Sylvester v. State
Texas Supreme Court
Appeal from Criminal District Court of Galveston county. Tried below before the Hon. Samuel Dodge. Mary Sylvester was indicted for keeping “ a disorderly “ house, for the purpose of public prostitution, and as a com- “ mon resort for prostitutes.”
Read the full summary
Appeal from Criminal District Court of Galveston county. Tried below before the Hon. Samuel Dodge. Mary Sylvester was indicted for keeping “ a disorderly “ house, for the purpose of public prostitution, and as a com- “ mon resort for prostitutes.” On the trial, witness Drew testified that he knew the defendant, and her residence, in 1874; knew the general character and reputation of defendant to be that of keeping an assignation house—that he liad been at the house of defendant, and had met one woman there for a lascivious purpose. Defendant lived in Galveston city, near Schmidt’s garden: saw…
1Opinion of the CourtGould, J.
The case of Morris v. The State (38 Texas, 603), recognizes the admissibility of evidence of the general reputa*497tion of a house for the purpose of establishing its character as a house of prostitution. The admissibility of such evidence is supported by decisions of other courts. (See The State v. McDonell, Dudley, S. C., 346; The State v. Hurd, 7 Iowa, 412.) Wharton says: “ Common reputation of the character of “ the defendants, and the house which they kept, and of the “ persons visiting them, is admissible.” (3 Wharton’s Am. Cr. Law, Section 2393.) It is believed to be well settled that the…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Morris v. StateTexas Supreme Court · 1873
- Commonwealth v. StewartSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1815
3Cited by24 opinions
- De Forest v. United StatesCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1897
- Commonwealth v. MurrSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1898
- Demartini v. AndersonCalifornia Supreme Court · 1899
- Wimberly v. StateCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas · 1908
- Cook v. StateCourt of Appeals of Texas · 1886
19 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.