Morris v. State
Texas Supreme Court
Appeal from Galveston. Tried below before the Hon. Sam. Dodge. The defendants were each separately indicted for keeping a house for the purpose of public prostitution. On the trial twenty witnesses testified to the reputation of the houses kept by the defendants; that it was bad, and had the general reputation of being kept as houses of public prostitution. Verdict of guilty, with fine of $100 in one case and $200 in the other.
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Appeal from Galveston. Tried below before the Hon. Sam. Dodge. The defendants were each separately indicted for keeping a house for the purpose of public prostitution. On the trial twenty witnesses testified to the reputation of the houses kept by the defendants; that it was bad, and had the general reputation of being kept as houses of public prostitution. Verdict of guilty, with fine of $100 in one case and $200 in the other. Motion for new trial overruled, and defendants appealed.
1Opinion of the CourtWalker, J.
These cases are submitted together, and what we have to say in the one will apply to both. We think the proof of the character of a house which has *604become notorious in a city, by general reputation, is sufficient to establish the character of the house; and it is the character which the house bears in the community which forms the subject of inquiry.
The appellants in these cases can take nothing from the bills of exceptions; they had everything to gain, and nothing to lose, by the ruling of the court; and the court ruled correctly, that the witnesses were not bound to answer the question if…
2Cited by17 opinions
- Sylvester v. StateTexas Supreme Court · 1874
- State v. SmithSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1882
- Commonwealth v. MurrSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1898
- Demartini v. AndersonCalifornia Supreme Court · 1899
- Cook v. StateCourt of Appeals of Texas · 1886
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