Isaacs v. State

30 Tex. 450

• Court: Texas Supreme Court
• Decided: October 15, 1867
• Status: Published

Opinion

Caldwell, J.

The defendant was tried and convicted upon an indictment of theft of a plug of tobacco, the property of A. S. Kirk.

The proof showed that the defendant took the tobacco openly, without any attempt at concealment, and in the presence of another, and that the tobacco was not the property of Kirk. He was only bailee.

Whether this be theft or mere trespass, was a question of fact for the jury to determine, under all the circumstances. It is not every wrongful taking that amounts to theft. One of the most material considerations respecting the “ taking,” to constitute theft, is, whether the act was done “ animo furandi.” The ordinary discovery of such felonious intent is, when the party commits the act clandestinely, or, upon its being laid to his charge, denies it. But this is not the only criterion. Hew cases will arise, in which the “intent” will be referred to the jury.

Hot so here. There was no charge of the court, directing the minds of the jury to the distinction between theft and trespass, as ought to have been given. The court did not even favor the jury with the statutory definition of theft, but instead thereof a commentary on the statute perplexing to this court, and which must have bewildered the jury.

It is well settled that property may be laid in the true owner or in the bailee; but, to sustain a conviction, the proof must correspond with the averment of ownership; and when, on the trial, the question of ownership is raised, the defendant has the right to have it submitted to the jury. This the court refused to do, on the ground that it was embraced in the general charge.

We cannot discover that it was, and for these errors the cause is reversed and remanded for a new trial.

Reversed and remanded.