find the defendant not guilty."

This was excepted to upon the ground that it assumed as a fact and substantially told the jury that the offense was committed. We are constrained to believe the objection well founded. The state's attorney with this court cites Hines v. State (Pink v. State) 40 Tex. Cr. R. 23, 48 S. W. 171; McLeroy v. State, 97 Tex. Cr. R. 307, 263 S. W. 309; Briscoe v. State, 106 Tex. Cr. R. 402, 292 S. W. 893. The cases cited are not in point. If the court had told the jury that if they had a reasonable doubt as to the presence of the appellant at the place where the offense "if any" was committed, or had referred to an alleged offense, this might have put the matter in a different light. The language used by the court, however, appears to very plainly intimate to the jury that the offense was committed. We cannot say this was not harmful to the accused. Care ought to be exercised in using words or language so as not to convey to the jury the court's opinion of the case.

The judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded.

To continue reading

Request your trial
5 cases
  • Marlow v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 19, 1976
    ...v. State, 58 Tex.Cr.R. 84, 124 S.W. 958, 959 (emphasis added.) Accord, Richardson v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 390 S.W.2d 773; Supina v. State, 115 Tex.Cr.R. 56, 27 S.W.2d 198; Jones v. State, 22 Tex.App. 680, 3 S.W. 478; Jernigan v. State, 10 Tex.App. 546; Webb v. State, 8 Tex.App. 115; Baker v.......
  • Tew v. State
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 18, 1977
    ...also Kellogg v. State, 58 Tex.Cr.R. 84, 124 S.W. 958 (1910); Richardson v. State, 390 S.W.2d 773 (Tex.Cr.App.1965); Supina v. State, 115 Tex.Cr.R. 56, 27 S.W.2d 198 (1930); Jones v. State, 22 Tex.App. 680, 3 S.W. 478 (1887); Jernigan v. State, 10 Tex.App. 546 (1881); Webb v. State, 8 Tex.Ap......
  • State v. Hanna
    • United States
    • Utah Supreme Court
    • May 6, 1933
    ... ... Rongetti, 338 Ill. 56, 170 ... N.E. 14, 15; Gibbs v. State, 37 Ariz. 273, ... 293 P. 976, 74 A. L. R. 1105 ... In ... Supina v. State, 115 Tex. Crim. 56, 27 ... S.W.2d 198, the instruction, in substance identical with the ... one under consideration, reads as follows: ... ...
  • Scarbrough v. State, 13398.
    • United States
    • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
    • April 16, 1930
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT