Jackson v. State

Willson, Judge.

1. It was not necessary for the indictment to set out the oath which was administered to the defendant, m hcec verba. It alleged that he appeared before the grand jury as a witness, and “ did then and there take his corporal oath as a witness before said grand jury, and was then and there duly and legally sworn as a witness before said grand jury, the oath being duly and legally administered by said B. W. Beckham, foreman aforesaid, an officer authorized, by law to administer the oath in that behalf.” This allegation was sufficient as to' the oath. (Massie v. The State, 5 Texas Ct. App., 81, and authorities there cited.) In all essentials the indictment is sufficient. It plainly and directly avers every element of the offense, and is in strict compliance with the rules governing indictments in such cases.

Opinion delivered March 12, 1884.

2. It was error in the court to submit to the jury the question as to the materiality of the alleged false statements made by the defendant as a witness. It was for the court and not the-jury to determine the materiality of such statement. (Donohoe v. The State, 14 Texas Ct. App., 638.) But the charge of the court in this particular was not excepted to, and therefore the error, unless it was calculated to injure the rights of the defendant, is not of a character which demands a reversal of the judgment. In our opinion, each assignment of perjury was upon alleged false statements which were material, and such being the case, the defendant could not have been injured in his rights by this error in the charge of the court. In all other respects save the one mentioned the charge of the court is unexceptionable.

3. There was no error in overruling defendant’s motion for a new trial. We regard the conviction as being fully sustained by the evidence.

The judgment is affirmed.

Affirmed~