Selph v. State , 49 Tex. Crim. 18 ( 1905 )

The State's case is that, on a certain night, the horse alleged to have been stolen was taken from the pasture by appellant and one Hall. On the following morning these parties started in a buggy, driving this horse and leading a dun horse, from that neighborhood, going rather southwest and across the country; and undertook to dispose of the horse in Brewster County. They took the alleged stolen horse from Fisher County to Brewster County. On the night in question, they left the residence of McCann, where they were visiting, and where Bennett, the alleged owner was residing, for the purpose of returning to the place where they were stopping in the same neighborhood. That in going from McCann's to their place of residence, appellant and Hall entered the pasture and secured Bennett's horse, and the next day took him out of the country. The next morning, after they started from Fisher County, they were seen by parties driving Bennett's horse to the buggy, and leading the dun horse, which belonged to Hall. Some of the witnesses describe appellant sufficiently to connect him up with the description given by other witnesses. Objection was urged to this testimony upon the theory that it did not sufficiently describe or identify defendant and Hall as being the parties in possession of the alleged stolen horse. We think these objections are without merit. They were sufficiently connected to show that the parties were defendant and Bert Hall. It is not necessary to go into a detailed discussion of those questions. This was a case of circumstantial evidence; and this testimony was sufficiently connected to make it admissible.

The court's charge is criticised because it failed to instruct the jury that appellant was not called upon to explain his possession of said horse, if they should find that he had such possession, and therefore he would not be guilty. We do not believe that such charge was called for under the facts. The testimony shows that he did join in the conversation with Bert Hall, in regard to the ownership of the property, and the statements made by Hall, and coincided with by appellant in Brewster County, were not true. But in no event could the mere fact that the party in possession of stolen property be entitled to an acquittal, because he did not give an explanation of his possession. A failure to explain may be taken as evidence against him, or a reasonable explanation in his favor, may be used as the basis for an acquittal, unless such explanation is shown to be false.

The court's charge is also criticised because it failed to charge the jury that, if they should find appellant was not connected with the original taking, they should acquit. This question some times, in cases of circumstantial evidence becomes a serious matter; but we do not believe such is the case here. The facts show that if Bert Hall took the horse, appellant was also a guilty participant in the taking, and it excludes every other theory except that they took the horse at night from the pasture. They left McCann's in the buggy at night, went along by the pasture where the horse was, and from which it was taken at night; and early the next morning they left the country with the horse in their possession. On one occasion, at least, they gave a false statement as to their possession. The omission of the charge, under the facts stated, we do not believe of such importance as would require a reversal, because it was not calculated to injure the rights of the accused. The court did charge the jury that, before they could convict, they must find that these parties acting together as principals took the horse, and that appellant would not be guilty unless he was present, and assisting Bert Hall in taking the horse. The charge on principals was correctly given under the statute. Under these circumstances we do not believe that the failure of the court to submit this particular question was of sufficient importance to require a reversal of the judgment.

The charge of the court is also criticised because it did not inform the jury that, if they believed from the evidence that defendant Selph did not intend to appropriate the horse alleged to have been stolen, to his use and benefit, that they should acquit. The reason urged for this contention is that the testimony goes to show that Bert Hall was exercising the ownership, and offered to trade or sell the horse; that there was no evidence tending to show that defendant ever claimed ownership of the horse. We have stated enough of the evidence to show there is no merit in this contention. If the horse was stolen by Bert Hall, the evidence shows that appellant assisted in the taking; that they carried the horse several hundred miles, and when offering to sell it, appellant joined in the conversation with Bert Hall as to the ownership and control of it, etc., stating facts which were not true.

We are of opinion that the court fully charged the law applicable to this case, and there was no material error committed upon the trial. Therefore the judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Henderson, Judge, absent.