Condron v. State

HARPER, Judge. Appellant was indicted, charged with murder, and when tried was convicted of manslaughter, and his punishment assessed at two years confinement in the penitentiary. The record discloses that appellant and deceased were rival candidates for sheriff of Throckmorton County, deceased being elected. The state of feeling between the two men was not friendly subsequent to the election. The State’s evidence would disclose that appellant on several occasions made threats as to what he would do under given conditions. It also appears that, appellant also bore ill-will towards Mr. Nichols, a deputy sheriff. It also appears that appellant and W. J. Overcash were friends and were together when clashes arose between them and the sheriff or his department, and that Overcash also felt unkindly towards the deceased sheriff. On the evening of the fatal difficulty appellant was at the feed store of W. J. Over cash, and he and Charlie Jones engaged in a war of words. Jones says that appellant asked Overcash, “Where is my pistol,” and when Overcash told him where it was, appellant got it and fired, the ball striking near him. R. H. Barnes, who worked at the feed *516 store, says the pistol was not kept at the store; that they kept a shotgun there, but no pistol; that he is of the opinion the pistol belonged to Overcash. Appellant testified he asked Overcash, “Where is your pistol,” and when Overcash replied he got the pistol, and while handling it let it go off accidentally. The testimony would show that Overcash and Barnes at this time took the pistol from appellant, unloaded it and locked it in a desk drawer. Jones left the feed store and went before the justice of the peace and swore out a complaint against appellant, charging him with unlawfully carrying a pistol. The justice of the peace issued a warrant for the arrest of appellant and delivered it to the deceased sheriff, Jones telling the sheriff appellant was at Over cash’s feed store. He called his deputy, Mr. Nichols, and they started to the store, ostensibly to arrest appellant on the warrant. While Jones was gone, and after he had gone to the office of the justice of the peace, it is shown that Overcash unlocked the drawer and again loaded.the pistol, placing it in the drawer, but leaving the drawer unlocked, he and appellant both being present. They then took seats on the front porch of the feed store, where the courthouse would be in plain view. While they were sitting there, L. E* Devall came to the feed store, and in a conversation remarked, “It looks like the officers are getting busy up town,” when appellant replied, “Ton must be next.” When Devall replied he knew nothing of the matter, appellant spoke to Overcash and said, “Uncle Bill, he must be next,” and then appellant remarked, “Well, one thing sure, I am not going to talk to them this evening; we ran for the same office once, and he (Spurlock) may be a better man than I am in one way, but by God he ain’t in any other—I won’t be talked to this evening; they can talk to me Monday, hutías for that G—d d—n long legged Nichols, he can’t talk to me at all.” Witness Devall further testified that about that time appellant remarked, “There comes the G—d d—ned s—n of b—hes now, ’ ’ and he, witness, looked and saw the deceased, Sheriff Spurlock, and his deputy, Mr. Nichols, coming towards the feed store. That as appellant made this remark, he and Overcash got up, left the gallery and went in the feed store. Deputy Sheriff Nichols says as they approached the feed store they saw appellant and Overcash get up and walk in the store, and he saw appellant go to this desk, where the pistol was in a drawer, get the pistol—Overcash got a shotgun, when they both returned to the front, one getting on the righthand side and the other the left-hand side of the door, when Overcash waved his hand, and instructed them to come no closer; that the deceased sheriff then told Condron he had a warrant for his arrest, and the shooting began, Overcash raising a shotgun and firing the first shot, and which shot was the one that inflicted the fatal wound. The State’s witnesses would show that a general fusillade ensued in which Overcash, appellant, Spur- • lock and Nichols all engaged. *517 Appellant in Ms testimony admits that he and Overcash were sitting on the gallery when Devall came to the feed store, and that when Devall told him about the officers getting busy he remarked that he (Devall) must be next, and that when he saw two men coming towards the feed store he made some remark, either “there comes the d—n rascals now,” or the remark Devall says he made; that he thought it was Nichols and Jones who were approaching the store; that he and Overcash did get up and go in the store, and were in the relative positions that the State’s witnesses place them. He denies that Spurlock told him he had a warrant for his arrest, but says when the officers approached the store Spurlock reached for his pistol, and Overcash for his shotgun, when the firing began, he stating that Spur-lock fired first. He says he had no weapon at that time, but he was wounded in the leg, and fell back in doing so fell against the desk in which the pistol had been placed, and he then got the pistol, but did not shoot. After the difficulty the pistol was found near where appellant was sitting, and he asked the man who found it to put it away and say nothing about finding it. Virtually all the testimony, outside of that of appellant’s, would go to show that both a shotgun and pistol were fired out of the house in wMeh Overcash and appellant were situate, but there is a sharp conflict in the testimony as to who fired the first shot, Overeash or the deceased. This, we think, is a sufficient summary of the evidence to discuss the questions raised. There are no bills of exception to the reception or rejection Of testimony, the whole attack being on the charge of the court as given. The criticisms of the charge on murder need not be considered, as appellant was found guilty of only manslaughter, and the definition of manslaughter, if slightly inaccurate, would not be harmful to appellant, unless it conflicts with or infringes on the charge on self-defense, as appellant was given the lowest penalty for manslaughter. The criticisms of the argument of State’s counsel, in the light of the qualifications of the bills by the court, and the instructions given in regard thereto, present no error. The first criticism of the charge relates to the following paragraph of the charge: “If on the day of the killing of the deceased, the defendant was in the grain house and feed store of W. J. Overcash, that was run in connection with a wagon yard, and was there carrying a pistol on and about his person, then I charge you that he was violating the laws of Texas, for which he was subject to arrest by the sheriff or any deputy sheriff of Throckmorton County, Texas, upon a warrant; and if the deceased, J. G. Spurlock, being the sheriff,- and L. W. Nichols, being the deputy sheriff of said county, were informed by any credible person of such violation of the law, if any, -by defendant, it became their duty to arrest defendant for such violation of the law, with a warrant, and if the officers were informed that the defendant had unlawfully carried a pistol, they were authorized by law to procure a warrant for the arrest of the defendant for such offense, and if *518 they did procure a warrant from the justice of the peace of precinct number one of Throckmorton County, Texas, it was their duty under the law to execute the warrant by making the arrest of the defendant, and they were permitted by law to arm themselves for the purpose of overcoming such resistance, if any, as may be offered them by the defendant, or any other person on his behalf, and were further authorized by law to use all reasonable means to effect the arrest. The officers were not authorized by law, however, to use any greater force than was necessary to secure the arrest and detention of the defendant; and what force was necessary to secure the arrest and detention of the defendant, is a question of fact to be determined by the jury from all of the facts and circumstances in evidence in this case.” The criticism of this charge, that it is upon the weight of the evidence is not justified. This was but a statement of a proposition of law, if the jury found a given state of facts. It is also criticized on the ground that there was no evidence in the record that appellant was carrying a pistol on or about his person in the feed store, and presented an issue not made by the testimony. The evidence of Charlie Jones is that when he and appellant were having their trouble, appellant asked Overcash, “Where is my pistol,” and then went and got it and fired it. We think this sufficient to authorize the court to charge as he did, but if in error in this, the undisputed facts show that Charlie Jones had filed a complaint against appellant charging him with carrying a pistol at that time; 'that a warrant was issued and delivered to the deceased sheriff for execution, and he had it in his possession when killed. The evidence would also tend strongly to show that appellant was aware that the officers were coming to arrest him on account of his trouble with Jones. It shows conclusively that appellant was sitting on the front porch of the feed store where he could have seen Jones and the justice of the peace go to the courthouse in a few minutes after his trouble with Jones, and when Devall told him about the officers getting busy up town he remarked, “You must be next,” and the conversation that ensued, and the acts of defendant at the time, leads one inevitably to the conclusion that when he saw an officer coming towards the feed store he was aware that it was because of his trouble with Jones and firing the pistol, because he says he thought it was Jones and the deputy sheriff. So under no phase of the ease could this paragraph of the charge be said to be injurious or hurtful to appellant. The further criticism that it “was a distinct assumption that he was in fact carrying a pistol” in that it charged the jury that under the circumstances stated it became the duty of the officer to arrest appellant. By reading the charge copied it will be seen that it instructs the jury “if they find that the officers were informed by a credible person of such violation of the law it became their duty to arrest the defendant,” and this in accordance with the law of this State, for *519 Article 479 of the Penal Code makes it the duty of an officer to arrest one when he is informed by a credible person that such person is carrying a pistol. (See also Jacobs v. State, 28 Texas Crim. App., 79; Ex parte Sherwood, 29 Texas Crim. App., 334; Miller v. State, 32 Texas Crim. Rep., 319.) In this ease it is proven beyond dispute that the officers had been informed by Charlie Jones that appellant was carrying a pistol, and under the law it became their duty to arrest him, and the court in so instructing the jury committed no error. But in this case, the evidence goes further and shows that a warrant had been issued and delivered to the sheriff, consequently under no circumstances could this paragraph of the court’s charge present any material error. The court, in his charge, also instructed the jury: “The burden rests on the State to establish the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt; and if after considering all of the evidence before you, you have a reasonable doubt of his guilt, you will acquit him; but if the evidence satisfies your mind beyond a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the defendant, as charged in the indictment, then you will convict him and ascertain from the evidence under the charge of the court, the grade or degree of the offense of which he is guilty and assess his punishment therefor accordingly. “You are further instructed that the reasonable doubt also applies between the different offenses comprised in the charge; so if you find the defendant guilty, and have a reasonable doubt under the evidence as to what offense he has been guilty of, you will resolve such doubt in favor of the defendant, and find him guilty of the lesser and lower offense as between such offenses as you may be in doubt. ‘ ‘ The defendant is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established by legal and competent evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, and if you have a reasonable doubt as to his guilt you will acquit the defendant.” Appellant in his motion for new trial copies the paragraph first above quoted, and says that “it was calculated to make the jury believe that the court thought there was no reasonable doubt of appellant’s guilt,” and cites us to the case of Comegys v. State, 62 Texas Crim. Rep., 231; 137 S. W. Rep., 349. In the Comegys’ case the first paragraph herein given was the only paragraph given on the doctrine of reasonable doubt, but in this case it is seen that this paragraph in this case is followed by two other paragraphs, the latter of which gives the defendant the benefit of the reasonable doubt in the language of our code. Take these three paragraphs, and when construed together, we think them a proper presentation of the law, and instead of depriving defendant of any right, or impressing the jury with the thought that the court believed defendant guilty, correctly instructs them that defendant is not only entitled to the benefit of doubt as to his guilt, but is also entitled to the benefit of doubt as between degrees of the offense submitted. *520 The following paragraph of the court’s charge is criticized, in several paragraphs of the motion for new/trial: “If you believe from the evidence that the deceased, J. G. Spurlock, and L. W. Nichols, went to the Overcash wagon yard and feed store to arrest the defendant, A. 0. Condron, upon the charge of unlawfully carrying a pistol, and that they were armed with pistols and appeared thus armed before and near the door of said grain store, and that the appearance of officers thus armed, or their attempt to use such weapons, if they did so attempt to use them, or anything then done by said officers, or either of them at the time, either alone, or when taken into consideration with all the other facts and circumstances in evidence in this case, was such as would commonly produce such a degree of anger, rage, sudden resentment or terror, in a person of ordinary temper, under like circumstances with the defendant, as to render the mind incapable of cool reflection; or if you believe from the evidence that the said officers, in attempting to arrest the defendant, were using greater force than was necessary under the circumstances to secure the arrest and detention of the defendant; or that they had time and opportunity to inform him by what authority they were about to arrest him, and having such time and opportunity failed to inform him, and that their manner of attempting such arrest was such as would commonly produce such a degree of anger, rage, sudden resentment or terror, in a person of ordinary temper, under like circumstances with the defendant, as to render the mind incapable of cool reflection, and while under the influence of such sudden passion he participated as a principal offender, if he was such offender, in killing J. G. Spurlock at the time and place charged in the indictment, then you will find the defendant guilty of manslaughter and assess his punishment accordingly at confinement in the penitentiary for not less than two nor more than five years, unless you should find and believe from the evidence that the killing was done in his lawful self-defense under the law as hereinafter given you in this charge, or in the lawful defense of W. J. Overcash.” This was the paragraph under which appellant was. found guilty. In other parts of the charge the court had given a proper definition of manslaughter, but the motion alleges that this paragraph “denies to the defendant the presumption of innocence and benefit of reasonable doubt” in that it requires the jury to believe certain facts. This is proper where the court is instructing the jury under what conditions one may be convicted. Our law requires the jury to find facts affirmatively before they are authorized to convict a person of any offense or degree of an offense, and the doctrine of reasonable doubt need not be appended to each paragraph of the charge if the charge as a whole properly instructs the jury on that issue. We have copied a part of the charge hereinbefore to conclusively demonstrate that the jury were not only told that defendant was entitled to the benefit of a reasonable doubt as to his guilt, but also to the *521 benefit of doubt as to the degree of offense. In Edens’ case, 41 Texas Crim. Rep., 525, this court said: “We think the court’s charge wherein he tells the jury ‘ defendant is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established by legal evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, and in case of reasonable doubt in your minds as to defendant’s guilt you will acquit him and say by your verdict not guilty, ’ is sufficient application of the law of reasonable doubt to the different phases of the evidence; and it was not incumbent upon the court to attach to each clause of his charge the law of reasonable doubt.” For a citation of the cases so holding see Overcash v. State, 67 Texas Crim. Rep., 181, 148; S. W. Rep., 701. On the other hand, in another part of the motion, appellant takes the opposite view of this paragraph and complains that it is error because if authorized the jury to convict “if they believed,” etc., and did not tell them they must so believe “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In one instance claiming that it took away "from the defendant the benefit of “a reasonable doubt,” and then claiming that it authorized the jury to convict on a preponderance of the evidence. The charge when read as a whole does neither of these things, and the propositions present no error. However, the court instructed the jury in another part of his charge: “But if the deceased and L. W. Nichols attempted to arrest the defendant, with a warrant in wanton manner, and in doing so used greater force than was necessary in the attempted arrest of the defendant, the use of such greater force than was necessary, if any, was illegal, and the defendant had the lawful right to resist it, and if necessary or apparently necessary in his self-defense, to kill the party or parties engaged in such unlawful attempt to use such unnecessary force, if any was used by them.” And appellant insists that these two charges are in conflict, in one instance instructing the jury that if the officers were using greater force than was necessary under the circumstances to effect an arrest, and their manner of attempting such arrest was such as would commonly produce such a degree of anger, rage, sudden resentment or terror, in a person of ordinary temper, as to render the mind incapable of cool reflection (unless you should find and believe from the evidence that the killing was done in his lawful self-defense under the law as hereinafter given you in charge, or in lawful defense of W. J. Overcash), he would be guilty of manslaughter, and in the other instructing them “if the arrest was made in a wanton manner, and in doing so used greater force than "was necessary, the defendant would be justifiable.” The argument being that if the killing took place while the officers were using greater force than was necessary to effect an arrest, this in and of itself alone would justify the homicide. This is not the law. No one is justified in killing another unless it reasonably appears to him from the conduct and acts of the parties that his life is in danger, or he is in danger of serious bodily injury. The court in the latter paragraph tells the jury, if the attempt to arrest was in a wanton *522 manner and more force was used than was necessary, and if it was necessary or apparently necessary to kill in defense of himself, he would be guilty of no offense. We think instead of being in conflict with each other, the charge clearly draws the correct and proper distinction in this character of case. No one, we think, can seriously contend that because an officer in attempting to make an arrest uses more force than is necessary it would justify another in slaying the deceased. He, it is true, if the arrest is unlawful, is authorized to use force to combat force, but his right to kill does not arise until, from the appearances, he thinks his life is in danger, or he is in danger of some serious bodily injury. The right to slay another does not arise solely from the use of “more force than necessary”; it takes more than that, and in connection therewith, from -some act or conduct on the part of the officer, it must reasonably appear to a defendant that such officer intends to kill or inflict serious bodily injury. There is no conflict in the two paragraphs of the charge, but correctly draws a line of distinction when the acts of the officer would reduce the offense to manslaughter, and when his acts would justify the killing. This clause occurs where the court is giving definitions of law as to the different issues in the ease, and when the court applies the law of self-defense he does so properly, as shown by the paragraphs herein copied. The court in this charge on manslaughter criticized tells the jury that he would be guilty of manslaughter, “unless from the evidence it appeared that the killing was done in lawful self-defense as hereinafter given you in charge,” and then instructs them fully as to the circumstances under which appellant would be justified, and guilty of no offense, instructing the jury: “If you believe from the evidence that W. J. Overcash did kill the deceased at the time and place charged in the indictment and that this defendant, A. 0. Condron, participated in such killing, but should further believe from the evidence that at the time W. J. Overcash fired with a shotgun, the first shot fired by him, if you believe that he fired any shot, that the sheriff or his deputy were attempting to use on him or this defendant a deadly weapon, or by some act done by said Spurlock or Nichols, at the time, reasonably indicated to the defendant and created in the mind of the defendant a reasonable expectation or fear that they were, or either of them was, about to make an attack upon the defendant, or upon W. J. Overcash, with a weapon calculated to produce death or serious bodily injury, then it would be presumed from such act that they intended to make use of such weapon to kill the defendant, or said Overcash, or to inflict serious bodily injury upon him or them, and you will in such case if you so believe, acquit the defendant as having acted in self-defense or in defense of another. “If the acts of Spurlock or Nichols were such as to justify the defendant or W. J. Overcash in killing Spurlock under the law of self-defense, as given you in charge, then neither the defendant nor *523 Overeash were, under the law, required to retreat in order to avoid the necessity of killing the deceased. “You are instructed that if the proof shows in this case that W. J. Overeash killed the deceased Spurlock, then before you would be authorized to convict the defendant of any grade of culpable homicide you must find from the evidence béyond a reasonable doubt that the said W. J. Overeash unlawfully killed the deceased Spur-lock, and that the defendant was present and knew of the unlawful intent on the part of W. J. Overeash, and so knowing aided him by acts, or encouraged him by words or gestures to kill the said Spur-lock, and in that connection you are charged that the mere presence of the defendant in company with said Overeash will not be sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt, but the proof must go further and establish beyond a reasonable doubt that said W. J. Over-cash unlawfully killed the deceased, and that the defendant knowing the unlawful intent of the said Overeash to kill said Spurlock, aided and abetted him in said killing, and if you have a reasonable doubt as to the existence of either one of the above propositions, you will acquit the defendant. “If you believe from the evidence that the deceased Spurlock, and L. W. Nichols, when they appeared in sight of the defendant before the door of W. J. Overeash’s grain store, by some act done by them, or either of them, indicated a present purpose and an immediate intention to use upon the defendant, or W. J. Overeash, a weapon which might cause the death of or produce serious bodily injury to either W. J. Overeash or defendant, or if such acts of said Spur-lock or Nichols, reasonably so appeared to the defendant at the time, viewed from his standpoint, and said acts of deceased or Nichols at the time were reasonably calculated to create in the mind of the defendant, and did create in his mind a reasonable expectation or fear of death or serious bodily injury, to either W. J. Overeash or defendant, and if you find that then and there, the defendant moved by such reasonable expectation or fear (if he was so moved) of death or serious bodily injury participated in the killing of said Spurlock if he did so in any manner, and you believe that said Overeash killed said Spurlock then the killing was under the law justified as done in his lawful self-defense, or in defense of another, and you will acquit defendant if you so believe even though the danger was not actual, but apparently so; provided the danger reasonably appeared to the defendant, under all of the facts and circumstances at the time, to be real and actual, viewed from the defendant’s standpoint. “If you believe from the evidence under the foregoing charges of the court upon the law of self-defense, that the defendant or Overeash was justified in firing the shot that killed the deceased, Spurlock, if any, then you are instructed that the subsequent shots fired by the defendant or Overeash, if any, are immaterial, and that the defendant had the right to continue to fire so long as danger, *524 real or apparent, considered from the defendant’s standpoint, continued to exist. [Rehearing denied April 2, 1913.—Reporter.] “The defendant A. 0. Condron cannot be convicted of any offense unless you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that W. J. Overeash unlawfully killed J. G. Spurlock in a shooting between W. J. Overcash on the 'one side and Spurlock and Nichols on the other, and if you believe from the evidence that the defendant Condron, did not engage in the shooting between Spurlock and Nichols on the one side and Overeash on the other, nor participate in the acts of W. J. Overeash as a principal offender, if he was such offender, until after he was fired upon or shot by J. G. Spurlock or Nichols, and that he had, or procured a weapon and then fired or attempted to fire at either or both Spurlock or Nichols, he would not be guilty, and if you so believe or have a reasonable doubt thereof, you will acquit the defendant.” These paragraphs present every phase of self-defense as made by the evidence, and in a manner we do not think, when the charge is read as a whole, is subject to any criticism. This is a companion case to that of Overcash v. State, 67 Texas. Crim. Rep., 148; S. W. Rep., 701, and all the other questions raised by appellant in his motion for new trial are discussed in that case, and the authorities there cited, and which is here referred to. Being of the opinion that no reversible error is pointed out in the motion for a new trial, and that the charge fully presents every theory of the ease as favorable to defendant as the law authorizes, the judgment is affirmed. Affirmed.