Schneider v. State

594 S.W.2d 415, 1980 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1060
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 23, 1980
Docket58154
StatusPublished
Cited by41 cases

This text of 594 S.W.2d 415 (Schneider 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
Schneider v. State, 594 S.W.2d 415, 1980 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1060 (Tex. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION

DOUGLAS, Judge.

Schneider was convicted of violating the Texas Securities Act by selling an unregistered security. 1 The jury assessed punishment at seven years and a fine of $5,000.

The complainant, William Harrell, testified that, during the early part of August, 1969, he had met with appellant and O. W. Ferguson at the home of a friend in Richardson, to discuss investing in a Peruvian sulphur mining venture.

At that meeting Ferguson discussed the venture in Schneider’s presence, and Schneider showed the complainant what he claimed were samples of ore taken from the company’s property and which he claimed to be 60% pure.

After further meetings with Ferguson, at which Schneider was not present, the complainant on August 15, 1969, gave Ferguson a check for $5,000, made out to Schneider-Ferguson Company, in return for promissory notes bearing a signature purporting to be Schneider’s and for stock certificates,delivered later, bearing a signature purporting to be Schneider’s as president of the company, Empresa Azufrera del Peru, S.A., and purporting to represent 2.5% of the ownership rights of that company.

William Otto Higbee testified to an earlier transaction, also involving $5,000 in return for a promissory note and 2.5% interest. Schneider was present during the meeting at which Higbee tendered payment.

Several other investors in the venture testified to similar transactions.

Lou Ann Sartor, an officer of Northwest Commerce Bank, testified that Schneider-Ferguson’s account required the signatures of both Schneider and Ferguson to draw funds, and a signature card bearing Schneider’s signature was introduced along with records showing the activities of the Schneider-Ferguson account.

By agreement, evidence was introduced that no securities issued by Empresa Azufr-era del Peru, S.A., had ever been registered with the State Securities Board.

Appellant now contends the court erred in refusing to quash the indictment *418 for including a copy of the security with the word “copy” written upon it, and further contends that the evidence was fatally at variance with the indictment because the security introduced at trial did not have the word “copy” written upon it.

We rejected identical contentions in the appeal of Schneider’s co-indictee. Ferguson v. State, 572 S.W.2d 521 (Tex.Cr.App.1978). The contentions are without merit.

Schneider also contends the proof was insufficient to show tolling of the statute of limitations, and further that the proof of tolling was fatally at variance with the indictment.

The indictment alleged that an indictment had been returned July 19, 1972, and that said indictment had been held invalid on May 29, 1975.

Stipulated evidence revealed that the pri- or indictment had actually been returned August 7, 1972; no indictment was returned in July of that year.

In Plessinger v. State, 536 S.W.2d 380 (Tex.Cr.App.1976), we said:

“The object of the doctrine of variance between allegations of an indictment is to avoid surprise, Worsham v. State, 56 Tex. Cr.R. 253, 120 S.W. 439 (1909), and for such variance to be material it must be such as to mislead the party to his prejudice. Castro v. State, 124 Tex.Cr.R. 13, 60 S.W.2d 211 (1933); Thurmon v. State, 145 Tex.Cr.R. 279, 167 S.W.2d 528 (1942).”

In the instant case, no showing of surprise or prejudice has been attempted. We hold that the variance is not material.

The jury was instructed that, in order to find appellant guilty, they would have to find that the sale, if any, of the security occurred after August 9, 1969, thus limiting the definition of “on or about” to the period shown by the stipulated evidence not to be barred by limitations.

Appellant next contends that the admission of the reverse side of State’s exhibit No. 9, a check from complainant payable to Schneider-Ferguson Company, was reversible error because no proper predicate had been laid to show that the check was, as it purported on its reverse to be, endorsed by Ferguson for deposit to Schneider-Ferguson.

The check showed upon its face that it had been honored. The complainant testified that he had given it to Ferguson and had made Schneider-Ferguson the payee at Ferguson’s request. Schneider-Ferguson’s bank records, including copies of microfilm copies of checks deposited, were introduced. We perceive no reversible error in permitting the introduction of the reverse of State’s exhibit No. 9.

Appellant contends the court erred in permitting the jury to separate after the reading of the charge without the permission of appellant.

The record shows that appellant’s counsel waived objection to jury separation but is silent as to appellant.

Absent a showing to the contrary in the record, we will presume the regularity of the proceedings. Green v. State, 510 S.W.2d 919 (Tex.Cr.App.1974). Appellant’s allegations upon motions for new trial are not self-proving, Vaughn v. State, 456 S.W.2d 141 (Tex.Cr.App.1970). Neither may we consider the testimony adduced at the hearings held upon that motion almost a year after the motion had been overruled as a matter of law, as appellant points out in his brief. Article 40.05, V.A.C.C.P.; Boykin v. State, 516 S.W.2d 946 (Tex.Cr.App.1975).

Schneider next contends that the court erred in admitting testimony about representations made by Ferguson while Schneider was not present.

The court instructed the jury that:

“ . . . with regard to each count of the indictment that testimony and evidence of certain transactions and conversations between third parties and Oliver Wendell Ferguson and outside the presence of the defendant, Warren J. Schneider were admitted. You are not to consider for any purpose said testimony and evidence of such transactions and conversations outside the presence of the defendant Warren J. Schneider, unless *419 you believe beyond a reasonable doubt, that at the time and place such transactions and conversations took place, that the said Oliver Wendell Ferguson was then and there acting as the agent of the defendant Warren J. Schneider.”

and that

“The term agent means one who acts for or in place of another by authority from the other.

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Bluebook (online)
594 S.W.2d 415, 1980 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 1060, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schneider-v-state-texcrimapp-1980.