Case ID: sw_160/html/0698-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PRENDERGAST, P. J. DAVIDSON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MEEK v. STATE.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    Oct. 22, 1913.
    Rehearing Denied Nov. 19, 1913.)
    1. RbceivxNG Stolen Goods (§ 8) — Prose-ctjtion — Admission or Evidence.
    In a prosecution for receiving or concealing stolen goods, which were shown to include certain pipes, evidence that witness found two pipes buried in the ground, which were part of the stolen property, and delivered them to the owners, was admissible over an objection, shown by bill of exceptions, only, that it was not shown that accused was connected with the hiding of the pipes or knew of their being stolen at the time, so that the evidence was hearsay and immaterial.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Receiving Stolen Goods, Cent. Dig." §§ 15-18; Dec. Dig. § 8.]
    2. Receiving Stolen Goods (§ 8) — Admission op Evidence— Confession op Thief.
    In a prosecution for receiving or concealing stolen goods, the sw®rn written confession of the original thief that he stole the property, as well as the indictment charging him therewith, and the verdict and judgment of conviction and sentence were admissible in evidence to show that the property was stolen, but not as substantive evidence of accused’s guilt; the court limiting their consideration to that purpose.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Receiving Stolen Goods, Cent. Dig. §§ 15-18; Dec. Dig. § 8.]
    3. Criminal Law (§ 538) — Confessions.
    A confession alone is not sufficient to support a conviction.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1227-1229; Dec. Dig. § 538.]
    4. Criminal Law (§ 538) — Confession — Proof of Corpus Delicti.
    A confession may be used to aid the proof of the corpus delicti, and the conviction will be sustained if it, with the other evidence, satisfies the jury of accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1227-1229; Dec. Dig. § 538.]
    
      5. Receiving Stolen Goods (§ 9) — Instruction s — Applicability of Evidence.
    In a prosecution for receiving or concealing stolen goods, accused requested an instruction that the corpus delicti consists of two facts, first, of the fact that the property received had been stolen, and, second, that accused received it, and that to authorize a conviction the jury must believe from evidence outside of accused’s confession that the property was stolen, and that accused received it, .and that the state must prove such facts be.yond a reasonable doubt, which instruction was refused, but the court charged that to warrant a conviction the evidence must show beyond a reasonable doubt that the property was acquired by theft, and that accused, knowing it to have been stolen, received and concealed it, and that the jury could not convict accused unless they believed, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the alleged thief took the property from the owners wihout their consent, or the consent of either of them, with intent to deprive them of its value, and that accused knew that •the property had been stolen and received and concealed it. Held that, in view of accused’s full confession and other evidence tending to show that he knowingly received and con-•eealed stolen property,’ the requested charge was properly refused as not called for by the evidence and as improperly limiting the effect of part of it, and the charge given was correct.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Receiving ‘Stolen Goods, Cent. Dig. §§ 19-22; Dec. Dig. -§ 9.]
    ■6. Criminal Law (§ 1172) — Appeal—Harmless Error — Instructions Favorable to Complaining Party.
    Since Pen. Code 1911, art. 1349, punishes •one who shall* receive “or” conceal property known to have been stolen,_ a charge that accused must have “both received and concealed” the stolen property erred in favor of accused, •so that he cannot complain thereof.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3128, 315-1-3157, 3159-3163, 3169; Dec. Dig. § 1172.]
    7. Criminal Law (§ 1137) — Appeal—Invited Error.
    Accused cannot complain of an erroneous •charge which he induced the court to give by his own requests.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 3007-3010; Dee. Dig. § 1137.]
    & Receiving Stolen Goods (§ 9) — Instructions — Applicability to Evidence — Intentions.
    While it might be proper to charge on the ■subject, where the evidence tends to show that accused’s intention in receiving or concealing property was innocent, the refusal of such a charge is not reversible error, where the evi-•denee does not suggest that accused’s intention was innocent.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Receiving "Stolen Goods, Cent. Dig. §§ 19-22; Dec. Dig. ⅞ 9.]
    :9. Criminal Law (§ 1043) — Appeal—Objections to Instructions.
    A general objection that an instruction is ■on the weight of the evidence, without pointing out how, is too general to be considered on •appeal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2654, 2655; Dec. Dig. § 1043.]
    10. Criminal Law (§§ 763, 764) — Instructions — Weight of Evidence.
    The court instructed, in a prosecution for receiving or concealing stolen goods, that the confession of the original thief, and the verdict and judgment and sentence of conviction against him, were not original evidence against accused and could not be considered for that purpose but only to show that the thief was guilty of stealing the property described in the indictment, and also instructed that the jury could not convict accused unless they believed beyond a reasonable doubt that the thief fraudulently took the property from the owners without their consent with intent to deprive them of its value and appropriate it to his own use, and that accused knew that the property had been sto],en and received and concealed it. Held, that the instruction was not on the weight of evidence.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1731-1748, 1752,1768, 1770; Dec. Dig. §§ 763, 764.]
    11. Criminal Law (§ 1043) — Appeal—Objections to Instructions.
    An objection that an instruction is ambiguous, conflicting, and misleading to the jury and prejudicial to the accused is too general to be considered on appeal.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2654, 2655; Dec. Dig. § 1043.]
    12. Receiving Stolen Goods (§ 9) — Instructions — Consent on? Owners.
    An instruction, in a prosecution for receiving or concealing stolen goods, that the jury could not convict unless they believed beyond a reasonable doubt that the original thief took the property from the owners’ possession without their consent, or the consent of either of them, with intent to deprive them of its value and appropriate it to his own usé, and that accused knew the property was stolen and received and concealed it, was not objectionable on the ground that it authorized a conviction, even though one of the owners consented to the taking of the property.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Receiving Stolen Goods, Cent. Dig. §§ 19-22; Dec. Dig. § 9.]
    Davidson, J., dissenting in part.
    Appeal from District Court, Titus County; H. F. O’Neal, Judge.
    James Meek was convicted of receiving or concealing stolen property, and appeals.
    Affirmed.
    Ward & Ward and Rolston & Rolston, all of Mt. Pleasant, for appellant. C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
    
      
      For other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   PRENDERGAST, P. J.

The appellant was convicted of the offense of receiving or concealing stolen property, and his punishment fixed at two years’ confinement in the penitentiary, which is the lowest prescribed by law.

The law prescribing this offense (article 1349, P. C.) is: “If any person shall receive or conceal property which has been acquired by another in such manner as that the acquisition comes within the meaning of the term theft, knowing the same to have been so acquired, he shall be punished in the same manner as if he had stolen the property.”

The state proved up and introduced, without objection by appellant, his written sworn confession, which unquestionably shows his guilt. In addition to his confession, the state introduced other facts and circumstances tending to show and showing that he received and concealed the stolen property, knowing at the time that it had been stolen.

The only bill of exception in the record is very meager and wholly insufficient to require this court to pass upon the question attempted to be raised. James v. State, 63 Tex. Cr. R. 75, 138 S. W. 612; Conger v. State, 63 Tex. Cr. R. 312, 140 S. W. 1112. However, if we could consider it, it complains of the testimony of Mr.' Williams to the effect that he found two pipes buried in the ground, which were part of the stolen property, and that he delivered those pipes to the owners. The court, in allowing the bill, qualified it by stating: “I only permitted the state to prove by the witness .Williams that the two pipes were found buried and identified as a part of the property stolen. Just as I did in permitting the state to prove that a part of the property stolen was found in Arkansas in the grip of appellant, James Meek.” If we could look to the record, the uncontradicted testimony would show that a part of the stolen property was some pipes. Appellant, in his confession, swears that, at the time the alleged thief induced him to agree to receive and ship to Arkansas some of the stolen property, the thief then told him that a part of the stolen property was some pipes, and from what the thief then told him he knew that they were stolen property. Appellant in the bill only, and not by a statement of facts to that effect approved by the court, objected that appellant was not shown to be connected with the hiding of the pipes or knew of their being stolen at the time, and hence that said testimony was hearsay, irrelevant, immaterial, and prejudicial. We think clearly the testimony was admissible over anything shown by appellant’s bill.

The indictment alleges that appellant received the property from Raymond Riddle and concealed it, and properly charges that said Riddle had stolen the property, and that appellant, when he received and concealed it, knew that it had been so acquired by Riddle. Properly, and without any exceptions thereto by appellant, the court admitted the written sworn confessions of said Riddle to the effect that he had stolen the property alleged to have been stolen in the indictment. Also the indictment against Riddle to that effect, the verdict and judgment of conviction and the sentence therefor. The court, in his charge to the jury, expressly and pointedly and correctly instructed them that the said confessions of Riddle, the indictment, judgment, and sentence of the court against him, and the statements of Riddle in his confessions as to the whereabouts of the two pipes, and any other statements made by him, were not original evidence against the defendant and could not be considered by them for that purpose, but that they could consider them as they might tend to show Riddle guilty of the theft of the property described in the indictment, if it so tended, but they could not consider them for any other purpose. The appellant’s claim, therefore, in his motion for a new trial, in effect that said Riddle’s statements in his confessions could not be considered is without foundation and was fully met. The jury could consider it, as told by the court, for the sole purpose of tending to show, if it did, that said Riddle was guilty of the theft of the property described in the indictment.

By a special charge appellant requested the court to instruct the jury that the corpus de-licti of the offense “consists of two parts: First. The fact that the property alleged to> have been received by the defendant had been acquired by Raymond Riddle in such manner that the acquisition comes within the-meaning of theft. Second. The fact that James Meek, the defendant, received it. Under the law the corpus delicti of an offense-cannot be proved by the confession of the defendant alone. In order to justify a conviction the jury must believe from the evidence outside of the confession of the defendant that the property was stolen by Raymond Riddle and that James Meek received it. Now, therefore, unless you find from other evidence in this case than the confession of the defendant that he did receive the alleged stolen property, then*you will find him not guilty. The burden is on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did receive the alleged stolen-property, and this cannot be done by the confession alone of the defendant. If, after considering all of the testimony in evidence before you, you have a reasonable doubt as-to the guilt of the defendant, under the instructions given you, you will find him not guilty.”

Instead of giving this requested charge, the court gave the following: “In order to warrant a conviction for receiving and concealing stolen property, it must be made to appear by the evidence, satisfactory to the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) That the property alleged to have been stolen was acquired by theft. (2) That the defendant, knowing it to have been stolen, received and concealed the same. If either of these two essential elements are wanting, then the defendant cannot be convicted and is entitled to be acquitted. Now, if you believe from the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant, James Meek, in the county of Titus and state of Texas, on or about July 13, 1911, received and concealed the-property described in the bill of indictment herein, and that the same was of- the value-of $50 or over, and that the defendant knew that said property was acquired by theft, then you will find the defendant guilty as charged in the indictment and assess his punishment at confinement in the penitentiary for any period of time not less than two-years nor more than ten years.” And in addition the following: “You cannot convict defendant in this case unless you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the said Raymond Riddle fraudulently, in Titus county, Tex., on or about July 13, 1911, took the said corporeal personal property of Swint and Fleming from their possession without their consent and without the consent of either the said W. S. Swint or the said T. M. Fleming, with the intent to deprive the owners of the value of the same, and to appropriate it to the use and benefit of the said Raymond Riddle; and you must further believe beyond a reasonable doubt from the evidence that the defendant, James Meek, knew that said property had been stolen, and that he received and concealed same.” And still in addition that the defendant is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established by legal evidence beyond a reasonable doubt; and, in case you have a reasonable doubt as to his guilt, you will acquit him and say by your verdict not guilty.

It is the settled law of this state “that a confession alone in and of itself is insufficient to support a conviction.” It is also as well established that the confession of the accused “may be used to aid the proof of the corpus delicti, and, if all of it together is sufficient to satisfy the jury of the truth of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, the conviction must be sustained.” See Harris v. State, 144 S. W. 238, 239, for a collation of some of the authorities.

In addition to appellant’s confession, which was full and complete and of itself showed lie was guilty of the offense, there was much other evidence and many circumstances established, without contradiction, which tended to show and showed that he received this stolen property from said Riddle, put in his (appellant’s) grip or suit case, shipped it from Bit. Pleasant, in Titus county, whence it was stolen, to Little Rock, Ark., and in a few. days thereafter followed it him•self and was arrested in Arkansas, his grip with this stolen property in it taken from him, and his grip thereafter delivered back to him. So that it would have, been improper, under the circumstances, for the court to have given appellant’s • said special charge, because it was not called for by the testimony, singled out only a part of it, and .attempted to exclude the consideration of that part for the purpose of establishing the necessary facts; and that the court’s charge on the subject was proper and correct and is the charge which should have been given under the circumstances, and there was no error in the court’s refusal to give appellant’s special charge, nor in giving the charges above by the court, complained of.

As shown above, the statute under which this offense was prosecuted was expressly followed in the charge of the court, except that while the statute says, “If any person shall receive or conceal property,” etc., the charge of the court required that the defendant, knowing it to have been stolen, must have both “received and concealed the «ame.” Of course appellant cannot complain that the court required the jury to find more than the statute required before they could convict, for that was in his favor and not against him.

It is also the well-settled law of this state that the doctrine of invited error applies. That, where the defendant has induced the court by requested charge to in effect give in the court’s charge what is requested by appellant, he cannot complain, even if such charge may be erroneous. Cornwell v. State, 61 Tex. Cr. R. 122, 134 S. W. 221, Ann. Cas. 1913B, 71; Carbough v. State, 49 Tex. Cr. R. 452, 93 S. W. 738. As shown above, in the appellant’s special requested charge, which the court substantially followed in his charge, it is not made a requisite that the court shall require the jury expressly in his charge to find that the appellant fraudulently received and concealed the property. Neither does the statute so require. The appellant not only requested the charge above given and thereby invited the court to so charge but made no exception thereto at the time and requested no charge at the time that the word “fraudulently” should have been used in the charge. Besides this, the evidence in no way suggests or intimates that the appellant had any innocent purpose or intention in receiving or concealing the stolen property, but, on the contrary, the evidence all shows, and without any contradiction, that his purpose and intention was anything else than innocent or without wrong.

It might be in some cases that, where the innocent intention and purpose of the party in receiving or concealing stolen property is suggested or the evidence tends to show such innocent purpose and intention, it would be proper for the court to submit a correct charge on that subject, but this case in no way raises any such question, and the court did not commit any reversible error in not so charging.

In another ground of appellant’s motion for new trial he quotes a portion of the court’s charge wherein, as stated above, the court limited the jury to the purposes for which they could consider the said confessions of Riddle and the latter part of the court’s charge last above quoted. 1-Iis objection to this portion of the court’s charge is: (a) That it is on the weight of the evidence. How it is on the weight of the evidence is in no way attempted to be pointed out. This is too general to be considered, but, if not, in our opinion it is not on the weight of the evidence, (b) That it is ambiguous and conflicting, and misleading to the jury, and prejudicial to the defendant. This is too general to be considered and points out no error at all. And (c) that it is not the law of the case in that, if Riddle had the consent of one of the owners of the stolen property at the time he took it, he could not have been guilty of theft, and that the charge authorizes his conviction even if he had the consent of one of the owners to take the property. This objection is without any foundation. Not only does the court tell the jury that Riddle must have fraudulently taken the property of Swint and Fleming, without their consent but without the consent of each of them. Both of these owners swore positively and unequivocally -that this property was stolen from them without their consent. The uncontradicted evidence establishes that the store of Swint and Fleming was burglarized and about $300 worth of property stolen from them out of their store at the time, and that they recovered the property described in the indictment which was of more than the value of $100, and that Riddle was one of the principals and guilty parties in the theft and burglary. The court did not err in charging that said Riddle was an accomplice. Riddle did not testify, and the jury were excluded from considering any statement in his confession for any purpose whatever, as stated above, except whether or not he was the thief who stole the property. The evidence is clear, uncontradicted, and without doubt establishes the guilt of the appellant.

The judgment is affirmed.

DAVIDSON, J.

I do not believe the judgment and sentence against the principal were admissible in evidence in the case. I place this qualification as to my views so as not to agree to that question. The evidence was admitted without objection, but it occurs to me that the opinion indicates it was proper testimony. I do not so believe.