Hernandez v. State

182 S.W. 494, 78 Tex. Crim. 604, 1916 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 38

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: January 26, 1916
• Docket: No. 3930.
• Status: Published

Opinion

HABPER, Judge.

Appellant was convicted of assault to murder, and his punishment assessed at two years confinement in the State penitentiary.

Without reciting the testimony, we will say that the evidence offered in behalf of the State would amply support the verdict, but we think, under the decisions of this court, the evidence offered in behalf of the defendant raised the issue' of aggravated assault, and it should have been submitted in the charge of the court, and on account of the failure and refusal of the court to do so it will necessitate a reversal of the case.

Appellant testified he went to a dance at Espidió Ramirez’s house. After the dance was over he and others came downstairs into the restaurant; that while in the restaurant Jesus Ramirez put him out of the restaurant for cursing. That he started in the direction of the postoffice, when Espidió Ramirez and Pedro Torres followed him, and while they were engaged in conversation he saw Jesus Ramirez and his brother approaching; that he told Espidió to send the boys back, and he began to back off; that they did not go back, and he pulled his pistol and fired into the ground to frighten them away. To use his language as it appears in the statement of facts: “I shot in the ground when Espidió and his two sons continued to» follow me, as I thought they were going to do me some harm and I wanted to scare them away. I shot twice. I shot in the ground both times; that altogether there were nine shots fired, but the other shots, than the two shots he says he fired, were fired by others from the direction of the postoffice.”

Thus, according to his testimony, he fired the shots he says he fired to frighten Espidió and his boys away. In an assault to murder ease there must be a specific intent to kill, or the shots fired with such a-reckless disregard of human life as that the law will impute malice.

Appellant excepted to the court’s charge because of the failure to submit aggravated assault, and asked two special charges presenting the issue, that if appellant fired the shots, he fired to frighten away Ramirez and his two sons, with no intent to kill, he would be guilty of no higher grade of offense than aggravated assault. This issue should have been submitted to the jury for their determination. Thomas v. State, 60 Texas Crim. Rep., 84; Angel v. State, 45 Texas Crim. Rep., 135; Stevens v. State, 38 Texas Crim. Rep., 550.

Another matter is presented which we think necessary to pass on. Appellant’s contention is, that Jesus Bamirez and his brother were approaching him under circumstances that led him to believe his life was in danger. Arturo Chapa was a witness at the examining trial, and his testimony was reduced to writing. On the trial of this case appellant offered proof that since the examining trial Arturo Chapa had gone to Mexico and was beyond the jurisdiction of the court. Under such circumstances we think he should have been allowed to reproduce so much of the testimony as would have shown that Jesus Bamirez was armed with a pistol on that occasion, and had secured cartridges from the witness Chapa.

The newly discovered testimony need not be discussed, as it will not be newly discovered on another trial.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded,

Reversed and remanded.

DAVIDSON, Judge, absent.