Brittain v. State

85 S.W. 278, 47 Tex. Crim. 597, 1905 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 49

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: February 15, 1905
• Docket: No. 3175.
• Status: Published

Opinion

HENDERSON, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of manslaughter and her punishment assessed at two years confinement in the penitentiary; hence this appeal.

The facts show that appellant and deceased were both lewd women. The State’s theory, which is supported by some testimony, is to the effect: that both were enamored of one Sonnie Hicks. On the morning in question appellant having heard by some means that Sonnie was in bed with deceased, Minnie .Smith, went to her room and found Sonnie and Minnie in bed together. Sonnie immediately jumped up and ran out of the door, halloaing as he ran, “run and part them women.” Witnesses who were nearby heard appellant say, “ raise you son of a bitch; I havé caught you at last.” A scuffle was heard -in the room; several parties immediately rushed in there and saw appellant and deceased struggling. Appellant was cutting deceased with a large knife. Babe Hamilton, who was an inmate of the “Divvy,” a bawdy house, where the homicide occurred, parted them. Deceased reached for a lamp on the table or dresser nearby, and started toward appellant. Witness Hamilton told deceased she was cut all to pieces and that appellant had a knife and she could not fight her. Appellant then retired from the room, saying as she went out, in reply to some one who called .to her that she had cut the woman to death. “I intended to kill the bitch.” She had a knife in her hand at that time, the blade of which was four or five inches long. Deceased expired directly afterwards. No weapon was found on her person or in the room. She was in her night clothes.

Appellant’s theory was that she went to the house in question to get two dollars which she had loaned Sonnie Hicks, as she was intending to leave Beaumont that morning and' go to Louisiana. When she went "in, she said to Sonnie, “Oh, I have found you. This is the way you’ve got of bringing my money back.” Sonnie passed out of the room. Deceased then got up and said, “You have got your gall, you bitch, to come in my room when I’ve got a man in here.” And began reaching under the pillow and got a pocket knife, the blade looked like a barlow. She then grabbed appellant. Appellant said, “I am not after you; I am after my money.” Deceased then began cutting appellant. She stepped back to the wall and kicked deceased in the stomach and deceased’s knife fell on the floor. Both grabbed for it, but appellant got it. Deceased began dragging appellant towards the dresser, where there was a pair of scissors, and appellant began cutting her, and cut her two or three times. Babe Hamilton came in and parted them. The fight occurred,, about 7 or 8 o’clock in the morning. Appellant then left the premises, went to a lumber yard and stayed there until 12 o’clock, when she returned and gave herself up to an officer. Some of the stabs in deceased were in the breast in the region of the heart, which organ was evidently penetrated, causing her death. .Several cuts were found on the hands of appellant when she returned and surrendered to the officer. She claimed that these were made by deceased before she got the knife away from her. Appellant claims that, as she went away she threw the knife down by one Williams, who picked it up. Williams denied this. This is a sufficient statement of the case in order to discuss the points raised.

By the first bill of exceptions appellant challenges the action of the court refusing to permit her to introduce George Tevis as a witness to testify, that when appellant returned and surrendered to him, between 1 and 2 o’clock (the homicide having occurred between 7 and 8 o’clock on the morning of that day) he noticed her clothing was cut in several places; that she was wounded about the head, face and on her hands, which seemed to be knife cuts; that she seemed to be suffering from them. Thereupon defendant as part of the res gesta of her then physical condition, asked said witness what he said to the defendant, and what was her reply. If witness had been permitted to answer he would have testified that she replied) that Minnie (meaning deceased) had cut her all to pieces. The State objected to this question and the answer sought to be elicited upon the ground, that the same was not a part of the res gesta, but was self-serving. Appellant insisted that the same was a part of the res gesta. The court explains this bill, by' saying, “That Tevis was permitted to testify to the physical condition of defendant, and to describe fully the marks of violence upon her person and clothing, but as all the evidence showed that the homicide occurred eárly in the morning, somewhere between 6 and 8 o’clock, and the witness Tevis did not see defendant until some five hours later, the court did not think that the statements of the defendant to said witness, after so long a time, were admissible as res gesta.” In this ruling we believe the court was correct. We are aware there are a number of cases which extend the rule as to the admissibility of res gesta beyond the time of the transaction itself. But we know of no case which extends the rule some four or five hours after the event. After the homicide appellant had concealed herself in a lumber yard for a considerable length of time. While it was competent to prove her condition then as to any wounds appearing on her person, we do not believe it was competent to prove as a part of the res gesta what was said in regard to how she received said wounds.

Appellant reserved a bill of exceptions, to the effect: “That defendant introduced Sonnie Hicks as a witness, and upon direct examination, the only fact in reference to their marital relations that was elicited, was that witness and defendant were husband and wife. Whereupon the county attorney, upon cross-examination of said witness, asked him? 'When did you and defendant marry; is it not true that defendant married you after the homicide ?’ Defendant objécted on the ground that Hicks being the husband of appellant, the State in cross-examining could not prove any other fact not germane or in legitimate cross-examination, of facts elicited by defendant on direct examination.” We accept the rule laid down by appellant, but hold that after appellant had proved that witness and herself were husband and wife, it was legitimate cross-examination to interrogate witness as to the particulars of said marriage, when, where and how it occurred; and being admissible and competent testimony under the circumstances here shown, after it had been admitted, the State could use the same for any legitimate purpose connected with the case.

When appellant was testifying in her own behalf, the State was permitted to prove that witness had recently, upon one or two occasions prior to the homicide and to her marriage to Sonnie Hicks, had carnal intercourse with the said Hicks. The State introduced this evidence in order to show a state of ill feeling and jealousy existing on the part of appellant toward Minnie Smith on account of Sonnie Hicks. Appellant objected on the ground that the same was an effort to prove the bad- character of defendant when she had not placed the same in issue; that-the testimony tended to expose appellant to disgrace and criminal prosecution; that said acts of intercourse were isolated, and the specific acts of immorality not involving a crime and not showing the vocation of defendant, were therefore not admissible. We do not believe the objection that the testimony would tend to discredit appellant or subject her to a criminal prosecution is well taken. This was not proof that they were living together and having carnal intercourse, nor does it prove habitual carnal intercourse with each other without living together. So it could not have been fornication. The circumstances of this case show that the relation of appellant and Sonnie Hicks was a legitimate matter of proof. The State’s theory being that appellant killed deceased on account of jealousy against her, because of her relations with Sonnie Hicks. Any fact that would tend to prove the intimate relations existing between Sonnie Hicks and appellant was admissible.

Appellant also reserved an exception to the following testimony: “On the cross-examination of appellant, who testified on her own behalf, the State was permitted to prove that she had formerly, long anterior to the homicide, been an inmate of a house of prostitution, known as the “Divvy,” where the homicide occurred; and that she had in said house received the attentions of men and had carnal intercourse with them; and further that sometime previous to the homicide, she had been the mistress and kept woman of witness Sonnie Hicks, now 'the husband of defendant. Said evidence was tendered by the State for the purpose of affecting the credibility of defendant, and for the purpose of showing motive and ill will of defendant against deceased, by showing she was jealous of deceased and enraged toward her on the morning of the homicide by finding Sonnie Hicks with deceased. This was objected to because it was not proper for the State to prove the bad character of defendant, when she had not placed it in issue, and tended to expose defendant to disgrace and to criminal prosecution, and was therefore privileged.” We believe the fact of her relations with Sonnie Hicks were provable for the same reasons heretofore shown as to the preceding bill of exceptions. It is held that it is proper to prove that a witness is a prostitute on her cross-examination; and that such evidence is admissible in general as showing the vocation of the witness McCray v. State, 38 Texas Crim. Rep., 609; Hall v. State, 43 Texas Crim. Rep., 480; Underhill Cr. Ev., sec. 245. The proof here elicited as to appellant’s vocation was by indirection; that is, the general question was not propounded of witness that she was a prostitute, but the facts were proven which constituted her such. She was asked if she had not previously been an inmate of a house of ill-fame, and if she had not received and fornicated with men there. She answered these questions in the affirmative, which in effect rendered her a prostitute. There is no proof, as insisted, of specific acts; no particular person is mentioned in connection with the acts of carnal intercourse, but she was asked and answered, she received men generally for that purpose. Underhill, supra, says, “it is admissible to prove the vocation of a witness, as that he is a farmer, merchant, a gambler,” etc. As has been seen the fact that a witness is a common prostitute, can be proven in this State, although such fact may tend to 'bring her into disrepute.

Appellant strenuously insists that, if this character of testimony is admissible, it was the duty of the court to guard the jury against its improper use; that is, to limit the same to her credibility only. In Wilson v. State, 37 Texas Crim. Rep., 373, the rule is stated thus: “The general rule is that whenever extraneous matter is introduced in evidence for a specific purpose incidentally but which is not admissible directly to prove the main issue and which might tend, if not explained, to exercise a strong, undue, or improper influence upon the jury as to the main issue, injurious and prejudicial to the right of the party, then it becomes the imperative duty of the court in its charge to so limit and restrict it as that such unwarranted results cannot ensue.” It is also stated that the converse of this is equally true, that is, “where the testimony, can be used for no other purpose than that of impeachment, it is not necessary for the court to limit the purpose of the same in its charge.” Evidently this ivas not proof of another crime which the jury might use against appellant in order to enhance her punishment. A number of cases indicate that where another crime is proven against a witness which is collateral to the offense then being tried, it is the duty of the court to so limit the same as that the jury will not appropriate it for some other purpose. However, in a, number of pases it is held that where such. evidence of collateral matters cannot be appropriated by the jury to some other purpose injurious to appellant besides impeachment, that the failure to limit such testimony will not afford cause for reversal. Franklin v. State, 38 Texas Crim. Rep., 346; Moseley v. State, 36 Texas Crim. Rep., 578; Harris v. State, 34 Texas Crim. Rep., 494; McGee v. State, 43 S. W. Rep., 512; Winfrey v. State, 56 S. W. Rep., 919. We can recall no case where the evidence showed that the witness was a common prostitute, although this witness might be the defendant, where the court has been required to limit the testimony to the credibility of the witness. If a case of this character is reversible upon that proposition, it must be shown that the jury uninstructed were liable to appropriate such testimony to some other purpose than as affecting the credibility of such witness. Of course, the jury in this case was aware that they were trying defendant for murder. The vocation of the witness was a provable fact. In this connection, she showed or attempted to show that she had reformed. We must accredit the jury with some degree of common sense, and, in our opinion, they were not likely to use or appropriate the testimony for any purpose than as going to the credibility of said witness.

Appellant excepted to the charge of the court on self-defense, because the court, in defining the right of appellant to defend against an assault creating apprehension of death or great bodily injury, contended that “great” has a meaning different from “serious” bodily injury. If this be conceded we do not believe appellant can complain of injury on this account, inasmuch as the court in applying the law to the facts, instructed the jury that appellant could defend against an attack creating apprehension of death, or serious bodily injury.

Appellant contends that the court erred in failing to instruct the jury that appellant had the right to go to the room of deceased on a peaceful mission, inasmuch as appellant testified she went to the room where deceased was in order to collect two dollars from Sonnie ■ Hicks. There was also evidence on the part of the State which tended to show that appellant went to that room expecting to find Sonnie Hicks in bed with Minnie Smith, and'to raise a difficulty on that account. Babe Hamilton testified that appellant came to her house that morning just before the difficulty and sat down and called witness to her; said, “ ‘Babe, do you love Sonnie?’ I said, ‘Yes I guess I love him; I birthed him.’ She said, ‘Well, you had better go and get him out of bed with Minnie Smith.’ ” If the court had charged on this latter phase of the case, there might have been possible error in failing to charge on the phase of the case presented in appellant’s testimony, to the effect that she went to Minnie Smith’s room in order to collect a debt; that is, on a peaceful mission. We believe, under the circumstances, that the charge of the court was sufficient on this point. The court instructed the jury that, regardless Of the purpose for which appellant may have gone to the room of Minnie Smith, “If deceased made or was about to make an attack on her, which from the manner and character of it and the relative strength of the parties, and the defendant’s knowledge of the character and disposition of the deceased, caused her to have a reasonable expectation or fear of death or serious bodily injury, she killed deceased, to find her not guilty.” This, in our judgment, sufficiently presented appellant’s defense. Appellant complains that the charge of the court instructed the jury that appellant was authorized to act on attack made or about to be made by deceased; that the evidence showed an actual attack, and not one about to be made. We do not believe, even if it be conceded that there was no testimony tending to show appellant may have acted on an attack about to be made, that this enlargement of appellant’s rights could work any injury to her. The evidence is sufficient.

The judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed.