Myers v. State

177 S.W. 1167, 77 Tex. Crim. 239, 1915 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 49
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 16, 1915
DocketNo. 3601.
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 177 S.W. 1167 (Myers v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Myers v. State, 177 S.W. 1167, 77 Tex. Crim. 239, 1915 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 49 (Tex. 1915).

Opinion

HARPER, Judge.

When tried appellant was adjudged guilty of murder and his punishment assessed at death. From this judgment he prosecutes an appeal to this court.

The first question presented is, the court erred in overruling appellant’s application for a change of venue. Appellant based his application on both statutory grounds. The State filed a contest of the application, when the court heard the evidence adduced thereon. It may be said that there was no evidence tending to show that there was a dangerous combination against appellant, instigated by influential persons. There is nothing to suggest that anybody had combined, further than to show that the officers of the county had promptly arrested appellant, grand jury reconvened, and the cause set for hearing five days after the service of copy of indictment on him. That these officials acted'promptly in what they considered the performance of their duty, is not a combination of influential persons within the meaning of the statute. On the other statutory ground, “that thére is so great a prejudice against appellant in Tarrant County he can not obtain a fair and impartial trial,” appellant did introduce some evidence tending to support that allegation.

He first called J. Balph Griffin, circulation manager of the Fort Worth Becord, and Harold Huff, circulation manager of the Star-Telegram. These gentlemen testified as to the circulation of each of these papers in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, and by them was proven up the articles published in these papers on January"’30th, 31st, 33nd, and 33rd, 1915, and on October 30, 1914, the latter publication relating to the remarks and conduct of Judge Swayne when the jury acquitted M. M. Hayes, charged with killing B. E. Boswell. It was contended that these remarks of Judge Swayne would have some influence by reason of the fact that Mr. Montague, whom appellant was charged with killing, had succeeded Mr. Boswell as superintendent of the terminals of the Texas & Pacific Bailway Company, and that the evidence for the State in the Hayes case tended to show that he had killed Boswell because he had discharged him, and that the evidence for the State in this case would also tend to show that appellant killed Montague because he had discharged him. Neither Mr. *242 Griffin nor Mr. Huff were asked any questions as regards the state of feeling against appellant in Tarrant County, nor was their opinion elicited as to whether they thought appellant could receive a fair and impartial trial,—they being introduced merely to prove up the publication of the articles included in the Becord and Star-Telegram.

Wm. A. Bowen, publisher of the Arlington Journal, was introduced to prove up the article published in his paper. No questions were propounded to him tending to prove his opinion as to whether or not there was any prejudice against appellant in Tarrant County.

Ray H. McKinley, publisher of the Daily Live Stock Reporter, was introduced to prove up an article in his publications of date January 20th and 24th. He was asked no questions relative to the state of the public mind.

J. Lewis, publisher of the Keller Journal, testified as to the article published in his paper, and the circulation of his paper. He also testilled that there had been considerable discussion relative to this killing in Keller, and the expressions of opinion were all unfavorable to appellant. He is the only one of the newspaper men interrogated in regard to that matter, and he was not asked to give his opinion as to whether or not there was- so great a prejudice against appellant in Tarrant County as would prevent him being given a fair and impartial trial. We have read all the articles included in the transcript and they are in the 'main recitations of the facts attendant upon the homicide, although in some instances expressions of opinion are given; especially is this true as to the remarks of Judge Swayne at the time of the acquittal of Hayes, and the remarks of Judge Brown in reconvening the grand jury to investigate this homicide. We are aware that at one time in the judicial history of this State it was held that the reading of such articles, and the fact that some impression was made on the mind of the person reading the articles, was held to disqualify a person as a juror. By reason that such had been declared to be the law, our Legislature, in section 13 of article 692, enacted that, although a juror may have received an impression, or formed an opinion, from reading newspaper accounts of the homicide, communications, statements, or reports, or mere rumor or hearsay, if he on oath shall state that such impressiorf or opinion so formed is so slight that it will not influence his action, and that he will be able, notwithstanding such impression or opinion, to render a fair and impartial verdict, the reading of such articles and the hearing of such reports or statements will not disqualify him as a juror. Since the adoption of that article of the Code, a person seeking a change of venue must not only show that such publications were made, but must go further and show by competent evidence 'thát by reason of such publications, statements or reports there has been created in the public mind so great a prejudice as will prevent him receiving a fair and impartial trial in the county. Now, in addition to proving up these publications, appellant called several witnesses, _ Stanley Boykin, an attorney residing in the City of Fort Worth, after reciting the incidents leading him to form his opinion, testified that *243 hé was of the opinion there was so great a prejudice in Tarrant County against appellant that he could not receive a fair and impartial trial. On cross-examination he stated he had not been outside of the' City of Fort Worth since the homicide, and his opinion had been formed from talking with a number of citizens in Fort Worth. That he had talked to no one residing outside the limits of the city.

Dr. J. K. McKnight testified that there were something over twenty thousand qualified jurors in the county, and that if they had all read the papers it would be possible, but in his opinion improbable in the ordinary way to get a jury who had not formed an opinion. He resided in Fort Worth, and most of the people with whom he had talked about the murder had expressed an opinion that appellant ought to receive a death sentence.

Mr. C. R Hinchen testified he was a lawyer residing in Fort Worth, and after giving the reason for his opinion, stated it was his opinion that appellant could not get a fair and impartial trial in Tarrant County at this time. He stated he had not heard a great many express an opinion, and in giving the opinion he did he was presuming that the papers had been read by the qualified jurors in the county. That he had talked to no one from Arlington, Grapevine, Handley, Everman, Keller, Mansfield or any other place in Tarrant County outside of the City of Fort Worth.

B. H. Gibson testified he was a lawyer; that he had lived in Fort Worth fifteen years. He stated the reason why he had formed the opinion he held, and said: “I do not think it possible at this time to secure a fair and impartial jury to try the case in Tarrant County.” On cross-examination he admitted he was a member of the' Socialist organization in Fort Worth, and that the Socialist organization, at a meeting where there were between thirty and seventy-five present, had passed a resolution requesting him and Mr. Edgar E. Johnson to tender their services to appellant.

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Bluebook (online)
177 S.W. 1167, 77 Tex. Crim. 239, 1915 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 49, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/myers-v-state-texcrimapp-1915.