Blain v. State

18 S.W. 862, 30 Tex. Ct. App. 702, 1892 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 115
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 23, 1892
DocketNo. 3478
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 18 S.W. 862 (Blain v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blain v. State, 18 S.W. 862, 30 Tex. Ct. App. 702, 1892 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 115 (Tex. Ct. App. 1892).

Opinion

HURT, Judge.

This is a conviction for murder in the second degree, with the punishment fixed at five years in the penitentiary.

Appellant was jointly indicted with one J. N. Blain and Otho Askey for the murder of G. 0. Barber. There was severance, and appellant was first tried, resulting as we have stated above. J. if. Blain, the brother of appellant, shot and killed Barber "under the following circumstances: About noon of the day of the homicide Otho Askey stated to Barber that he (Barber) had stated that he was going to take a buggy whip and wear his rump out. Barber stated that the man who told him this was a lying son of a bitch; that he had said no such thing about Askey; that he knew who told him that; that it was Dan Jacks. Askey said that it was not Dan Jacks, but that he would go and bring the man who heard him say it. Askey then left, and in three or four hours returned with J. if. Blain and appellant, the evidence being conflicting as to whether the parties came together. Barber was in the Sunset saloon when the parties came in. Askey said to Barber, “We want to see you. ’ ’ The witness Huston remarked, ‘ ‘Boys, you don’t want any trouble.” Barber replied that he was not afraid of them. “Give me a six-shooter.” Huston said, “I have no sixshooter.” Barber then said, “Frank [a bystander], give me a sixshooter.” Frank said, “I have no six-shooter.” Jo Blain said, “I will give you a six-shooter,”" making a motion as if to hand it to him, but did not pull it out. Jo Blain then pulled his pistol, and Barber started across the room to a Winchester in the corner. This is Huston’s version.

Logan says, that “Jo Blain said, ‘I will lend you a pistol if you want it,’ and made a motion like he would hand it to him, but did not pull, it out. When Blain told him this, Barber started toward the Winchester. Blain followed him up, pulling his pistol on him, saying, ‘G—d damn you, don’t you pick it up.’ Blain said this two or three times before Barber got to where the Winchester was, and when Barber was in the act of picking it up, or had his hand on it, Blain fired. There were three shots fired in all. Barber fired one. It was not the last; it may have been the second.” This is the substance of Logan’s testimony.

[704]*704Peck and Woods swear, that J. N. Blain, Askey, and appellant did not come into the saloon together, but that Jo Plain, Joe Lewis, Will Woods, and Peck went to the saloon a short time before Askey and appellant. These witnesses leave it doubtful whether Jo Plain or Parber shot first. Plain's first shot struck Parber near the left nipple, lodging at the back just under the skin. Askey and appellant were without their coats when Jo Plain shot Parber. Neither Askey nor Roger Plain did or said anything, except after Jo Plain left the room Roger Plain stepped up to the body and placed his foot on the Winchester. When Askey said to Parber he or they wanted to see him, Askey, Roger Plain, and Parber started out, but Jo Plain did not start to go with them. These are substantially the facts immediately attending the homicide.

This conviction was had no doubt upon the theory that appellant, Jo Blain, and Askey had combined to murder Parber, or combined to commit some crime in the commission of which the reasonable and natural consequences would be the commission of the crime actually committed.

Let us briefly examine this doctrine. When two or more persons unite to accomplish some criminal object, whether through the physical volition of one or all—proceeding severally or collectively—each individual whose will contributes to the wrongdoing is in law responsible for the whole, the same as though performed by himself alone. We are not treating of principals and accomplices, but of combinations of persons in crime. Again, one person instigates another to commit a crime, or agrees with another to commit a crime, and the person so instigated commits a crime different from that he was instigated to commit, but one likely to be caused—that is, was the reasonable result of such instigation—the instigator is an accessory before the fact, and if present is a principal. And also, when one person combines with others or instigates others to commit a crime, and the person instigated or combined with commits a different crime, the instigator is not an accessory or principal to the crime, unless such crime was committed with his assent, or was a probable result of the instigation.

Does the proof establish with reasonable certainty that there was a combination between these parties to kill Parber? What is the evidence? Jo Plain, sometime before the homicide, had threatened Parber, and on one occasion Roger Plain was present. On the day of the homicide these parties were seen together, and on one occasion they were seen talking together. Askey and Roger Plain on the day of the homicide had purchased pistols, and they were all present when the killing occurred. When Parber was dead, Roger Plain stepped up to the body and put his foot on the gun. This is the evidence from which it is assumed that the parties had combined to kill the deceased. Will this evidence authorize this court to hold that proof of a combination has been made? We think not. Why? Pecause, (1) there is no evi[705]*705dence that these parties ever said one word about Barber, except the threats of Jo Blain, made sometime before the killing. (2) Two of them were brothers, and Askey was a friend and associate of the Blains. (3) The pistols may have been purchased without reference to Barber. (4) Roger Blain was in his shirt sleeves, and no pistol was seen on his person at the time of the killing. It is certain neither he nor Askey exhibited a pistol at that time. If, when the pistols were purchased, the purchasers formed a design to take the life of Barber, it would be strange, indeed, that when that design was being consummated the implements purchased for such purpose were not used, exhibited, or, so far as the record discloses, within reach of the conspirators. Askey and appellant were present.. They saw Barber going for the gun; saw him when he seized it. They heard Jo Blain tell him not to take or touch it, repeatedly. The crisis was at hand, yet they stand quietly by without a word, without a gesture. The proof does not show a combination to take the life of Barber.

Does the proof show a combination to commit a certain crime, and that Jo Blain committed a different crime from that agreed upon by Askey, Jo Blain, and appellant, and the crime committed was the reasonable result of the conspiracy? In this connection we insert a section of the trial court’s charge, which we suppose was intended to give the rule of law in such case: “11. If, therefore, you believe from the evidence that G. 0. Barber was shot and killed by J. R. Blain, as charged in the indictment, and that defendant Roger Blain was present at the time by a previous agreement between himself and Otho Askey and J. 2sT. Blain for the purpose of doing an unlawful act, such as to commit a breach of the peace, or have a personal difficulty with Barber, and with no agreement to kill him, or do him such personal harm as might probably end in the death of Barber, then, if you find that J. hi. Blain shot and killed Barber under such circumstances, you will find the defendant herein guilty of murder in the second degree, and assess his punishment,” etc. “12. You are further instructed, that a defendant may be guilty of a wrong which he did not specifically intend, if it comes naturally, or even accidentally, from some other specific or general evil purpose.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
18 S.W. 862, 30 Tex. Ct. App. 702, 1892 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 115, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blain-v-state-texapp-1892.