Cannon v. American Indemnity Co.

70 S.W.2d 815, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 433
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 3, 1934
DocketNo. 2579.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 70 S.W.2d 815 (Cannon v. American Indemnity Co.) 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
Cannon v. American Indemnity Co., 70 S.W.2d 815, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 433 (Tex. Ct. App. 1934).

Opinion

WALKER, Chief Justice.

This was an action' by appellant's, F. L. Cannon and wife, against appellees, R. D. Holliday, sheriff of Polk cóunty, and his surety, American Indemnity Company, for damages for false arrest. Judgment was for appellees 'upon trial, to the court without a jury, which has full support 'in the conclusions of fact filed by the trial' judge. ' The arrest was made under a search warrant directing the search of certain permises and the arrest of appellant F. L; Cannon. The warrant was issued upon-an affidavit made by Sheriff Holliday and’ his deputy J. B. Layton. In form the" affidavit 'and search warrant were in strict compliance' with the provisions of article 691, Penal Code 1925.

There is no merit in the .proposition that the affidavit was ’ based, upon “information and belief” of the affiants. The premises to be searched were particularly described and it was further stated “that at said place intoxicating liquors are possessed, ■ sold, transported, -manufactured in violation of law.; and that at such place are kept containers, *816 and instrumentalities used or to be used in the unlawful possession, sale, manufacture, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.”

We overrule the proposition that the sheriff and his deputy were not “competent” persons to make the affidavit. The contention seems to he that the language of article 691, supra, and the “public policy of the State,” disqualified the sheriff and his deputy from making the affidavit; and that the warrant issued thereon was absolutely void. The argument is that, because under article 1040, Oode of Criminal Procedure 1925, the sheriff is allowed compensation for the support and maintenance of his prisoners, the execution of the search warrant amounted to the execution of “process in his own favor.” These contentions are without force. There is nothing in the general statute disqualifying the sheriff and certainly the fact that he made the affidavit violates no principal of public policy.

The evidence raised issues supporting every statement in the affidavit. Though the private residence, searched by appellee, belonged to Mrs. R. H. Mills, F. D. Cannon’s mother-in-law, and she was living there at the time of the search, the evidence was further to the effect that F. D. Cannon had been living with his mother-in-law possibly as long as three months and was using the premises as headquarters for a somewhat extensive bootlegging business. Many gallons of beer were seized at the time of the search and utensils for bottling beer were also seized. The evidence was further to the effect that this beer was intoxicating. Drunken persons were arrested on the morning of the search as they were leaving the searched premises and the personal cheek, payable to F. L. Cannon, of. one of the persons arrested was also seized in the search. Though there was testimony to the effect that this check was in payment of chickens, the circumstances were sufficient to warrant the inference that it was issued in payment of bootleg beer. There was testimony that other persons bought intoxicating liquor from F. L. Cannon; that it was customary to send persons to the searched premises to buy intoxicating liquor from Cannon; and that ho secret was made in that community of that fact.

There is no merit in the contention that Sheriff-Holliday unlawfully restrained appellant F. L.Cannon after his arrest, by refusing him an examining trial. But, .on ■ the contrary, the evidence fully supports the following fact conclusion made by the court on this issue:

“That plaintiff, F. L. Cannon, was fully advised of his right to he carried before a magistrate at Divingston, but preferred to and did agree to await an examining trial to be held on the day of the regular term of Justice Court in said month, proposing and attempting to make an appearance bond for his appearance at such examining trial and before such examining court, and did waive examining trial and gave appearance bond to await the action of the grand jury on the charge against him, which was filed against him on October 13th, 1932, and charged possession of intoxicating liquor for purpose of sale”
—except on the immaterial point that the arrest was made in 1930 instead of 1932. In support of this fact conclusion we make the following statement from the statement of facts. Mrs. F. L. Cannon, wife of Frank Cannon, testified: “I did not come to town that Sunday. The first time I came to town was on the next morning — Monday morning. I didn’t remain in town all day. I came to town in a ear. I got a bond on that day. I tried to get the- bond fixed and get him out of jail. I saw Frank that day. Frank told me to try to get him out of jail and he would write to his daddy. * * * I couldn’t get the bond fixed. * * * The next day after he was arrested, Mr. Holliday gave me a •bond. * * ⅜ It was a bond to get him out of jail. * * * On the first bond I had, I got some people on it, but they wouldn’t accept it; it wasn’t any count * * * He told them it was. all right to fix the bond and he said he would accept it. I didn’t understand that this bond was to bind him over to wait the action of the grand jury; all I understood was that it was to get him out of jail.” Frank Cannon, appellant, testified: “After they put me in jail and my wife first appeared up there, I asked her to try to get me a bond and she said she would. She went ahead and tried and tried to get it and she failed on the first one because the makers of the bond weren’t worth it. * * * The bond I gave, as I understand it, was to get me out of jail. * * * I didn’t know anything about this bond except that it was to get me out of jail. * * * I knew my bond had been set at $500.00. I knew that was the amount both times.” Z. L. Foreman, county attorney, testified: “I am County Attorney of Folk County. During the *817 month of October, 1930, I was. County Attorney. * * * i know that the next day, Monday, his wife was down here making an effort to make his bond. I knew Mrs. Cannon before this; I got this lady a divorce in January, 1930. She was down here and talked to me about a bond, and the bond at that time would have been a bond to appear before the regular Justice Court, which if I am not mistaken, is the 27th day of October. At that time the sheriff’s department fixed the bond to appear for the regular court day. I sent her to those people to get the bond. * * * Later on she came to me with a bond. It was a bond to appear before Justice Court, which I think was the day of the 27th of October. This bond stated to appear before M. S. Tew to answer a complaint filed in the Justice Court for that date. When she brought that bond to me that date had passed. She wanted to waive examining 'trial. . I then fixed up a bond of that kind and wrote it out for her. * * * If they demand an examining trial, I will give it to them the next day, if I can get my witnesses ready. If a man indicated to me that he wanted an examining trial I will give it to him. I have no desire to see anybody in jail. I would be plum perfectly willing to given him an examining trial on any day. If a man is arrested on the 29th day of October, I would not keep him in jail until the fourth Monday in the next month if he wanted an. examining trial. If hb were interested in his ease, he would get his witnesses and we would have an examining trial. I would be glad to have the examining trial the next day. * * ⅜ He could have an examining trial if he wanted it. *

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70 S.W.2d 815, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 433, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cannon-v-american-indemnity-co-texapp-1934.