Opinion
No. 11594.
Delivered November 7, 1928. Rehearing denied March 6, 1929.
1. — Sale of Intoxicating Liquor — Indictment — Allegations Sufficient.
Where an indictment charges "did then and there sell to Ferris Carroll intoxicating liquor, said liquor being then and there capable of producing intoxication," same is sufficient. See Lenz v. State, 290 S.W. Rep. 167, and other cases cited, also Art. 666 P. C.
2. — Same — Evidence — Other Sales — When Admissible.
It is well settled that in prosecutions for the illegal sale of intoxicating liquor, other sales cannot be shown unless facts are developed which make such other transactions admissible under an exception to the general rule excluding proof of other offenses. However, where the accused admits in whole or in part the transaction upon which the state relies for a conviction, but defends upon the ground that he was acting as agent for the purchaser, an exception to the rule is presented, and proof of other sales is admissible to aid the jury in solving the question of alleged agency. See Cannon v. State, 278 S.W. Rep. 854, and other cases cited.
3. — Same — Continued.
While testimony of other sales should properly have come in rebuttal, such testimony became material and relevant in view of appellant's testimony. The anticipation of the issue raised by appellant's testimony under the facts of this case manifests no such error, as would a reversal. See Gregory v. State, 244 S.W. Rep. 615.
4. — Same — Allegations and Proof — No Variance Shown.
Where it was shown that one Carroll bought and paid for the whisky and received same from appellant, the fact that two friends of Carroll were outside waiting for him to purchase and return with the whisky would not establish a joint sale.
ON REHEARING.5. — Same — Evidence — Order of Introduction — Rule Stated.
Where complaint is made that testimony of another sale in a liquor case trial was admitted out of its order, we cannot agree that any possible injury could have been done appellant by reason of the introduction of the testimony mentioned, out of its order. The order of receiving testimony is ordinarily within the discretion of the trial judge. See Underhill's Crim. Ev. 3d Ed., Sec. 439. Branch's P. C., Sec. 98, and cases cited on opinion on rehearing.
6. — Same — Continued.
"We must look at the real competency of the evidence, and not at the order of its reception; and when we find that it was all finally competent, we will not reverse because of the time, or order of its introduction." See Carroll v. Comm., 84 Pa. 107.
Appeal from the District Court of Uvalde County. Tried below before the Hon. L. J. Brucks, Judge.
Appeal from a conviction for the sale of intoxicating liquor, penalty two years in the penitentiary.
The opinion states the case.
G. B. Finley of Uvalde, and A. L. Love of Austin, for appellant.
A. A. Dawson of Canton, State's Attorney, for the State.
The offense is selling intoxicating liquor; the punishment confinement in the penitentiary for two years.
State's witness Ferris Carroll testified that he purchased a soda water bottle full of whiskey from appellant. At the time he made the purchase he was in appellant's home. Melvin Dennis and Johnnie Graham had gone with him to appellant's home, but sat outside while the transaction was being engaged in by appellant and Carroll. Testifying concerning the delivery of the whiskey to Carroll, appellant stated:
"Ferris told me he wanted it for himself and Melvin. I told him I would try to get it for him. Ferris gave me a one dollar bill. Then I went to the door and went outside and got it from some man out there. I knew the other man by sight. He said that his name was Timoteo Oliverez. I told him that I wanted one dollar's worth of whiskey for some man. He gave me a soda water bottle full of whiskey for one dollar. I gave him the dollar. I gave the bottle to Ferris back in the kitchen. I was gone about five or ten minutes from the time I left Ferris until I got back. I did not make one cent on that transaction. I got it for the two men. I was just doing it for a friend."
The indictment charged that appellant "did then and there unlawfully sell to Ferris Carroll intoxicating liquor, said liquor being then and there capable of producing intoxication." Appellant's contention that the indictment charges no offense cannot be sustained. In the cases of Lenz v. State, 290 S.W. 167, and Tucker v. State, 251 S.W. 1090, this court held that an allegation in an indictment drawn under the terms of Article 666 P. C. that the accused sold liquor capable of producing intoxication was sufficient to charge an offense.
In the development of its case in chief the state proved by its witness, Carroll, that he had on other occasions purchased whiskey from appellant. The issue of agency was raised by appellant's testimony, it being his contention that he acted as the purchaser's agent in securing the whiskey. This issue was property submitted to the jury. It is well settled that in prosecutions for the illegal sale of intoxicating liquor other sales cannot be shown unless facts are developed which make such other transactions admissible under an exception to the general rule excluding proof of other offenses. Colter v. State, 255 S.W. 406. However, where the accused admits in whole or in part the transactions upon which the state relies for a conviction, but defends on the ground that he was acting as agent for the purchaser, an exception to the rule is presented and proof of other sales is admissible to aid the jury in solving the question of alleged agency. Cannon v. State, 278 S.W. 854; Colter v. State, supra. While the testimony of other sales should properly have come in rebuttal, such testimony became material and relevant in view of appellant's testimony. The anticipation of the issue raised by appellant's testimony, under the facts of the case, manifests no such error as would warrant a reversal. Gregory v. State, 244 S.W. 615.
It is alleged in the indictment that the sale of the whiskey in question was made to Carroll. Appellant contends that the proof showed a sale to Carroll, Dennis and Graham. It is his position that this constitutes a fatal variance. In the case of McGee v. State, Number 11318, opinion delivered October 31, 1928, a contention similar to that here made was overruled.
The state's testimony is sufficient to show that appellant made a sale of whiskey to Carroll. The issue of agency was raised by appellant's testimony. This issue was properly submitted to the jury. We are unable to agree with appellant that the undisputed tsetimony is to the effect that appellant acted as Carroll's agent in securing the whiskey for him.
Finding no error, the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the Court.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
The appellant contends that the receipt in evidence, out of its order, of testimony to the effect that on a previous occasion the witness Carroll had purchased whiskey from the appellant was reversible error notwithstanding such testimony was made competent and relevant by the testimony of the appellant. The opposite view expressed in the original opinion is regarded as sound as applied to the facts in the present record. Carroll testified that he bought whiskey from the appellant upon a certain occasion. The appellant testified in his own behalf and admitted the transaction with Carroll, explaining it, however, with the statement that his connection therewith was that of an agent and not of a seller. No other defensive theory was presented by the appellant save that of agency, and to rebut such theory the testimony of the previous sale of which complaint is made was admissible. See Colter v. State, 95 Tex. Crim. 657, and also the cases mentioned in the original opinion. We are unable to perceive the possibility of injury that the appellant could have suffered by reason of the introduction of the testimony mentioned out of its order. The order of receiving testimony is ordinarily within the discretion of the trial judge. See Underhill's Crim. Evidence, 3rd Ed., Sec. 439; Branch's Ann. Tex. P. C., Sec. 98; Hartsfield v. State, 29 S.W. Rep. 777; Moore v. State, 7 Tex.Crim. App. 14; Cox v. State, 8 Tex.Crim. App. 297; Knight v. State, 144 S.W. Rep. 967; Gregory v. State, 244 S.W. Rep. 615. From the case of Cox v. State, supra, the following quotation is taken:
"If, then, the evidence was competent and legitimate, should the bare fact that it was admitted incidentally, and out of time and place, destroy its legitimacy, and render also incompetent and inadmissible other legitimate evidence with which it happened to be blended? We cannot think so." In the same case the quotation from Carroll v. The Commonwealth, 84 Pa. St. 107, is quoted with approval:
"We must look at the real competency of the evidence, and not at the order of its reception; and when we find that it was all finally competent, we will not reverse because of the time or order of its introduction."
The motion for rehearing is overruled.
Overruled.