Wiggington v. State

DAVIDSON, Judge. This is a conviction for robbery by assault; the punishment, confinement in the penitentiary for fifteen years. The indictment contained two counts: The first charged robbery by assault while using and exhibiting a firearm, to-wit: a gun; the second charged robbery by assault while exhibiting a sub-machine gun. The second count was abandoned by the state. Upon motion of the state, the allegation in the first count as to the use .of a gun was dismissed and abandoned. As thus [576] changed, the case proceeded to trial under the first count, as an ordinary felony. Appellant excepted to the action of the court in permitting the state to abandon the allegation relative to use of the gun, and here urges same as error. The action of the trial court was in keeping with established precedent. Branch’s P. C., Sec. 2383; Weaver v. State, 52 Tex. Cr. R. 11, 105 S. W. 189. Appellant insists that, notwithstanding the dismissal of that part of the indictment charging the use of a gun, the offense charged by the indictment was a capital felony and that he was entitled to a special venire from which the jury was to be drawn. He excepted to the action in refusing him a special venire. The use of a firearm or other deadly weapon in effecting the crime of robbery is but a circumstance of aggravation and affects only the determination of the penalty and grade of offense. Without such an allegation the punishment fixed for the crime of robbery is confinement in the penitentiary for life or for a term of not less than five years. Art. 1408, P. C. Such offense is one ordinarily termed a felony. Art. 47, P. C. A capital felony is one for which the highest penalty is death. Art. 1408, P. C. A special venire is required only in a capital case. Art. 587, C. C. P. In support of his contention appellant relies upon the case of Viley v. State, 92 Tex. Cr. R. 395, 244 S. W. 538. The Viley case is not here applicable. There, the indictment charged the offense of robbery only by an assault with a pistol. The abandonment of the allegation relative to the use of a firearm would have been tantamount to a dismissal of the case. In the instant case the indictment charged the robbery to have been committed by assault and by violence and by putting in fear and by using and exhibiting a firearm. The case of Gonzales v. State, 88 Tex. Cr. R. 248, 226 S. W. 405, and Doupe v. State, 130 Tex. Cr. Rep., 390, 94 S. W. 2d 1164, sustain the trial court’s ruling in denying a special venire. We are unable to see any error in the action of the trial court in refusing to permit appellant to testify as to the mistreatment administered to him by police officers in an en [577] deavor to secure from him a confession. The relevancy or materiality of such testimony is not perceived. The state made no effort to introduce a confession of the appellant upon the trial of the case. Not being permitted to introduce before the jury such testimony directly, the appellant was equally unauthorized to get such fact before the jury by volunteering same, in connection with his answer to other questions, after the objection of the state had been sustained. The trial court was warranted in reprimanding him for his action in disregarding- the trial court’s ruling. Appellant was positively identified by the injured party as the man who, together with another, robbed him of $117. It was the province of the jury to reject appellant’s defense of alibi. No reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed. Opinion approved by the court.